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Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Slashed Constructions Slashed Constructions This is one of the easier concepts to understand in English grammar. The purpose of a slashed construction is to provide more than one term that fits within the context of the surrounding elements in a sentence. It simply allows for a sentence to have two alternate interpretations, one for each version that includes one of the two words provided. So instead of writing two sentences that only differ by a single conjunction... It is green or purple. It is green and purple. We use a slash... It is green and/or purple. Definition A Slashed Construction is the combination of terms by way of a slash. Alternative The pipe delimiter ("|") may be substituted for the forward slash ("/") when creating a slashed construction. P!apoose is a trademark of Chen Dushek

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Using Gerunds Using Gerunds A gerund is a verb ending in "ing." A gerund is itself also a verb, but may be used infrequently as a noun; such as, playing in the sun makes me tired. In this example, playing is the subject of the example independent clause, and makes is the verb. It's important to note that as a verb, gerunds introduce a parenthetic clause to the sentence, but as a noun they do not. They may be followed by a prepositional phrase (such as, in the sun in the previous example) when used as a noun, but rarely if ever are they followed by a parenthetic expression when used as a noun. Uses Gerunds provide a very valuable function that would otherwise cause confusion. Gerunds provide a sentence with the action of an object. That is to say, gerunds introduce the clause that describes what an object of the sentence is doing. When a writer includes a gerund mid-sentence, it is almost always non-restrictive and t

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Commas Understanding Commas Commas are the most widely utilized and under-appreciated form of punctuation in the English language. That means they are used the most and appreciated the least. More importantly, they are less understood than they should be. Understanding proper comma usage can be distilled into an art form when considering some of the finer points of the grammar rules regarding comma usage. Proper comma use can save money in marketing expenses, prevent ambiguity that could have a legal or financial impact, and ensure transcripts are interpreted as intended. However, proper comma usage alone is meaningless unless there is proper understanding and interpretation of that usage. As overlooked as commas may be in modern day, they still control the meaning of a sentence and the interpretation of that meaning. As such, it is imperative that the correct interpretation is derived with the proper understanding of smartly as

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Colons Understanding Colons A colon is a punctuation mark used to introduce one item or items that follows the colon to an item or items that precedes the colon. a colon is only used in the middle of a sentence or at the end of an independent or dependent clause, providing that something follows the colon after the independent or dependemt clause. Colons Introducing Clauses A colon can separate an independent clause from a dependent clause, such as when introducing a list or group of items. In rare cases, a colon can separate two independent clauses, such as when one sentence introduces another sentence. A colon can introduce a dependent clause or list of items from an independent or dependent clause that precedes it. A colon can introduce a single object or group of objects in a sentence or sentence fragment. For example, Name: Papoose Colons in List Items A colon can be used to introduce inline list items or external list it

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Hyphens Understanding Hyphens A hyphen is used to connect either two syllables of two different words or a syllable (or group of syllables) to a word. The hyphen is intended for the newly-created term to be read as a single word, such as the noun anti-hero , the adjective near-sighted , or the recently coined term e-mail . Typically, newly coined compound terms can drop the hyphen after some time, such as email from e-mail , which was originally the spelling, or misled , which was once mis-led . However, until two words are officially inducted as a new single compound word, the use of the hyphen can replace the use of square quotes of a term, which is customary to reflect the closer relationship those two (or more) words have to each other than the other words in the sentence, such as when quoting a uncommon use of a word or phrase. When an expression has exhausted the single quote treatment ad nauseam, or when two words aren't

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Abbreviations & Acronyms Understanding Abbreviations An abbreviation is a shortening of a word for the sake of brevity; hence the word abbreviation . For example, ex. is a common abbreviation for the word example . Notice that the next word in the sentence is not capitalized after the period following an abbreviation. Abbreviations are typically the first syllable of a long word, but short words can be abbreviated as well. In some cases, an abbreviation can include the second or even less frequently third syllable of a word. Generally speaking, however, since the purpose of an abbreviation is to increase the brevity of a word, phrase, or sentence, then two syllables of an abbreviated word is a standard maximum amount. Many abbreviations include an apostrophe within them to help distinguish the abbreviation more easily or just how the abbreviation has become commonly written; for example, gov't, which is also a good example of

