If I Was You...

And Alot More Grammar Mistakes You Might Be Making

Lauren Sussman

• Publisher: Adams Media
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781440584794
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Grammar & Punctuation
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

An essential handbook for righting grammatical errors!Was the computer affected by a virus or effected by it? Did you see two deers in the woods or two deer? Should the lab report be sent to Tom and me or Tom and I? If I Was You... provides the tools you need to correct the grammatical mistakes you've been making. Each entry includes sample sentences that highlight the error as well as a straightforward explanation of why it's wrong and the correct grammar usage. Whether you're working on a term paper or an important business presentation, this indispensable handbook shows you how to rectify your grammatical goofs and effectively communicate with others.Covering everything from verbs and pronouns to punctuation and sentence structure, If I Was You... is the only guide you need to master the principles of grammar, avoid common errors, and write more impressively.

[Part I]
CONFUSING PUNCTUATION MARKS (AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND THEM)

Wrong: Hand me the pen that rolled near you

Misplacing Periods

A period is most often used to signal the end of a sentence that states a fact or one that gives a command or makes a request. For instance, both of the following are simple, declarative sentences that end with periods:

• The pen fell down right next to your chair.

• I’m wondering if it would be that hard for you to bend over and pick it up.

Although the latter sentence contains an implied question, the end punctuation should be a period because the sentence as a whole states a fact (that I’m wondering something) rather than asks a question. Periods are also used in abbreviations, such as Dr., Ms., Rev., i.e., and et al.

Good Grammar Tip

If your declarative or imperative sentence ends with an abbreviation that takes a period, don’t put an additional period at the end. Write:

I’ll be at your apartment to pick you up at 8 P.M.

not

I’ll be at your apartment to pick you up at 8 P.M..

Right: Hand me the pen that rolled near you.

Wrong: Are you available for a long, pointless, late-morning meeting.

Misused Question Marks

News flash: Question marks go at the end of direct questions and sentences that end in questions. You knew that, didn’t you? Couldn’t that information have been left out? You get the picture, don’t you? Surely the point has sunk in by now, hasn’t it?

A question mark is also used to show that there’s doubt or uncertainty about something written in a sentence, such as a name, a date, or a word. In birth and death dates, such as (?–1565), the question mark means the birth date hasn’t been verified. Look at this example:

• The police are searching for Richard O. (?) in connection with the crime.

Here, the question mark means that the author is uncertain about the person’s name. But look at this example:

• He’s said to have stolen $5,000 (?) from a children’s charity.

The question mark means that the author is unsure about the exact amount of the theft.

Watch to see if a question mark is part of a title. If it is, be sure to include it in any punctuation that goes with the title:

• I won’t watch that new television program Can You Believe What Scum These Criminals Are?

Good Grammar Tip

Remember, question marks go inside quotation marks if the quoted material forms a question. Otherwise, question marks go outside quotation marks. Notice the difference in these examples:

Brendan asked, “Who on earth steals money from a kids’ charity?”

Did Brendan say, “People like that should be tossed in jail and the key thrown away”?

If you have a series of questions that aren’t complete sentences, a question mark should be included after each fragment:

• Can you believe that it’s ten below zero? or that it’s snowing? or that my electricity has gone off? or that the freaking electric company hasn’t got here to fix the problem?

Right: Are you available for a long, pointless, late-morning meeting?

Wrong: I can’t believe I just won $10 million in the lottery.

Incorrect Exclamation Points

Another news flash: Exclamation points (exclamation marks) are used to express strong feelings! In the preceding example, unless the speaker has the emotions of a fish, there’s a call for something more intense than a period. Exclamation marks add tone and emphasis to a sentence. There’s quite a difference between these two sentences:

• This is the first time I ever bought a lottery ticket.

• This is the first time I ever bought a lottery ticket!

The second sentence tells readers that something quite extraordinary happened when the speaker bought a lottery ticket for the first time.

In formal writing, don’t use exclamation points (unless, of course, you’re quoting a source or citing a title—or working for a tabloid magazine). In informal writing, you might include exclamation points after information that you find to be remarkable or information that you’re excited about:

• The first thing I’m going to do is donate $5,000 (!) to my favorite charity.

or

• The first thing I’m going to do is donate $5,000 to my favorite charity!

Check to see if an exclamation point is part of a title. If it is, be sure to include it:

• I wonder if I’ll be on that new television program I Can’t Believe They’re Millionaires!

On the other hand, it’s sometimes easy to go overboard with exclamation points:

• I met Joan and John for dinner last night! I told them the amazing news! They’re so happy for me! They volunteered to go on my Caribbean vacation with me!

Exciting as this news is (at least to Joan and John), the emotional impact is diminished if every sentence ends with an exclamation point. Use them responsibly.

Good Grammar Tip

Only in informal writing should you use more than one question mark or exclamation mark at a time:

Is this picture of our former roommate for real????

or

I can’t believe that our former roommate is featured in Playboy!!!

Right: I can’t believe I just won $10 million in the lottery!

Wrong: Anna said, Harry, give me the butter, please.

May I Quote You on That?

Use quotation marks (“ ”) at the beginning and ending of words, phrases, or sentences to show which words belong to you (the writer) and which belong to someone else.

The most commo...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Part I: Confusing Punctuation Marks (and How to Understand Them)
• Part II: Mixed-Up Words (and How to Unmix Them)
• Part III: Complicated Parts of Speech (and How to Untangle Them)
• Part IV: Misfiring Sentences (and How to Fix Them)
• Appendix A: Some Grammar Resources
• Appendix B: Common Irregular Verbs
• Appendix C: Commonly Misused Words and Phrases
• Copyright
• Tables