COMM 313: Grammar highlights

Comm 313, Editorial Processes
Instructor: Ross Collins

Grammar Highlights

English collects the best of many languages, leaving us with an incredibly rich trove, and a particularly complex one. Spelling and pronunciation are unpredictable, and no accent marks help out. Different word combinations offer no grammatical touchstones: 16 different letter combinations, for instance, are pronounced "sh." In fact, recent research (2001) indicates that dyslexia, a disability making it difficult to read, is more common in France and England--two countries whose languages include unpronounced letters, or letters pronounced in a way not obvious by spelling--and rare in Spain and Italy, countries whose languages include near-universal rules and pronunciation of every letter.

Yet as anglophone editors, we need to know our language better than the general population. This is not a grammar course, however; it takes years of reading and writing to become really proficient. But what can be covered are mistakes particularly common in media-style writing, so that you'll be able to catch a good share of the worst offenders. Here is a concise review of class discussions.

Affect/effect. Affect, have an influence on; effect, bring about, change. Affect is a verb, effect a noun.

Between/among. Between, two people or things. Among, more than two.

Its/it's; whose/who's; your/you're. The first examples are possessive, the second contractions of "it is" and "who is." Say "it is," "who is," or "you are" in the sentence, see if it makes sense--then it's the contraction, and not the possessive. ("It is the contraction," for example.)

Their/they're/there. See above example; there is a place.

Principle/principal. Principal, most important; principle, guiding rule. The first is used always as an adjective (look for noun after), the second as a noun. Prncipal also is used for the person (Principal) or money.

Neither/nor; either/or. Always go together. Think N/N (consonants) or E/O (verbs).

Team, companies. Always singular verbs. ("The NDSU Bison won its fifth home game.")

Dangling modifiers: Amusing mistake, the introductory clause modifies the wrong thing. ("Faced with possible arrest, the art work was dumped in the canal.")

Apostrophes to indicate possession. An English peculiarity that, I admit, streamlines the language somewhat ("The minister's book"), but also confuses grammar; doesn't exist in French or Spanish. (must say, "The book of the minister.) Most college students know that plural forms of nouns do not include an apostrophe ("He bought two book's" is obviously an error; "He damaged the book's spine" is correct possessive). Plural possessive ("Two books' spines") sometimes is more confusing. Company names sometimes drop the possessive apostrophe.

To/too. To is a preposition; too means more than enough, or also.

Hyphenated words. Confusing in English. Compound adjectives are hyphenated used in front of nouns (The bluish-green dress), and after nouns if the verb is a form of to be (The dress was bluish-green.) No hyphenation if the compound includes an adverb (ly at the end, such as "The lightly traveled road.")

Who/that. People are who. ("The woman who fights for her rights will eventually get them.")

Media/data. Both take plural verbs. ("The media are....)

A lot/all right. Two words each; alright is incorrect, though common.

Lie/lay. Lie means rest or recline, is intransitive (does not take a direct object). Lay means put or place, is transitive. ("She lies down" "The book is laying on the table.") Confusion centers over an unfortunate English quirk: the past tense of lie (lay) is the same as the present tense of lay. ("She lies down; she lay down yesterday"; "He lays the book on the table; he laid it on the table yesterday.")

Sexist language. Try to avoid (policeman=law enforcement officer; fireman=fire fighter; mailman=letter carrier.)

Punctuation.
Needed for clarity and expression of emotion.("That was smart. That was smart! That was smart?" "Woman without her man is nothing; Woman: without her, man is nothing.") Phrases of appositive need commas if unrestrictive ("The company CEO, Irving Nern, announced quarterly profits.") but not if restrictive. ("Company CEO Irving Nern announced quarterly profits.") Commas also are needed before coordinating conjunctions (and, or, nor, but, yet, for), after introductory clauses ("If he's as important as that, we should try to recruit him"), and around introductory clauses. ("An experienced writer, generally speaking, tries to avoid clichés.") The "serial comma" may be used for more formal writing ("Apples, oranges, and grapefruit"), but often is dropped in more informal mass comm writing. (apples, oranges and grapefruit.") Dates with years must include a comma before and after the year. ("She was born July 21, 1955, in Paris.") Cities with states must include a comma after the state. ("He comes from New Rockford, N.D., but now lives in Fargo.")