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Parallelism Introduction to Parallelism Many writers, whether novice or expert, may find themselves unwittingly violating the rules of Parallelism or unintentionally adhering to them. The rule itself is quite simple, but it’s impact is distinguishable and its effects somewhat profound in terms of its lasting impression upon readers. Parallelism focuses mostly on lists and list items, but can be extended to included many other forms of syntax. The key factor in obeying this rule is in consistency. Preliminary Example of Parallelism As a simple example, a person would write that a single subject does something and a pluralized subjects do something. However, that person wouldn’t write that a subject do something unless they were giving an order to the subject. Likewise, and perhaps much clearer, a person wouldn’t write that multiple subjects does something unless grouping them with a word that symbolizes the collective as a gro

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Periods Understanding Periods A period ends a sentence. Every complete sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with either a period, question mark, or exclamation point. When a period ends a sentence, it is neither a question nor an exclamation. It is simply a statement. Periods and Independent Clauses A Period separates two complete independent clauses . A period cannot separate an independent clause from a dependent clause. Likewise, a period cannot separate an independent clause from a restrictive or non-restrictive clause, provided the non-restrictive clause is not an independent clause, which should be obvious. To be clear, a period can never separate a dependent clause from an independent clause. Other Uses of Periods A period can be used following each letter of an acronym . In such cases, that would be because the word was not clearly an acronym without the periods. For example, scuba was first written as S.C.U

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Because Commas Understanding Because Commas Let’s start with an example before adding any guidelines. Examples: I am not happy because it’s Friday. I am happy, because it’s Friday. So which sentence is correct? The answer depends on what you intended to convey in your sentence. So the question is: What was intended? In order to match what was intended with the sentence offering the same results, we have to first understand how the comma is used to remove restrictions. As a general rule of thumb: The use of a comma is going to imply non-restrictive treatment. Let’s use a simpler example for this point. The cat that is white. The cat, which is white. The cat that is white is a restrictive sentence . What that means is that there are a number of cats and if I don’t restrict my description, then nobody will know which of the cats I was referring to. Therefore, we add the one ‘that is white' to restrict the subject o

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Double Punctuation Understanding Double Punctuation Double punctuation should be avoided if possible, but in some cases are necessary. A period or comma always go inside a quotation mark, so that is an example of double punctuation, a period followed by a quote mark. When using Latin abbreviations; e.g., mid-sentence, a comma follows the Latin text if a non-restrictive expression follows; otherwise, it ends with a period and the sentence continues on without any additional punctuation nor without any capitalization following that period. When a term is placed inside of quotes that are inside parentheses, then the author is introducing an abbreviation, acronym, or nickname of the noun directly preceding it. The same punctuation can never follow itself a duplicate instance; for example, two commas can never follow each other; they must always be surrounding some form of text, and two periods can never follow each other; an ellipsis is

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Quotes Understanding Quotes Quotes are generally used to signify spoken words in writing. There are double quotes and single quotes, each with their own useful purposes. Using Double Quotes Place double quotes around text that a character speaks to another character or object in the written material. Note: Text a character speaks to the audience or to themselves is generally treated with italics, though sometimes in single quotes as well, but less often. Using Single Quotes Also known as 'Scare quotes,' place single quotes around a word or phrase to draw special attention to it. Single quotes can also be used for the alternate title of a person or object; for example, Jim 'the mechanic' broke another gearbox. This example shows how single implies the sarcasm of Jim not being a mechanic, which is confirmed by the predicate where the reason for the sarcasm is provided: because he broke another gearbox. See Quotes E

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Non-restrictive Clauses Understanding Restrictive Versus Non-Restrictive Clauses Restrictive clauses and non-restrictive clauses are generally known by the 'that versus which' question we ask ourselves when determining when to use a comma before placing a relative pronoun in a sentence. As a general rule of thumb, a comma usually precedes 'which' and no comma before the word 'that.' Sometimes though, it helps to understand the finer points of the grammar rules governing this confusing comma usage. 'That' is the word corresponding to a restrictive clause, and 'which' is the word corresponding to a non-restrictive clause. When 'that' is used in a sentence, the restrictive clause that follows is also known as a subordinate clause or a dependent clause. Perhaps it helps to remember that commas are used to separate independent things, such as items in a grocery list or two sentences joined

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Quotes >> Exceptions Quotes Exceptions A semicolon and question mark signal the end of a sentence if followed by a capitalized word; for example, when quoting speech, the spoken words may end with a question mark or exclamation point, but the sentence continues on without any unnecessary capitalization of the following word. For example: "Am I?" she asked. The word 'she' is not capitalized because it is not the start of a new sentence. See Capitalization or Quotes for more information.

