Writing Tips & Tricks

Lauren Scerbo

• Publisher: QuickStudy Reference Guides
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781423217763
• eBook ISBN: 9781423237440
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Writing will be easier with this essential reference covering the entire process from idea to conclusion in six laminated pages. Perfect for school though this guide will support any writing project where a concept or idea must be presented clearly and effectively. Focusing on exactly what you need to know and in a succinct, easy-to-use, color coded outline format you can quickly find what you need to keep your writing project on task. With diagrams illustrating key points in the writing process, tables of clauses, phrases and verbs, punctuation mechanics and grammar usage including examples, this is a powerful tool at a great price that will boost grades and support for virtually any writing project.
6 laminated pages include:

• The Writing Process
  • Timed Writing
  • Prewriting
  • Planning, Revising, Editing, Publishing
  • Drafting
• Most Common Writing Errors
• Sentence Structure
  • Sentence Fragments
  • Run-On Sentences
  • Comma Splices
  • Parallel Structure
• Organization
  • Effective Paragraphs
  • Hamburger Method
  • Transitions
• Idea Development
• Usage & Grammar
  • Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Active & Passive Voice
  • Pronouns
  • Modifiers
• Mechanics & Punctuation
  • Capitalization
  • Punctuation
  • Spelling

Usage & Grammar

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Verbs can be tricky because they have so many properties: person, number, tense, voice, and mood.
• Basic sentence structure depends on subject-verb agreement. The correct verb form to use is based on number, person, and tense.

Subject-Verb Agreement Checklist

• Ask yourself who or what the sentence is about—that’s the subject.
• Decide whether the subject is singular or plural.
• Check for agreement between the subject and the verb (e.g., if you have a singular subject, you need a singular verb).

Number

• The verb of a sentence must match the subject in number; therefore, the subject and the verb in a sentence must both be either singular (one) or plural (more than one).
• With a singular subject, use a singular verb.
  Incorrect: My mother plan a birthday party for me every year.
  Correct: My mother plans a birthday party for me every year.
  The singular subject, my mother, needs a singular verb, plans.
• With a plural subject, use a plural verb.
  Incorrect: The teachers helps with the fundraiser.
  Correct: The teachers help with the fundraiser.
  The plural subject, teachers, needs a plural verb, help.
• With compound subjects joined by and, use a plural verb.
  Incorrect: Jack and Jill knows some fun activities.
  Correct: Jack and Jill know some fun activities.
  The subject, Jack and Jill, refers to two people. The plural verb know agrees with the compound subject.
• When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, choose a verb that agrees with its nearest subject.
  Incorrect: Either my brother or my parents is taking us to the airport.
  Correct: Either my brother or my parents are taking us to the airport.
  Brother is a singular subject, but parents is a plural subject and is closest to the verb.
• Make the verb agree with the subject, not simply the noun closest to the verb.
  Incorrect: Directions to the event is easy.
  Correct: Directions to the event are easy.
  The subject, directions, is plural, so you need a plural verb, are.
• If the subject is a collective noun (a noun that names a group of people or things, such as committee, staff, and group), make the verb singular if the group is acting as a unit.
  Incorrect: The staff are meeting tomorrow morning.
  Correct: The staff is meeting tomorrow morning.
  The members of the staff are meeting together as a group, so the verb should be singular.

Person

• The subject and verb of a sentence must agree in person.
  • A first-person subject must have a first-person verb form. First person means the subject of the verb is I or we.
  • A second-person subject must have a second-person verb form. Second person means the subject of the verb is you.
  • A third-person subject must have a third-person verb form. Third person means the subject is he, she, it, or they.

Number & Person Subject-Verb Agreement

Number	Person	Present	Past	Future
Singular	First (I)	am	was	will be
	Second (you)	are	were	will be
	Third (he, she, it)	is	was	will be
Plural	First (we)	are	were	will be
	Second (you)	are	were	will be
	Third (they)	are	were	will be

Tense

• Verb tenses express information about the time an action occurred.
• Knowing various words that represent time will help you choose the correct tense of the verb. Time words include tomorrow, yesterday, today, now, later, currently, presently, upcoming, and past.
• Use these time words to help you determine when the action occurred so that you can use the correct verb tense:
  • Present tense expresses an act...

Table of contents

• Introduction
• The Writing Process
• The Most Common Writing Errors
• Sentence Structure
• Organization
• Idea Development
• Usage & Grammar
• Mechanics
• Types of Academic & Career-Based Writing