Transcript independent clauses - misweb - Mississippi State University

CHAPTER 7
REVISING & PRESENTING YOUR WRITING
MGT 3213 – ORG. COMMUNICATION
Mississippi State University
College of Business
True or false?
Typos are important, but they
really don’t impact the
company’s bottom line.
Typo Creates Stock Market Chaos




May 6, 2010
Dow fell almost 1,000 points in half an hour
Computerized sell off began when a trader placed
an order to sell $16 billion instead of $16 million
“Today … caused me to fall out of my chair at one
point. It felt like we lost control,” Jack Ablin, chief
investment officer at Harris Private Bank.
The Comma that Cost $1 Million

August 2006, contract dispute between
Canada’s largest cable provider and
telephone company
 Rogers

Communication vs. Bell Alliant
Citing the “rules of punctuation,” Canada’s
telecommunications regulator ruled that the
comma allowed Bell Aliant to end its contract
The dispute is over this sentence:

“This agreement shall be effective from the date it
is made and shall continue in force for a period of
five (5) years from the date it is made, and
thereafter for successive five (5) year terms, unless
and until terminated by one year prior notice in
writing by either party.”
Establishing Credibility

Demonstrate expertise and competence
 Typos
and errors = undereducated, lazy, not detailoriented, unintelligent



Demonstrate personal ethics and integrity
Demonstrate emotional control
Develop a professional image
 Personality
traits
 Appearance/image
Tips for Improving Your Grammar

Read as much as possible, and as diversely as
possible


Allows you to subconsciously internalize correct
grammar
Bad vocabulary?


Play word games and puzzles
Read!!
Become self-aware of your areas of weakness
 Edit other people’s writing
 Ask for feedback from someone you trust
 Have good tools on hand (dictionary, grammar
handbook, thesaurus)

Why are spelling errors so common?






No one reads anymore
Texting shorthand/abbreviations have ruined our
vocabulary
We aren’t as intelligent as we used to be
Our memories have gotten worse with time
Depends on where the misspelling appears in the
shape of the word
(only one of these options is correct)
indentification
identification
labortatory
laboratory
manuscritps
manuscripts
progams
programs
edtors
editors
embarassing
embarrassing



You might not realize it, but your brain is a codecracking machine.
For emaxlpe, it deson’t mttaer in waht oredr
the ltteers in a wrod aepapr, the olny
iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer
are in the rghit pcale. The rset can be a toatl
mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit pobelrm.
S1M1L4RLY, Y0UR M1ND 15 R34D1NG 7H15
4U70M471C4LLY W17H0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17.
College World Series, 2013
Alabama’s
2010 season
tickets
Dudy-Noble Typo (2009)
Procedures for Proofreading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Use spell check to locate simple keying
errors and repeated words
Print a draft of the document
Proofread several times
Edit for format and layout
Print on high quality paper and submit
your document
More Proofreading Techniques
Read your work backwards, starting with
the last sentence and working your way in
reverse order to the beginning.
1.
2. Read your work out loud.
This forces you to read each word
individually and increases the odds that
you'll find a typo.
More Proofreading Tips
3. Always proofread a printed version of
your work.
4. Give yourself some time.
If possible, let your work sit for a while
before you proofread it.
5. Trick your brain—print the document in
a different font or on colored paper.
What should you proofread?

Format
 Violating
formatting standards lowers your
credibility as well!
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Facts
Names
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Independent vs. Dependent

Independent clauses convey a complete thought
 They
could be stand-alone sentences
As the president reported this morning, sales increased in
May.
Run-On Sentences

When no punctuation or coordinating conjunction
appears between two independent clauses
 Also
called a “fused sentence”
 She mowed the lawn he prepared lunch.
Three Strategies for Correcting

Make the two independent clauses two
sentences.
 She

mowed the lawn. He prepared lunch.
Separate the two independent clauses with a
semi-colon.
 She
mowed the lawn; he prepared lunch.
Strategies, cont.