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Capitalization Capitalization Capitalization is a standard grammatical practice throughout al of the english language uses. A capital letter of a word can symbolize various grammatical implications. Capitalization rules are generally the same throughout all the various style guides in the English language. Capitalizing words The first word of every sentence must begin with a capital letter. When encountering an exception to this rule, such as beginning a sentence with the word 'iPhone,' consider recasting the sentence so that it begins with a different word that can be capitalized--such as 'The iPhone'--to prevent any exceptions from occurring. See Quotes Exception . As long as the first letter of a sentence is capitalized, there are no other steadfast rules for what can and cannot be capitalized in that sentence. However, aside from starting a sentence, capitalization is used to set off or draw attention to a spec

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Sentence Basics Understanding Sentence Structure A Sentence is an Independent Clause; for example, "I am Papoose." A sentence must begin with a capital letter, with few exceptions and must end with some form of punctuation; typically, a period . An Independent Clause is comprised of a subject ("I") and a predicate ("Am Papoose"). An independent clause can stand alone as a full sentence. A Dependent Clause is only a predicate, which includes the verb. Dependent clauses are sentences without subjects. A verb is the action word of a sentence, such as write or run or swim. Gerund verbs are exceptions to this guideline. A Dependent Clause is always connected to an Independent Clause because a dependent clause is missing a subject and therefore cannot stand alone. The Subject and Predicate are the two parts of every sentence. That is to say, a sentence must contain both a subject and a predicate; no exce

Open and Closed Forms The concept of the open form and closed form relates to the principles of nonrestrictive clauses and is one of the few execeptions in English (US) grammar to those rules on clauses. The value of this new rule--however dated it may seem--is that it allows sentences to 'spare the ink' so to speak when referring to such grammatical elements such as appositives. The benefits of single word or otherwise short-worded appositives, for example, is that the meaning of the sentence is not lost or changed when removing the commas dictated by the rules of nonrestrictive clauses. Nonrestrictive clauses call for a comma before the relative pronoun preceded by the subject or other sentence fragment preceding it. That brings us to the exception involving the open and closed form rules of grammar Open Form The concept of open form is quite simple and best understood by example. Though an appositive typically does not provide additional identifying information that re

Build your own poem by selecting from the options presented after each previous choice you select. No matter what you pick, the result is always a poem probably maybe...Refresh the page to start again!! The possibilities are endless!! Warning: possibilities are not endless. (Select from the options below and your poem will appear directly below)   Begin Round 1   Select Left Pesticide Pets at side Select Right     Select Lvl2 Approve in nays A proven ace Select Lvl2     Select Lvl 3 Hazardous stakes Has arduous takes Select Lvl3     Select Lvl 4 Inn door could seal And orchids heal Select Lvl4     Select Lvl 5 Severities Say varieties Select Lvl5     Select Lvl 6 Drives home Derives some Select Lvl6     Select Lvl7 Redeem urgency Read emergency Select Lvl7     Select Lvl 8 Apple again A pelican

  Administering Healing Energy When providing a subject with healing energy, it is important to remember that good thoughts can be just as preventative as bad thoughts. Obviously, such a claim begs the question: Why?, but there is no short answer for that. The question then shifts over to How? Luckily for me, that is an easy answer.  First, a provider must have the ability to clear the mind of any thoughts. It’s especially important not to allow any self-serving moments to spring up, as even the most noble of efforts is ultimately self serving. Consider for example a famous hero from the distant past. The idea of being written into history factored into their decisions. It always does. Somehow in some way, even the most benign of intentions have some relation to the self.  Consider this, if you were offered the chance to get every person on the planet into heaven would you take it? What if the cost of them all entering into heaven was of yourself remaining in hell alone forever? Now, w

Home >> Grammar Style Guide >> Headline Caps Understanding Headline Capitalization For headline capitalization, the first letter of each word in a phrase or expression is capitalized, much like the headlines in newspapers, which is where the term originated. In other words, we capitalize the first letter of each word in a phrase that is treated with headline capitalization, or headline caps for short. This Is Headline Capitalization. Camel Case Similarly to headline caps is camel case capitalization. In camel case, the first letter of every word in a phrase or sentence is also capitalized as well, but the spaces between the words are removed. This style became popular among computer programmers who needed descriptive titles that were easy to read but not permitted to have any spaces. Replacing spaces with underscores became a tedious process as more and more names and titles were added to a project, so camel case was the solution. ThisIsCamelCaseCapitalization.