Rule #1: Use commas to separate "interrupters" from the rest of the sentence. Common interrupters: by the way, indeed, after all, however, of course, for example, I think, in fact, I believe.
Example: A dog, for example, can be a good friend.
Rule #2: 1.Use a comma to separate the date and the year. Use commas to separate the year from the date and the rest of the following sentence. But do not use commas if you are giving only the month and year.
Example: The tree was planted on May 12, 1998, in our backyard.
Rule #3: Use a comma to set off the name of a person someone is talking to (a direct address).
Example: Ms. Bell, how are you?
Rule #4: Use commas to set off introductory phrases or clauses at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: On the kitchen table, I placed the carton of milk.
Rule #5: Possession: If two people own the same thing, use an apostrophe and s for only the second person. If the two people don't own the same thing, use an apostrophe and s for both people.
Example: Adam and Debbie's marriage...
Adam's and Debbie's toes...
Rule #6: Comparisons: Comparisons come in three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. For short adjectives and adverbs add --er and --est. For longer adjectives or adverbs use more and most (or less and least). Note: there are some exceptions.
Examples: big--bigger--biggest
quickly--more quickly--most quickly
well--better--best
Rule #7: In general, do not split infinitives. An infinitive is a verb with the word 'to' in front of it. Splitting an infinitive means putting one or more words between 'to' and the verb.
Example: It is usually better not to split infinitives. (Not: It is usually better to not split infinitives.)
Rule #8: Use a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb and a comma after. Think of these words as interrupters between two sentences.
Common conjunctive adverbs: however, finally, furthermore, indeed, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore, unfortunately
Example: I didn't study very much; nevertheless, I made a good grade.
Rule #9: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that introduces a sentence.
Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, so, yet
Example: My sister's name is Miranda, and my brother's name is Austin.
Rule #10: Dashes add emphasis. They can emphasize by-the-way expressions, set off appositives, or sum up a list.
Example: I've lived in Portland--the one in Oregon, not Maine--all my life.
Rule #11: Semicolons: A semicolon can be used between two sentences that are very closely related. Note: It can only be used between two complete sentences, and when using a semicolon do not use a conjunction.
Example: I have three dogs; two of them are golden retrievers.
Rule #12: Three common confusables:
Affect and Effect. Effect is a result. Affect is an emotion or influence.
Among and Between: Between is for two people or things. Among is for more than two.
Bring and Take: Bring shows movement toward the speaker. Take shows movement away.
Rule #13: Be consistent with verb tenses.
Example: Adam broke the dish when he tossed it to Omar. (Not: Adam breaks the dish when to tossed it to Omar.)
Rule #14: Indefinite pronouns beginning with any (anyone, anybody, etc.), no (no one, nobody, nothing), every (everyone, everything, etc.), and some (something, someone, etc.) are always singular and take a singular verb.
Example: Everyone is coming to the party.
Rule #15: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number.
Example: Each girl wants to look beautiful on her prom night. (NOT: Each girl wants to look beautiful on their prom night.)
Rule #16: Three common confusables:
Good and Well. Good is an adjective and well is an adverb.
Then and Than. Than is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. Then is an adverb telling when something
happened.
Which and That. When information is essential, use that and no commas. When the information is not
essential, use which and commas.
Rule #17: Hyphens are used to indicate that a word has been broken at the end of a line or to show that two or more words are being used together as one.
Example: During a leap year, there are twenty-nine days in February.
Rule #18: Colons. The colon says "here comes an example". (Note: do not use a colon if a list comes right after a verb or preposition.)
Example: There's only one sport for me: alligator wrestling.
Rule #19: In general, use active voice when writing. In active voice, the subject is doing the action of the verb.
Example: Rhiannon baked the cake. (NOT: The cake was baked by Rhiannon.)
Rule #20: Be sure to use the word there's correctly. It is a contraction for there is (and is is singular). The same holds true for where's and here's.
Example: Here are your coat and hat. (NOT: Here's your coat and hat.)
Rule #21: Three common confusables:
Lie and Lay. Lay is an active, busy word. Lie is a quiet word.
Can and May. Can is having the ability to do something. May is having permission.
Farther and Further. Farther is for distance. Further means longer or more.
Rule #22: As a rule, do not begin sentences with a conjunction.
Example: I studied for the math test, but I didn't study enough. (NOT: I studied for the math test. But I didn't study enough.)
Rule #23: Appositives. An appositive renames a noun right beside it. Nonessential appositives are always separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.
Example: James, the class secretary, will now take attendance.
Rule #24: Three common confusables:
A and An. Use a before words beginning with consonant sounds. Use an before vowel sounds.
Its and It's. It's is a contraction for it is or it has. Its is possessive.
