Grammar tips

Wasn't sure where to post this...
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1. Alliteration is when all the words start with the same letter: Shiny Starry Sky
2. Prepositions are like at, about, down, despite, etc.
3. Clichés are like "Lost track of time".
4. "A vernacular is the native language of a population, defined either by location or social grouping." Basically, American English and British English.
5. Don't use ampersands and abbreviations, basically. This is for formal writing.
6. Parenthesis are not necessary because it's not relevant to the sentence, so it can be left out.
7.

A split infinitive can change the meaning of the sentence.
You do have to be careful though. Sometimes when you try to avoid splitting an infinitive you can change the meaning of a sentence.

Consider this example: Steve decided to quickly remove Amy's cats. The split infinitive is “to quickly remove,” but if you move the adverb “quickly” before the infinitive, you could imply that Steve made the decision quickly.

Steve decided quickly to remove Amy's cats.

From: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/split-infinitives.aspx

8. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/contractions.aspx
9. Apropos means appropriate, basically. This rule is probably for formal writing.
10. ????
11. ????
12. Similes and metaphors, I think.
13. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/avoiding-redundancy.aspx
14. Pretty much self-explanatory. Basically, f***, s***, etc.
15. ????
16. A statement that's not complete. Like: "guns are bad." "That's an understatement."
17. Exaggerations are "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" or "the moon is bigger than the sun."
18. One-worded sentences are fragments.
19. "I am going to be toast when I get home." This is usually said when someone is in trouble with their significant other.
20.

Passive Voice
For a livelier and more persuasive sentence, consider rewriting your sentence using an active verb (the subject performs the action, as in "The ball hit Catherine") rather than a passive verb (the subject receives the action, as in "Catherine was hit by the ball"). If you rewrite with an active verb, consider what the appropriate subject is - "they," "we," or a more specific noun or pronoun.

Instead of: Juanita was delighted by Michelle.
Consider: Michelle delighted Juanita.

Instead of: Eric was given more work.
Consider: The boss gave Eric more work.

Instead of: The garbage needs to be taken out.
Consider: You need to take the garbage out.

From: Microsoft Word 2007.

21. Colloquialism is...

Colloquialism
It is incorrect to use "better" alone as a verb. For clarity and correct usage, substitute "had better."

Instead of: She better finish the report before the deadline.
Consider: She had better finish the report before the deadline.

Instead of: The report better be correct.
Consider: The report had better be correct.

From: Microsoft Word 2007.

22. Lol I have no idea XD
23. A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point and without the expectation of a reply.

From: Gideon O. Burton, Brigham Young University. "Rhetorical Questions". specialized language definitions. 10-1-13.

How to check grammar in Microsoft Word
I wish I knew a shortcut for this, but make a typo, such as starting a sentence with a lowercase letter.

Right click it, and an option for grammar should appear. Click on that, of course.


This should appear. Click on options.


Now, you have several options. First, check off all the ones I've checked off. Next, select "grammar and style" under "writing style".


AutoCorrection options are nice too. Click on that next. Check off all the ones I've checked off.




There we have it. If you need any more tips, don't be afraid to ask me.

Awesome site
This is a good site. Try it out. http://www.paperrater.com/

Very nicely done Michelle. It's a good refreshment of grammar skills, and by no doubt this guide will help us all in proficient writing. Your tips are also very straightforward, so it's simple to follow (that's a good aspect I assure you!).

Very good guide once again and thank you.

Lolgrammar. But seriously, I think this thread is pretty needed. "Sum ppl has know sens in gramer" Like that. Know not fun reading, but sertainly helpful.

Thank you. I'm glad you think it's needed.

Very good guide once again and thank you.

You're welcome!

wow great job! Thank you! hate grammer -.- lol

Soem poepel nede to raed tis. To be honest this is a very good guide!

This guide is pretty good. I think that I'm alright with grammar but I will take into consideration these tips.