GRAMMAR RULES

1. LESS IS MORE

• Go with the shortest answer unless the shortest is horrible

2. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

• Subjects agree with their verbs in number (singular or plural)
• Examples- a) the butterfly is colorful. b) the friends are together.

3. CONTRACTIONS

• Always say both words: it's, you've, you're, they're, etc.
• Contractions are less formal, less emphatic, and less urgent.

4. HOW TO PUT TWO SENTENCES INTO ONE SENTENCE

• Before: Ed went to the store. He brought some gum.
• After: Ed went to the store, and brought some gum.

5. EXTRA INFO HAS COMMAS OR DASHES AROUND IT

• a) Bob, The fastest runner, jogged in for the touchdown.

6. PARALLELISM

• Stay with the tend within the sentence
• Example: she was walking, talking, and running all yesterday.

7. TRANSITION WORDS

• Expectations fulfilled: thus, therefore, because of
• She's friendly. Thus, she won the election.

8. A DESCRIPTIVE CLAUSE MODIFIES ONLY WHAT IMMEDIATELY COMES BEFORE OR AFTER

• a. Driving home after dark, he proceeded cautiously.

9. VOICE CANNOT CHANGE WITHIN A SENTENCE

• One will find that the library is a great place for you/one to learn.

10. NON-WORDS:

• a. Irregardless b. funnier c. Were at d. Its' etc.