Scarica Mastering English Grammar and Punctuation: A Comprehensive Guide e più Schemi e mappe concettuali in PDF di Lingua Inglese solo su Docsity! ACING GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION Goni Sindi Department of Public Relations, University of Udine Lingua e Comunicazione Inglese Professor Nickolas Komninos October 23, 2023 ACING GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION Introduction to the Importance of Grammar What is grammar? Linguistic David Crystal has a valid explanation: “ Grammar is one of the most exciting, creative, relevant subjects I know. It is sometimes described as the skeleton of a language, but is much more than bones. It’s the language heartbeat, its nervous system, its intelligence. For without grammar, there can no be meaningful or effect communication.” English grammar is the set of structural rules of English language. It includes several aspects of the English language like: sentences, clauses, phrases, parts of speech and punctuation. Sentences, Clauses, and Phrases - and Common Errors Sentences simply express a complete thought with words, at a minimum a subject and a verb, and they begin with capitalized word and end with a period, question mark, or an exclamation mark. The most common sentence structure errors are analysed in the paragraphs below: • Incomplete sentences occur when writing a sentence with a missing verb or when mistaking a dependent clause as a sentence • Comma splices happen when a comma is added between two independent clauses. • Run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses lack punctuation between them. • That or witch Hunting-To understand that challenges in selecting that or which, is needed to understand the differences between restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses: - Restrictive relative clauses provide essential information about the noun preceding the clause, in fact the reader would be confused if that information is not included - Nonrestrictive relative clauses add information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. • Appositives are nouns or noun phrases that can be placed before or after the word or phrases they are describing. • Misplaced modifiers It’s a word, phrase or clause that is separated from the word it described, creating confusion and ambiguity. • Faulty parallelism happens when a series of word, phrases, or clauses do not balance logistically in the same grammatical form. Direction of the Nine Parts of Speech D. Colons should be used for division in sentence to indicate lists, title with subheads, time and rations and questions and answers interviews. E. Commas serve many purpose to help readers understand relationships between words and clauses F. Dashes have two forms: en dash and em dash; they are helpful punctuation for additional information or emphasis or to substitute the word “to” G. Exclamation marks follow warnings and emphasis H. Hyphens is used in phrasal adjectives, prefixes and suffixes, numbers and ages and missing words I. Parentheses can be helpful in providing reader additional information J. Periods are used for the conclusion of sentences, websites and emails. K. Question marks can be used to express uncertainty in interrogative sentences L. Quotation marks are required for composition titles, direct quotations and quotes within a quotes M. Semi-colons can be helpful In two ways: clarity in a sentence with multiple commas and connection between two independent clauses. REFERENCES Algeo, J. (2006). British or American English? A handbook of word and grammar patterns. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bainton, G. (Ed.) (1891). The art of authorship: Literary reminiscences, methods of work, and advice to young beginners, personally contributed by leading authors of the day. New York, NY: D. Appleton and Company. Bennett, M. J. (1998). Intercultural communication: A current perspective. In M. J. Bennett (Ed.), Basic concepts of intercultural communication: Selected readings (pp. 1-34). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. Braiker, B. (2007, September 25). Books: A dictionary drops 16,000 hyphens. Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/books-dictionary-drops-16000-hyphens-100795. British Council (n.d.). Order of adjectives. Retrieved from http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/ en/english-grammar/adjectives/order-adjectives. Cappon, R. J. (2003). The Associated Press guide to punctuation. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing. Casagrande, J. (2006). Grammar snobs are great big meanies: A guide to language for fun and spite. New York, NY: Penguin Books. Clark, R. P. (2010). The glamour of grammar: A guide to the magic and mystery of practical English. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. Connatser, B. R. (2004). Reconsidering some prescriptive rules of grammar and composition. Technical Communication, 51(2). 264-275.
