1. QUICK-AND-DIRTY-GRAMMAR
Correcting the basic mechanical errors from your papers

2. Contents Frequently misused words Fragments
Comma splices, fused and run-on sentences
Agreement

3. Frequently Misused Words
Similarity of spelling or pronunciation: a/ an/the, affect/effect, accept/except, to/too/two, principal/principle, loose/lose, passed/past, etc.
Irregular verbs: lie/lay, set/sit, raise/rise
Possessive pronouns/pronoun-verb contractions
Consult my List of Frequently Misused Words for definitions and examples.

4. Fragments
Cause: one or more necessary elements missing from a sentence—subject, verb, or complete thought
Example: Because Gwen went to UMBC.
Solutions:
Supply the missing element.
Attach the fragment to the preceding or following sentence if the meanings are similar.

5. Comma Splice Cause: a comma placed between two main clauses
Example: Clint made many movies, he is both an actor and a director.
Solutions:
Place a comma and conjunction (and, but, or, so, nor, for, yet) between the clauses.
Place a semicolon between the clauses.

6. Fused and Run-on Sentences
Cause of fused sentence: no punctuation between main clauses
Cause of run-on sentence: conjunction without its comma between main clauses
Solutions:
See previous slide.

7. Agreement
Cause: subjects, verbs, and pronouns don’t agree in gender and number
Example: Northrop Grumman are hiring for their R&D department.
Solutions:
Write in 3rd person plural and the past tense rather than in 3rd person singular and the present tense.