Grammar and punctuation
Use commas to separate three or more items in a list.
I bought apples, bananas, and oranges.
Run-on or correct? → It was dark I couldn’t see anything.
Run-on!
Corrected: It was dark. I couldn’t see anything.
Change to past tense: I open the door slowly.
I opened the door slowly.
What should every short story have?
A beginning, middle, and end.
Fix the error: Its cold in here.
It’s cold in here.
Use a semicolon to connect two related independent clauses.
I wanted to go out it was raining.
I wanted to go out; it was raining.
Run-on or correct? → The door creaked open, and a shadow appeared.
Correct!
Change to present tense: She was writing her story.
She is writing her story.
What is a topic sentence?
The main idea of a paragraph; it tells what the paragraph is about.
Fix the spelling: I herd a strange noise.
I heard a strange noise.
What is the difference between a complete sentence and a fragment?
A complete sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. A fragment is missing one of those parts or doesn’t express a full idea.
Run-on or correct? → He screamed everyone heard him.
Run-on!
Corrected: He screamed, and everyone heard him.
Change to future tense: He runs away from the noise.
He will run away from the noise.
Name two way writers create fear in horror stories.
Using imagery, suspense, or emotion.
Fix the sentence: She dont like horror movies.
She doesn’t like horror movies.
When should you use a comma before the word “because”?
Use a comma before “because” only when it helps make the meaning clear or avoids confusion.
Run-on or correct? → I wanted to leave but I stayed.
Correct (conjunction connects the two clauses).
Choose the correct tense: By the time the ghost appeared, I (close) the window.
By the time the ghost appeared, I had closed the window.
What is the purpose of a setting?
To show where and when the story happens.
Fix the sentence: There scared of the dark.
They’re scared of the dark.
What punctuation marks do you use for dialogue?
Quotation marks (“ ”).
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
Run-on or correct? → The lights flickered they went out.
Run-on!
Corrected: The lights flickered; they went out.
Correct the verb tenses: She was walking home when she hear a strange sound and drops her phone.
She was walking home when she heard a strange sound and dropped her phone.
What does “imagery” mean?
Using descriptive words that appeal to the five senses.
Fix the sentence: The monster chased I.
The monster chased me.