5. Use parallel structure for any series of actions or items or the not only/but also construction. 6. Make sure verbs agree in number with their subjects. 7. Keep verb tenses consistent. 8. Use the correct subject or object form of personal pronouns. Determine whether a pronoun is func- tioning as a subject or object in the sentence. 9. Use apostrophes with pronouns to show contraction only. Pronouns do not need apostrophes to show possession. 10. Use who for people, that for things, and which for nonessential clauses that do not refer to people. 11. Pronouns must agree in number and person with their antecedents. 12. Be consistent in pronoun point of view. 13. Use less for singular nouns representing quantity or degree. Use fewer for plural nouns. 14. Use good and bad to describe nouns and pronouns; use well and badly to describe verbs. 15. In comparisons, add -er or -est for short modifiers. For longer words, use more/most or less/least before the modifier. 16. Do not use double comparisons or double negatives. 17. Use idioms correctly. Punctuation Punctuation marks are the symbols used to separate sentences, express emotions, and show relationships between objects and ideas. Correct punctuation clarifies meaning and adds drama and style to sentences. Poor punctuation, on the other hand, can confuse your readers and distort your intended meaning. For example, take a look at the following two versions of the same sentence: Don’t bother Xavier. Don’t bother, Xavier. The same words are used, but the two sentences have very different meanings because of punctuation. In the first sentence, the comma indicates that the speaker is telling us not to bother Xavier. In the second sen- tence, the speaker is telling Xavier not to bother. Here is another example of how punctuation can drastically affect meaning: You should eat Zak so you can think clearly during your interview. Because this sentence is missing some essential punctuation, the sentence says something very differ- ent from what the author intended. The speaker isn’t telling us to eat Zak; rather, she is telling Zak to eat. The sentence should be revised as follows: You should eat, Zak, so you can think clearly during your interview. As you saw earlier, punctuation also has another important function: It enables writers to express a vari- ety of tones and emotions. – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 253 PUNCTUATION GUIDELINES There are many rules for punctuation, and the better you know them, the more correctly and effectively you can punctuate your sentences. This table lists the main punctuation marks and guidelines for when to use them: IF YOUR PURPOSE USE THIS IS TO PUNCTUATION EXAMPLE End a sentence. period [.] Most sentences end in a period. question mark [?] I feel tired today. exclamation point [!] However, if you are posing a question, use a question mark. Should the voting age be raised to 21? Exclamation points should be used sparingly for emphasis. "What a beautiful dress!" Connect complete semicolon [;] A semicolon can connect two sentences; it is sentences (two comma [,] and a an excellent way to show that two ideas are independent conjunction [and, or, nor, related. clauses). for, so, but, yet] Leslie is coming, but Huang is staying home. dash [ — ] (less common, Hurry up—we’re late! but more dramatic) Connect items in a list. comma [,] but if one or His odd shopping list included batteries, a box more items in that list of envelopes, and a can of beans. already has a comma, The castaways included a professor, who was use a semicolon [;] the group’s leader; an actress; and a millionaire and his wife. Introduce a list of colon [:] There are three things I want to do before I three or more items. die: go on a cruise, go skydiving, and surf. Introduce an explanation colon [:] You know what they say about real estate: (what follows explains or Location is everything. answers what precedes). Introduce a quotation colon [:] or comma [,] She yelled, “Let’s get out of here!” He said (words directly spoken). only one word: “Believe.” Indicate a quotation. quotation marks [“ ”] “To be or not to be?” is one of the most famous lines from Hamlet. Indicate a question. question mark [?] What time is it? “How much longer?” he asked. – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 254 IF YOUR PURPOSE USE THIS IS TO PUNCTUATION EXAMPLE Connect two words that hyphen [-] mother-in-law, turn-of-the-century poet, work together as one French-fried potatoes object or modifier. Separate a word or dash [—] I never lie—never. We’re late—very late! phrase for emphasis. Separate a word or commas [,] Elaine, my roommate, is from Chicago. Her phrase that is relevant nickname as a child, her mother told me, was but not essential “Boo-boo.” information. Separate a word or parenthesis [()] There is an exception to every rule (including phrase that is relevant this one). but secondary information. Show possession or apostrophe [‘] Why is Lisa’s wallet in Ben’s backpack? contraction. C OMMA RULES Although you won’t drop from a score of 6 to 5 because of a couple of misplaced commas, the correct use of commas is important. The presence and placement of commas can dramatically affect a sentence’s meaning and can make the difference between clarity and confusion in your sentences. The previous chart lists four different uses of commas, but there are several others. Here is a complete list of comma rules. The better you know them, the more clear, correct, and controlled your sentences will be. Use a comma in the following ways: 1. With a coordinating conjunction to separate two complete sentences. Note