Basic Grammar

Here is a list of major grammar issues students have problems with. Refer to this cheat
sheet in this and future writing-intensive classes to guide you!

Independent Clauses / Complete Sentences

An independent clause is a complete sentence. Think about it as being independent, not

requiring anything else to complete it. An independent clause has both a subject and a
predicate.

Ex: The meeting began at 4:00 a.m.

Subject: The meeting (the doer of the actionwho/what is
doing the action)
Predicate: began (the action)

Dependent Clauses / Sentence Fragments / Incomplete Sentences

A dependent clause is an incomplete sentenceoften referred to as a fragment. Think about

it as depending on something else to complete it. A dependent clause often starts with one
of the FANBOYS or another coordinating word like because, since, therefore, etc.
F for
A and
N nor
B but
O or
Y yet
S so

Ex: And then I went home.

So I wanted more.

Because I was hurrying.

Since she thought I had lied.
Run-on Sentences

A run-on is two or more complete sentences (independent clauses) strung together without punctuation or with
the incorrect punctuation (i.e., commas comma splices)

Ex: So I went to the store then bought some bread I also got some cheese.
Most of us were taking the same classes, if someone had a question, we would all help out.

Colons

Use a colon to join an independent clause (complete sentence) and a list.

Correct: He bought three posters to decorate his apartment: an old concert poster, a view of the
city, and a mural of San Diego.
Incorrect: Volunteers aid biologists in: erosion control, trail maintenance, and clean-up.
Incorrect: Jessicas wardrobe included: three pairs of pants, a nice skirt, and a party dress.

Semi-colons

There must be a complete sentence on both sides of the semicolon!

Correct: Police want to crack down on drug use at raves; they have started to arrest more people.
Incorrect: Internet retailers have a limited customer base; only those with Internet access.

If you have a conjunction after the semi-colon, you need a comma.

Correct: Police want to crack down on drug use at raves; thus, they have started to arrest more
people.
Incorrect: There were several people I wanted to see at the party; however I didnt see any of them
there.

Homonyms and Other Misspellings

A lot = many, much
Its = it is
Who = subject pronoun
Your = possessive form of you
Whose = possessive form of who
To = direction
Defiantly = boldly, rebelliously
Whether = either, comparison of
A lot = not a word!
Its = not a word!
Too = also, in addition too
Wether = a castrated sheep. Im
pretty sure this isnt what you meant.
Allot = distribute, give out
Its = possessive form of it
Whom = object pronoun
Youre = you are
Whos = who is
Two = number
Definitely = certainly, no doubt
Weather = through rain, sleet, and
snow
Commas

Commas often are subjectivethey depend on the preference of the reader or the style guide for the audience
youre writing to.

1. Use a comma after an introductory phrase like however, therefore, nonetheless, finally, for example
a. For example, you would use a comma in this sentence.
2. Use a comma for phrases that you could take out of the sentence but still retain the overall meaning

a. A comma, however, would definitely go here.

3. Depending on your style guide, use the Oxford comma: the optional comma before the and at the
end of a list
a. I bought a shirt, a pair of pants, and a jacket.
4. Use a comma with dates and places
a. I first joined Monday, May 5, 2003.
b. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, a city in the Midwest.
5. Use a comma with brief interjections
a. Have some coffee, wont you?
b. She said, no, she wouldnt be having any coffee, thanks.

Hyphens

Add a hyphen for a compound modifier (more than one adjective strung together) before a noun:
The sixteen-year-old girl was a well-known celebrity.

Do not add a hyphen if the modifier comes after the noun:

 She was sixteen years old. The celebrity was well known.

Being Verbs

Aim to cut as many as possible: be, being, been, is, was, were, am, are

A Final Note

Remember that many of these rules are dependent on audience! Plus, there is a well-established precedent of
breaking the rules for effect. For example, e e cummings poetry plays with fragments, parentheses, commas,
etc The difference is, however, that these rule-breakers are often prose and poetry writers, while you are
writing technical materials for a lay audience. What this means is that you must look at your document and
decide whether it is appropriate to focus on strict grammar conventions (likely) or play with form and style
(maybe not). Readers make assumptions about the authors of the documents because of errors. Sentence
fragments, misspellings, and the like resulted in a visual picture of the author as uneducated, careless, lazy, etc.

Thus, one of the best things you can do as a technical writer is to pay attention to your work!

1. Proofread
2. Check for accuracy
3. Tighten your sentences
4. Read for clarityespecially with instructions!