Commas, Commas!
Determined to make it to the football game the next day we worked on our papers all night.
What is a missing comma after an introductory element? Determined to make it to the football game the next day, we worked on our papers all night.
The author states "language is a tricky subject." (Smith 25).
What is a mechanical error with a quotation? The author states "language is a tricky subject" (Smith 25).
Singing a song or when I write a poem is enjoyable to me.
What is lack of parallelism? Singing a song or writing a poem is enjoyable to me.
Costa’s favorite Victorian novels are: Great Expectations, Middlemarch, and Far From The Madding Crowd.
What is incorrect colon use? Costa’s favorite Victorian novels are Great Expectations, Middlemarch, and Far From The Madding Crowd.
Amy was watching a movie. Then she walks to the football game and meets her friends.
What is an unnecessary shift in verb tense? Amy was watching a movie. Then she walked to the football game and met her friends.
She wanted to do well on the test but she didn't study.
What is a missing comma in a compound sentence? She wanted to do well on the test, but she didn't study.
Some studies explain how difficult it is for students to understand writing "Understanding commas is one of the easiest things" (Smith 25).
What is a poorly integrated quotation? Some studies explain how difficult it is for students to understand writing, but some aspects of grammar come easier for students: "Understanding commas is one of the easiest things" (Smith 25).
If she never wanted that to happen.
What is a sentence fragment? She wasn't sure of her feelings, but she never wanted that to happen.
The author examined the book and it's contents.
What is an unnecessary apostrophe? The author examined the book and it's contents.
The author uses a large amount of ethos in his writing. You often use ethos to make your writing more credible.
What is an unnecessary shift in person? The author uses a large amount of ethos in his writing. An author will often use ethos to make their writing more credible.
Ms. T who is definitely the coolest teacher in this program was the first to speak.
What is missing commas with a non-restrictive element? Ms. T, who is definitely the coolest teacher in this program, was the first to speak.
Many feel that "college will be the best four years of a person's life."
What is incomplete or missing documentation? Many feel that "college will be the best four years of a person's life" (Smith 25).
Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex
What are the four types of sentences? Simple sentences consist of one independent clause and no dependent clause. Compound sentences consist of two or more independent clauses and no dependent clause. The clauses may be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, yet, or, nor, so), or by a semicolon. Complex sentences consist of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Compound-complex sentences consist of two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
The furniture on this side of the dorm room is Amys.
What is a missing apostrophe (showing possession)? The furniture on this side of the dorm room is Amy's.
Bob and Stan both applied for the job. The company offered a great salary and extensive benefits to him.
What is a vague pronoun reference? Bob and Stan both applied for the job. The company offered a great salary and extensive benefits to Bob after he was hired.
People, who voted against the political candidate, opposed the new bill proposed by the candidate and his followers.
What are unecessary commas with a restrictive element? People who voted against the political candidate opposed the new bill proposed by the candidate and his followers.
Many people like sports. "Football is an American favorite" (Smith 25). Other favorites include baseball and basketball.
What is poor intergration of quotations? Many people like sports. ESPN experts explain that "football is an American favorite" (Smith 25). Other favorites include baseball and basketball.
She loves fashion and writing so she decided to try to work for a major fashion magazine after her internship at a retail clothing store she really loves her job now.
What is a run-on sentence? She loves fashion and writing, so she decided to try to work for a major fashion magazine after her internship at a retail clothing store. She really loves her job now.
It is not my fault we got in trouble; its yours.
What is a missing apostrophe (it is)? It is not my fault we got in trouble; its yours.
We were told at midnight the concert would begin.
What is a misplaced modifier? We were told the concert would begin at midnight.
I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game, that really would make the semester for me.
What is a comma splice? I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game; that really would make the semester for me. OR I hope Texas Tech wins the last football game. That really would make the semester for me.
Ravitch argues that high schools are pressured to act as "social service centers, and they don't do that well" (Weisman 259).
What is the absence of proper citation? Indirect sources need "qtd in."
Technical schools are chosen by mechanically-inclined students.
What is passive voice? Mechanically-inclined students chose technical schools.
I love all kinds of food; especially the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day.
What is misuse of a semi-colon? I love all kinds of food, especially the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day. OR I love all kinds of food; I especially love the kind that is served on Thanksgiving day.
A lawyer must pass the state bar if he is to be licensed in the state.
What is a lack of gender-neutral language? A lawyer must pass the state bar if she or he is to be licensed in the state.