that a comma is not required if both parts of the sentence are four words or less: Let’s eat first, and then we will go to a movie. I’m definitely older, but I don’t think I’m much wiser. I love him and he loves me. 2. To set off introductory words, phrases, or clauses. Next 4th of July, I plan to watch the fireworks from the rooftop. Wow, that sure looks good! Because the game was cancelled, Jane took the kids bowling. – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 255 3. To set off a direct address, interjection, or transitional phrase. Well, Jeb, it looks like we will be stuck here for a while. His hair color is a little, um, unusual. My heavens, this is spicy chili! Sea horses, for example, are unusual in that the males carry the eggs. 4. Between two modifiers that could be replaced by and. He is a quiet, shy person. (Both quiet and shy modify person.) Incorrect: Denny’s old, stamp collection is priceless. Correct: Denny’s old stamp collection is priceless. (You cannot put and between old and stamp; old describes stamp and stamp modifies collection. They do not modify the same noun.) 5. To set off information that is relevant but not essential (nonrestrictive). Essential, not set off: The woman who wrote Happy Moon is coming to our local bookstore. (We need this information to know which woman we’re talking about.) Nonessential, set off by commas: The dog, lost and confused, wandered into the street. (The fact that the dog was lost and confused is not essential to the sentence.) Essential, not set off: Witnesses who lie under oath will be prosecuted. Nonessential, set off by commas: Leland, who at first refused to testify, later admitted to lying under oath. 6. To separate items in a series. The price for the cruise includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and entertainment. The recipe calls for fresh cilantro, chopped onions, diced tomatoes, and lemon juice. – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 256 7. To set off most quotations. As a general rule, short quotations are introduced by commas, whereas long quotations (several sentences or more) are introduced by colons. All speech in dialogue should be set off by commas. “Let’s get going,” he said excitedly. Emmanuel Kant is famous for the words, “I think, therefore I am.” Joseph said, “Please forgive me for jumping to conclusions.” 8. To set off parts of dates, numbers, titles, and addresses. She was born on April 30, 2002. Please print 3,000 copies. Tiberio Mendola, M.D., is my new doctor. Please deliver the package to me at 30 Willow Road, Trenton, NJ. 9. To prevent confusion, as in cases when a word is repeated. What it is, is a big mistake. After I, comes J. Capitalization Capitalization is an important tool to help us identify (1) the beginning of a new sentence and (2) proper nouns and adjectives. Here are six rules for correct capitalization: 1. Capitalize the first word of a sentence. Please close the door. What are you trying to say? If you are quoting a full sentence within your own sentence, use a capital letter, unless you intro- duce the quote with that. According to the study, “A shocking three out of four students admitted to cheating.” The study claims that “a shocking three out of four students admitted to cheating.” If you have a full sentence within parentheses, that sentence should be capitalized as well (and the end punctuation mark should be within the parentheses). ABC Corporation regularly contributes to the We Care Fund (including an impressive donation of $10,000 in 2002). ABC Corporation regularly contributes to the We Care Fund. (They donated an impressive $10,000 in 2002.) – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 257 2. Capitalize proper nouns. A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing (as opposed to a general person, place, or thing). CAPITALIZE (SPECIFIC) DON’T CAPITALIZE (GENERAL) Jennifer Johnson (specific person) the woman Business Law (specific class) my law class Main Street (specific street) on the street Frosted Flakes ® (specific brand) good cereal Caspian Sea (specific sea) deep sea/ocean Lincoln Memorial (specific monument) impressive memorial/monument U.S.S. Cole (specific ship) naval carrier Dade Management School (specific school) my graduate school Precambrian Age (specific time period) long ago Data Corporation (specific company) that company Exceptions: Do not capitalize words such as river, street, and so on in plural proper nouns as they are generic: the Pacific and Indian oceans. 3. Capitalize the days of the weeks and months of the year, but not the seasons. It was a warm spring day in May. Wednesday is the first official day of autumn. 4. Capitalize the names of countries, nationalities, languages, religions, and geographical locations (but not geographical directions). He has traveled to Brazil and Tunisia. She is half Chinese, half French. She is from the South. Drive south for five miles. We speak Spanish at home. He is a devout Catholic. – GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING– 258 . nouns as they are generic: the Pacific and Indian oceans. 3. Capitalize the days of the weeks and months of the year, but not the seasons. It was a warm spring day in May. Wednesday is the first. Xavier. The same words are used, but the two sentences have very different meanings because of punctuation. In the first sentence, the comma indicates that the speaker is telling us not to bother. in your sentences. The previous chart lists four different uses of commas, but there are several others. Here is a complete list of comma rules. The better you know them, the more clear, correct,