Grammar Tips
By a.lesser.thing
- 234 reads
1. Referring to family members.
When you're referring to your mum as, well, your mum, you do not capitalize "mum." You do capitalize, however, if it is in place of a name.
Here is an example:
a. My mum likes to sew.
b. "Mum, stop yelling! It's under control."
You can see the clear difference here. If you were to say, "My Mum likes to sew," it simply wouldn't work. To remember this rule, you can try to replace it with a name. "My Lisa likes to sew," doesn't make sense. It works in the second example, however. "Lisa, stop yelling! It's under control."
2. Pausing for breath.
There are far too many comma rules for me to cover, or even comprehend for myself, but here's one thing that I see a lot: sentences get jam packed with words and information, and authors choose (or forget) to add that little space for breath. It isn't mandatory, of course, but it makes for a much easier and enjoyable time!
Here's an example:
a. When you're referring to your mum as well your mum you do not capitalize "mum."
Of course, I took that sentence from above, but you get the point. Without the commas, the sentence isn't very aesthetically pleasing, and it certainly isn't as good of a read as it is including the commas.
3. Using the correct words.
These are often mixed up, but once you come to know them, they're very simple.
they're: they are; They are fine.
their: possession; It is their house.
there: location; There it is!
you're: you are; You are great!
your: possession; Your keys are right here.
affect: to alter; Her death affected us greatly.
effect: a result; "This was the effect of our experiment."
could of: not a real word.
could have: a possibility; "I could have gone."
alright: not a real word! (I'm guilty of use.)
all right: satisfactory; "His singing is all right."
loose: not tight; "Careful! The rope is loose."
lose: cease to have: "Don't lose it!"
than: a comparison; "You like red more than blue?"
then: at that time; "I was young and in love back then."
two: quantity; "We have two dogs."
too: also; "Really? We live in Egypt, too!"
to: direction; "To the life house we go!"
who's: who is; "Who's all coming?"
whose: possession; "Whose sweatshirt is this?"
its: possession; "Don't touch its nest!"
it's: it is; "It is okay."
accept: agree to receive; "I will accept it with joy."
except: exclude; "Take all of the kids except him."
alot: not a word!
a lot: quantity; "That's a lot of ducks!"
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It may or may not be of use, but I figured I might as well put it out there. In my English class, we typically only cover literature now, so it's as much a reminder for others as it is for me.
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