Transcript GrammarTips
Grammar Tips • Alot is not a word. • A lot means “a large number” • Allot to “give out” or “distribute” AFFECT EFFECT • Verb • Means “to influence” or “to change” • Examples: – The arrows affected Aardvark. – The rain affected Squiggly’s plans. • Noun • Means “a result” • Examples: – The effect was eye-popping. – The sound effects were amazing. – The rain had no effect on Squiggly’s plans. Exception Alert! • Effect can be used as a verb, meaning “to bring about” or “to accomplish.” Example: “King hoped to effect change within his community.” Affect versus Effect VERB NOUN affect • 1. Wars ________everybody, and their effects destructive ________last for generations. affect • 2. The early frost will ________ the crops. • 3. His years of smoking have negatively affected ____________ his health. effect • 4. Television has a strong _______ on public opinion. The Semicolon • Semicolons separate two main clauses that are closely related to each other but could stand on their own as sentences. The semicolon turns a short sentence into a more complex sentence: It was below zero. Squiggly wondered if he would freeze to death. It was below zero; Squiggly wondered if he would freeze to death. Example: The semicolon is not used often enough; the comma is used too often. WRONG: “It was below zero; Squiggly had pizza for dinner. The Apostrophe • Use to join a subject & verb: – I am = I’m – They are = They’re – It is = it’s • Use to indicate possession: – King’s argument – Franklin High School’s choir – The women’s conference Avoid “Wordiness” • Write for clarity • Omit any unnecessary or repetitive words • WORDY: After descending down to the edge of the river, we boarded a small raft which was floating there on the surface of the water. • BETTER: After descending to the edge of the river, we boarded a small raft. • WORDY: The first story in the book is a masterpiece in itself and quite a story. • BETTER: The first story in the book is a masterpiece. • Redundant: The reason you love grammar is because you love rules. • Acceptable: The reason you love grammar is that you love rules. • Better: You love grammar because you love rules. Rewrite the sentences for clarity • 1. Modern cars of today, unlike the old cars of yesterday, can be driven faster without danger than the old ones. Modern cars are safer to drive in high speeds than older cars. • 2. When what the speaker was saying was not audible to our ears, I asked her to repeat again what she had said. The speaker was inaudible, so I asked her to repeat herself.