Connect the two independent clauses with a comma
and one of the following:
 And,
or, so, but, nor, for, yet
 She mowed the lawn, and he prepared lunch.
Comma Splice


If two independent clauses are connected
with just a comma.
She mowed the lawn, he prepared lunch.
Punctuation Overview
Quotation Marks
 Periods and commas are always placed
inside the closing quotation mark
 Semicolons and colons go outside
…
costs should be lowered,” she said.
 … system should be revised”; however,
Unnecessary
Quotation
Marks
http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/
Punctuation Overview


Use a colon after a complete thought (independent
clause) that introduces a list
Jane ordered some new equipment for her office:
desk, chairs …
Punctuation Overview

No colon after “being” verbs, or incomplete
thoughts
 The
words most commonly misspelled were convenience,
commodity …
 Examples of popular Web browsers include Internet
Explorer, …
 The first lesson introduces readers to …
Using Colons Appropriately




Colons can also be used prior to explanations
Our math tutor wants just one thing from us:
that we try our best.
Colons can also be used prior to quotes
My father was always using his favorite
quotation from Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over till it’s
over.”
Semi-Colons



Semi-colons are used between two
independent clauses
But not connected by a conjunction (and, but,
or, nor)
Can use conjunctive adverb (however,
moreover, nevertheless, as a result,
consequently, etc.).
 Mrs.
William’s flight was delayed; however, she
did not miss her train connection.
Commas

Error #1—No comma after an introductory
clause
 (a


dependent clause)
Although I arrived at the bus stop early
today I almost didn’t get a seat on the bus.
Although I arrived at the bus stop early
today, I almost didn’t get a seat on the bus.
Words That Precede
Introductory Clauses
After. . .
In order that . . .
Until . . .
Although . . .
Lest . . .
Unless . . .
As . . .
How . . .
When . . .
Because . . .
So that . . .
Where . . .
Before . . .
Since . . .
Which . . .
But that . . .
Supposing . . .
While . . .
If . . .
While . . .
Who . . .
Commas




Error #2—No comma after an introductory
word
Well, perhaps he meant no harm.
Yes, the package should arrive tomorrow
morning.
However, you may not be satisfied with the
results.
Commas



Error #3—No comma between two independent
clauses connected by a conjunction
Comma goes BEFORE the conjunction!
The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.
Commas

Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence
to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not
essential (nonrestrictive) to the meaning of the
sentence.
Deciding if the Element is Essential
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If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word,
does the sentence still make sense?
Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the
flow of words in the original sentence?
If you move the element to a different
position in the sentence, does the sentence still
make sense?
Examples


That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is
the only day when I am available to meet.
I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however,
you seem to have over-exerted yourself.
Commas & Essential Elements
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Do not use commas to set off essential elements of
the sentence
That clauses after nouns are always essential.
That clauses following a verb expressing mental
action are always essential.
Examples

That clauses after nouns:
 The

book that I borrowed from you is excellent.
That clauses following a verb expressing mental
action:
 He
is dreaming that he can fly.
Commas & Adjectives

Coordinate adjectives are adjectives with
equal ("co"-ordinate) status in describing the
noun
 Does
the sentence make sense if the adjectives
are written in reverse order?
 Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives
are written with and between them?
Examples
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He was a difficult, stubborn child.
(coordinate)
They lived in a white frame house. (noncoordinate)
She often wore a gray wool shawl. (noncoordinate)
Your cousin has an easy, happy smile.
(coordinate)
Commas & Series


Use commas to separate three or more words,
phrases, or clauses written in a series.
The Constitution establishes the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches of
government.
Grammar Review:
Subject-Verb Agreement
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
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Each of the girls has her own bank account.
Both of the girls have their own bank accounts.
She and her sister were at the party.
Singular Words

(one words)
 Anyone,

everyone, no one, one, someone
(body words)
 Anybody,



Each
Either
Neither
everybody, nobody, somebody
Subject-Verb Pairs, cont.
ALWAYS …
You were
We were
They were
He doesn’t
She doesn’t
It doesn’t
NEVER …
You was
We was
They was
He don’t
She don’t
It don’t
Pronoun Agreement

Singular noun, singular pronoun
 If
a student parks a car on campus, he or she has
to buy a parking permit.
 Everyone is responsible for his or her own work.

