This guide will be posted in PDF format when I get a chance for easier reading.

GandalfDaGraay's

Guide to Good Grammar

After Toru Bozu's great guide on basic rules of writing, Kester suggested a guide to grammar and spelling. What you are reading now is my reference for basic grammar rules that any writer should follow. At the end, there is a section devoted to commas, along with a short bit on spelling.

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Table of Contents:

Four Things Never To Do
	Run-On Sentences
	Sentence Fragments
	Subject-Verb Disagreement
	Double Negatives
Using Commas
Spelling
Final Comments

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Four Things Never To Do

We all do dumb things from time to time. Here are detailed explanations of four dumb writing errors so that you will not commit them.

Rule 1: Run-On Sentences

What Not To Do:Run-on sentences are the number one thing you can do to look bad you really shouldn't use them.

This error is extremely common and extremely wrong. Run-on sentences combine two individual thoughts or actions without separating them. Do not use run-on sentences. When there are two independent things going on in a sentence, stop and look back for a second. Did you properly separate the two thoughts? There are three ways to do this:

1. Use a semicolon (;) between the two thoughts. Be careful not to overuse semicolons, because they can stilt your writing. Example: Run-on sentences are the number one thing you can do to look bad; you really shouldn't use them.

2. Use joining words like and or but between the two thoughts. This is proper when there is a relationship between them. Example: Run-on sentences are the number one thing you can do to look bad, and you really shouldn't use them.

3. Separate the run-on sentence into two sentences. Sometimes semicolons and joining words are not the right solution, and separating the thoughts is the best way to get rid of the run-on sentence. Example: Run-on sentences are the number one thing you can do to look bad. You really shouldn't use them.

Avoiding run-on sentences is easy and quickly improves your style. If you want to be a writer, you must eliminate all run-on sentences from your writing.

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Rule 2: Sentence Fragments

What Not To Do:Sentence fragments. Are the opposite of run-on sentences.

Instead of running two complete thoughts together, fragments do not even express a complete thought. There is only one solution to this problem: ensure that every sentence clearly expresses who or what is doing the action, and what is being done. Example:

Sentence fragments are the opposite of run-on sentences.

Another example:

Shaking the dust from himself. Got up to his feet. becomes Shaking the dust from himself, he got up to his feet.

Sentence fragments and run-on sentences both ruin otherwise good writing. They interrupt the flow of a story, confuse the reader, and act like a large sign labeled “Amateur”.

However, some sentence fragments are acceptable for effect when used properly. Example: Frustrated, the tracker bent to the ground and carefully examined the dirt. Nothing.

Here, “Nothing” is an acceptable sentence fragment..

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Rule 3: Subject-Verb Disagreement

What Not To Do:In correct writing, the subject and the verb in a sentence oughts to agree.

That's right, no Gollum talk. Unless you're JRR, of course. Every correct sentence has both a subject and a verb. The subject can be either singular or plural: that is, there can be one object or multiple objects performing the action.

When you use a singular subject, you have to use a singular verb. Example: Timmy was heading over to Tommy's house.

A plural subject requires a plural verb. Example: Timmy and Bobby were heading over to Tommy's house.

To correct the original sentence: In correct writing, the subject and the verb in a sentence ought to agree.

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Rule 4: Double Negatives

What Not To Do:The members of the Fellowship pushed and pulled at the doors of Moria, but they couldn't get them to do nothing.

Hopefully this rule goes without saying. Multiple negatives do not emphasize negativeness. They're not cute, they're not cool, and they're not correct. It's okay to use double negatives in dialogue as required by the characters, but you should carefully consider how it will affect your readers' impression of the character. For the narrator, however, double negatives are never allowed.

To fix a double negative, just change one of the negatives into a positive. So: The members of the Fellowship pushed and pulled at the doors of Moria, but they couldn't get them to do anything. OR The members of the Fellowship pushed and pulled at the doors of Moria, but they could get them to do nothing.

Choosing the right replacement is only a matter of which one sounds best.