Whose and Who's. Who's is a contraction for who is or who has. Whose is possessive
Example: A dog, for example, can be a good friend.
Rule #2: 1.Use a comma to separate the date and the year. Use commas to separate the year from the date and the rest of the following sentence. But do not use commas if you are giving only the month and year.
Example: The tree was planted on May 12, 1998, in our backyard.
Rule #3: Use a comma to set off the name of a person someone is talking to (a direct address).
Example: Ms. Bell, how are you?
Rule #4: Use commas to set off introductory phrases or clauses at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: On the kitchen table, I placed the carton of milk.
Rule #5: Possession: If two people own the same thing, use an apostrophe and s for only the second person. If the two people don't own the same thing, use an apostrophe and s for both people.
Example: Adam and Debbie's marriage...
Adam's and Debbie's toes...
Rule #6: Comparisons: Comparisons come in three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. For short adjectives and adverbs add --er and --est. For longer adjectives or adverbs use more and most (or less and least). Note: there are some exceptions.
Examples: big--bigger--biggest
quickly--more quickly--most quickly
well--better--best
Rule #7: In general, do not split infinitives. An infinitive is a verb with the word 'to' in front of it. Splitting an infinitive means putting one or more words between 'to' and the verb.
Example: It is usually better not to split infinitives. (Not: It is usually better to not split infinitives.)
Rule #8: Use a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb and a comma after. Think of these words as interrupters between two sentences.
Common conjunctive adverbs: however, finally, furthermore, indeed, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore, unfortunately
Example: I didn't study very much; nevertheless, I made a good grade.
Rule #9: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that introduces a sentence.
Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, so, yet
Example: My sister's name is Miranda, and my brother's name is Austin.
Rule #10: Dashes add emphasis. They can emphasize by-the-way expressions, set off appositives, or sum up a list.
Example: I've lived in Portland--the one in Oregon, not Maine--all my life.
Rule #11: Semicolons: A semicolon can be used between two sentences that are very closely related. Note: It can only be used between two complete sentences, and when using a semicolon do not use a conjunction.
Example: I have three dogs; two of them are golden retrievers.
Rule #12: Three common confusables:
Affect and Effect. Effect is a result. Affect is an emotion or influence.
Among and Between: Between is for two people or things. Among is for more than two.
Bring and Take: Bring shows movement toward the speaker. Take shows movement away.
Rule #13: Be consistent with verb tenses.
Example: Adam broke the dish when he tossed it to Omar. (Not: Adam breaks the dish when to tossed it to Omar.)
Rule #14: Indefinite pronouns beginning with any (anyone, anybody, etc.), no (no one, nobody, nothing), every (everyone, everything, etc.), and some (something, someone, etc.) are always singular and take a singular verb.
Example: Everyone is coming to the party.
Rule #15: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number.
Example: Each girl wants to look beautiful on her prom night. (NOT: Each girl wants to look beautiful on their prom night.)
Rule #16: Three common confusables:
Good and Well. Good is an adjective and well is an adverb.
Then and Than. Than is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. Then is an adverb telling when something
happened.
Which and That. When information is essential, use that and no commas. When the information is not
essential, use which and commas.
Rule #17: Hyphens are used to indicate that a word has been broken at the end of a line or to show that two or more words are being used together as one.
Example: During a leap year, there are twenty-nine days in February.
Rule #18: Colons. The colon says "here comes an example". (Note: do not use a colon if a list comes right after a verb or preposition.)
Example: There's only one sport for me: alligator wrestling.
Rule #19: In general, use active voice when writing. In active voice, the subject is doing the action of the verb.
Example: Rhiannon baked the cake. (NOT: The cake was baked by Rhiannon.)
Rule #20: Be sure to use the word there's correctly. It is a contraction for there is (and is is singular). The same holds true for where's and here's.
Example: Here are your coat and hat. (NOT: Here's your coat and hat.)
Rule #21: Three common confusables:
Lie and Lay. Lay is an active, busy word. Lie is a quiet word.
Can and May. Can is having the ability to do something. May is having permission.
Farther and Further. Farther is for distance. Further means longer or more.
Rule #22: As a rule, do not begin sentences with a conjunction.
Example: I studied for the math test, but I didn't study enough. (NOT: I studied for the math test. But I didn't study enough.)
Rule #23: Appositives. An appositive renames a noun right beside it. Nonessential appositives are always separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.
Example: James, the class secretary, will now take attendance.
Rule #24: Three common confusables:
A and An. Use a before words beginning with consonant sounds. Use an before vowel sounds.
Its and It's. It's is a contraction for it is or it has. Its is possessive.
Whose and Who's. Who's is a contraction for who is or who has. Whose is possessive