Parenthetical remarks have no effect on the
form of the pronoun
 Michael
Box, not the secretaries, is responsible
for his correspondence.
Other Pronoun Problems

Place pronouns as close as possible to their
antecedent
 Although
the motorcycle hit the tree, it was not
damaged.
 Was the motorcycle or tree damaged?
Other Pronoun Problems

George worked in a national forest last
summer. This may be his life's work.
 What

word does "this" refer to?
Jim will consult with the accountant prior to
formatting the financial statements. This plan
will prevent confusion between the marketing
and accounting departments.
Affect vs. Effect


Exactly how will the change affect us?
Affect is usually a verb meaning “have an
influence on”
Advice vs. Advise

The consultants’ advice is to downsize the
organization.
Advice = noun
 Advise = verb

Amount vs. Number

The manager was astonished by the number of
complaints from the customer service staff.
less
amount
quantity
little
much
fewer
number
number
few
many
Cite, Sight, Site
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Seeing Sally receive the top service award was an
exhilarating sight.
You cite the author in an endnote; you visit a Web site
or the site of the crime, and you sight your beloved
running toward you in slow motion on the beach (a
sight for sore eyes!).
Cite = citation of a source
Site = location
Sight = see someone or something
Compliment vs. Complement




I consider your remark a compliment.
“compliment": nice things said about someone
“complements” supplement each other, each
adding something the others lack
Alice’s love for entertaining and Mike’s love
for washing dishes complement each other.
Further vs. Farther




The issue will be discussed further at our next
meeting.
Use “farther” to refer to physical distance
Use “further” to refer to an extent of time or
degree, or “in addition”
Further, the committee decided to …
Fewer vs. Less
Limit your discussion to five or fewer
points.
 You can eat fewer cookies, but you drink
less milk.

Infer vs. Imply
I infer from Chad’s statements to the press that
he is optimistic about the proposal.
 use “imply” when something is being suggested
without being explicitly stated
 use “infer” when someone is trying to arrive at
a conclusion based on evidence.
 “Imply” is more assertive, active:
 I imply that you need to revise your paper; and,
based on my hints, you infer that I didn’t think
highly of your first draft.

Its vs. It’s



The storm seems to be losing its force.
It’s = it is
Its = possessive pronoun
Principal vs. Principle


The system’s principal advantage is monetary.
Principal is a noun and adjective
 referring
to someone or something
which is highest in rank or importance.

“Principle” is only a noun
 has
to do with law or doctrine
 “It’s a matter of principle.”
Eminent vs. Imminent

Eminent = well known, noteworthy
Imminent = about to happen

The eminent lawyer feared the imminent disaster.

Split Infinitives




Infinitive = to verb
Famous example: Star Trek's “to boldly go
where no man has gone before.”
I plan to occasionally visit the district offices.
I plan to visit the district offices occasionally.
Misplaced Modifiers




I almost failed every art class I took.
I failed almost every art class I took.
Keep modifiers as close as possible to the thing
they’re describing
Modifiers describe what directly follows them
Another Example


Rolling down the hill, Sally was frightened that the
rocks would land on the campsite.
Rolling down the hill, the rocks threatened the
campsite and frightened Sally.
Dangling Modifiers


A dangling modifier describes something that
isn't even in your sentence.
Usually you are implying the subject and
taking for granted that your reader will know
what you mean—not a good strategy.
An Example

Hiking the trail, the birds chirped loudly.

Hiking the trail, Sally heard birds chirping loudly.
Parallel Construction





I came;
I saw;
I conquered.
—Julius Caesar
put two or more coordinate items into the
same grammatical form
An Example


To write well and listening well are important
communication skills.
To fix parallel construction:
 Writing
well and listening well are important
communication skills.
 To write well and to listen well are important
communication skills.
More Examples

I like swimming, skiing, and to hike in the
mountains.
I
like swimming, skiing, and hiking in the
mountains.
 I like to swim, ski, and hike in the mountains.

Either we must make nuclear power safe or
stop using it.
 Either
we must make nuclear power safe or we
must stop using it.
After Today’s Lecture You Should …



Understand why proofreading is important for
maintaining credibility.
Demonstrate effective proofreading strategies
and what concepts should be examined in
your proofreading process.
Identify common grammar errors and be able
to fix these errors.