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Using Commas

Commas. (See, there's a good sentence fragment for effect. ) The comma is the most mangled and mistreated part of English I've ever seen. From fan fiction to professional advertisements and publications, you can find the comma misused almost anywhere you look.

So when do you use commas? To sum up, use a comma to:

1. Set off an introductory word or phrase, including direct address: See, there's a good sentence fragment for effect. “Jeeves, please get the door.” (Direct address) While we were eating, the phone rang. Pulling back a curl of hair from her eyes, she began the strenuous healing process.

Notice that in each of these sentences, the underlined portion is unnecessary. The sentence is grammatically correct if it's removed. The underlined portion, however, cannot stand alone. This part of the sentence is called a subordinate clause. If you have a subordinate clause, you will almost always use a comma.

2. Set off any other subordinate clause: Gandalf knew that, to be honest, collapsing the Tavern was wrong. Faramir and Éowyn sat by the bay, watching the sun set.

3. Separate items in a series: Elrond fumed as he considered the love triangle between Aragorn, Arwen, and Éowyn.

Some people omit the second comma in a series, but for clarity's sake it's best to use it.

When a series contains one or more series inside it, use semicolons for the main series and commas for the sub series: The restaurant's menu included spinach, liver, and tripe; pork roast; and chicken cordon bleu.

4. Separate two independent thoughts linked by and or but: I cast a glance back into the gloom, but the forms of my pursuers were hidden by the intense wall of darkness behind me.

When you link the sentences with however, use a semicolon instead of a comma. Separate however from the sentence with a comma: I threw my full weight against the gate; however, the sealing spell was too well cast to defeat with brute force.

5. Separate two consecutive adjectives modifying the same thing: The beautiful, priceless vase toppled to the floor.

This list isn't exhaustive, but it covers the most important places to employ commas. Used properly, commas add professionalism and clarity to your writing.

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Spelling

Spelling is one of the hardest things for many writers. The English language finds several ways to form most sounds, so spelling a word correctly may involve more than simply sounding it out. The best way to improve your spelling is to read. You will absorb crucial spelling, vocabulary, and writing technique by reading quality books.

Still, there are a few similar words that anyone can easily confuse. If you're unsure about a word, look it up in here. I'll use pairs of these similar words in sentences so you can get a solid picture of their differences.

Word	Use	Example
its	Possessive	Its feathers glistened in the light.
it's	Contraction: it is	It's not easy being green.
our	Possessive	Our pains were rewarded with success.
hour	Noun	I'll see you in an hour.
their	Possessive	Their faces reflected hope and promise for the future.
they're	Contraction: they are	They're heading for the park.
there	Other	There is the city of Minas Tirith.
threw	Past Verb	He threw the broken remote across the room.
through	Preposition	Look through the telescope.
to	Preposition	Take me to your leader.
too	Other	My mom was furious, and my aunt was, too.
two	Number (Adjective)	I piled two helpings of lasagna on my plate.
would	Helping verb	Would you like to be a hero?
wood	Noun	The carpenter built a shed out of wood.
write	Verb	I will write an essay.
right	Adjective	You are wrong, and I am right.
your	Possessive	Your message was intercepted.
you're	Contraction: you are	You're not listening to me.

This list is by no means complete. If you want to submit a group, or even individual difficult words that you think should be included, you can e-mail them to me at snipefighter@yahoo.com.

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Final Comments

Hopefully, this guide is helpful to your writing. Still, I stress that the only complete solution for improving your grammar and spelling is to read quality books. If you haven't read the Lord of the Rings, then that should definitely be on your reading list. You should also pick up at least a few older classics (i.e. Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, etc.). It has been said that reading is the key to writing, and I agree wholeheartedly. This guide is only that – a guide. As in painting and composing music, the best way to learn is to study the masters.

Good luck with your writing!

GandalfDaGraay

[This message has been edited by GandalfDaGraay (edited 01-13-2007 @ 11:13 PM).]