A Noun and a Verb – True Love – LOL
A complete sentence involves a noun and a verb.
“He runs.” It is a short sentence, but it is a complete sentence.
grammar
Grammar Tip: Find the Right Word
Make sure your verbs are strong—avoiding overuse of what I call the Terrible Twenty, (was, had, did, saw etc.—everybody has their own Terrible Twenty) the one size fits all verbs that are used again and again… Like a one-size fits all t shirt, it looks good on nobody. Try to be as specific as you can, take the time to find the absolutely right word.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Rx For Run on Sentences
Fixing a run-on sentence or a comma splice can be accomplished in one of five different ways:
- Separate the clauses into two sentences.
- Replace the comma with a semi-colon.
- Replace the comma with a coordinating conjunction–and, but, for, yet, nor, so, or.
- Replace the comma with a subordinating conjunction–after, although, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while.
- Replace the comma with a semi-colon and transitional word–however, moreover, on the other hand, nevertheless, instead, also, therefore, consequently, otherwise, as a result.
For example:Â Incorrect: Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years old.Â
Correct: Rachel is very smart. She began reading when she was three years old. Correct: Rachel is very smart; she began reading when she was three years old. Correct: Rachel is very smart, for she began reading when she was three years old. Correct: Because Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years old.Â
Correct: Rachel is very smart; as a result, she began reading when she was three years old.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Forego Fish Breath
Misspelling “bated breath.” If you write baited breath, everyone will suspect fishing is your favorite hobby. The word should be spelled bated, which comes from abated, meaning held.
🔤 Grammar Tip: The Power in a Short Sentence
Short Sentences
Short sentences can pack a punch. They can create tension. They can be beautiful and rhythmic. They also stand out more when surrounded by longer sentences.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Are You Better “Then” or “Than”?
Then & Than
Then is a description of time—”I wrote the sales letter and then I wrote the advertisement”—while than is used when making a comparison—”I am more sick of this picky client than you are!”
Grammar Tip: Sentence Writing
Don’t use unnecessary instances of “which,” “as,” “with,” and “while;” use modifiers instead.
Two example: 1.  Change the sentence, “I drove down the freeway, which made me feel carsick” suffers from the “which.” TO: “I drove down the freeway, feeling carsick.” Example 2: “The teacher cleaned her desk while listening to The Beatles.” TO:  “The teacher cleaned her desk, listening to The Beatles.”
🔤 Grammar Tip: Do We Have to Agree?
The Short Answer: Yes if we’re talking about subjects and verbs.Â
The subject and verb of a sentence must agree with one another in number whether they are singular or plural. If the subject of the sentence is singular, its verb must also be singular; and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Example 1:
Incorrect: An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me.
Correct: An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me.
Example 2:
Incorrect: The two best things about the party was the food and the music.
Correct: The two best things about the party were the food and the music.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Do I Capitalize or Not Capitalize?
When To Capitalize and When Not to Capitalize
- Capitalize ‘I’
- Capitalize nations, national nouns and adjectives – French, Russian, English, Italy, Canadian, etc.
- Capitalize the first letter of the first word in a new sentence or question
- Do NOT capitalize common nouns, nouns are only capitalized if they are the name of something
- Capitalize proper names of people, institutions, festivals, etc.
BUT
I go to the University of Texas. (noun used as proper name)
🔤 Grammar Tip: Is It Better to “Resign” or “Re-sign”?
Resign and Re-sign
Resign — without the hyphen — means to quit your job and the “s” is pronounced like a “z.”
Example: My boss didn’t want to increase my salary so I decided to resign. This will be my last week of work.
Re-sign — with the hyphen — means to sign a contract again and it usually also means that you’ve decided to stay in your current job! In re-sign, the “s” is pronounced as an “s,” and you emphasize the first syllable.
Example: I love my current job, so I happily re-signed for another year.
