Grammar Rules
TOP 10 Never use an apostrophe to create a plural. An apostrophe is used to show ownership or to make a contraction. Example: I’m the best teacher you’ll ever have. NOT: I love all my cousin’s equally. Example: Go to Joe’s house and borrow some milk. NOT: I received a letter from the Smith’s.
TOP 10 There / Their / They’re all different. There: a place or location Example: My little boy is over there on second base. Their: belonging to more than one person (possessive of they) Example: Their dog is so sweet. They’re: contraction of they are Example: They’re going to the park.
TOP 10 Who’s / Whose Who’s: contraction of who is Example: Who’s your daddy? Whose: the possessive of whom Example: That girl, whose blog is awesome, went to a blog conference.
TOP 10 You’re / Your You’re: contraction of you are Example: You’re the bomb. Your: the possessive of you Example: Your writing is in need of editing.
TOP 10 It’s / Its It’s: contraction of it is Example: It’s going to be a great day. Its: the possessive of it Example: The chameleon changes the color of its skin.
TOP 10 Then / Than Then: shows a sequence of events Example: We went to the store; then we went home. Than: used for comparison Example: My son is more competitive than my daughter.
TOP 10 To / Two / Too To: used with the infinitive of a verb OR a preposition Example: I need to go to the store. Two: a number (2) Example: Two minds are better than one. Too: also or more Example: I want to go, too. Example: I have too many errors in my essay.
TOP 10 Words / Not Words Words Not Words Going to Gonna / Gunna Have to Haveta / Half to Kind of Kinda Aren’t / Are not Ain’t Could’ve / Could have Could of / Coulda You U A lot Alot
TOP 10 The pronoun “I” is always capitalized, even when it is in a contraction. Example: When I was in high school, I liked math more than English. Example: I’m going to the store later. Example: I’ll be at your recital.
TOP 10 The first word of a sentence is always capitalized, and every sentence ends in an end mark. Just because you have a capital letter at the beginning and a punctuation mark at the end does not mean you have a complete sentence.
Even More… Use a comma to separate a city and a state or a city and a country. Example: Tommy grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. Example: Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain.
Even More… Put a comma after a full date if it does not end the sentence. (Month Day, Year) Example: On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by terrorists.
Even More… Use a comma to separate the numbers (day and year) in a full date. You do not need a comma if you just write the month and the year. Example: My daughter’s birthday is February 22, 2002. Example: My daughter was born in February 2002. NOT: My daughter was born in February, 2002. NOT: My daughter was born on February, 22, 2002.
Even More… Use a comma to separate items in a series of three or more. Example: My brothers are Ron, Matthew, Jon, and Patrick. Example: Susie drove the truck to the farm, fed the animals, and rode the horses. NOT: My brothers are Ron Matthew Jon and Patrick. NOT: Your teachers are Mrs. Mosley, and Mrs. Metcalfe.
Even More… Use a comma to separate extra information in a sentence, including introductory phrases. Example: When you go to the store, will you pick up a loaf of bread? Example: Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, still has many fans. Example: My brother, Elijah, joined the National Guard.
Even More… Titles of books and movies are underlined or italicized, but not both. Do not use quotation marks on these titles. Example: The Great Gatsby is a classic novel. NOT: Have you read “The Hunger Games”? NOT: Michaela loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Even More… The titles of short stories, poems, and songs are punctuated with quotation marks. Example: “The Scarlet Ibis” is one of my favorite stories. Example: Elvis had a hit song when he recorded “Hound Dog.” Example: Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is an inspiration.
Even More… Capitalize all words in a title except for articles (a, an, the) and small words such as “of” in the middle. Example: I read Gone With the Wind this summer. NOT: I read Gone with the Wind this summer. NOT: I read Gone With The Wind this summer.
Even More… Complete sentences need a subject and a verb. Be careful of words that create an incomplete sentence, even if you have a subject and a verb. Complete: Tommy slept. Incomplete: When Tommy slept. Incomplete: Because Tommy slept.
Even More… Adjectives (words that describe a noun) created from proper nouns are capitalized, but not the nouns they describe. Examples: Mexican food American people Russian space flight
Even More… Capitalize “president” when it is used as a title (before a name) or as in “President of the United States.” Example: Hundreds of people came to hear President Obama speak. Example: Hundreds of people came to hear the president speak. Example: George Washington was the first President of the United States.
Even More… When a sentence ends in an abbreviation, use only one period. Example: The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. NOT: The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C..
Even More… Months, days of the week, and holidays are capitalized, but seasons are not. Example: My birthday is in August. Example: My birthday was on a Wednesday. Example: Do you have a family dinner on Thanksgiving? NOT: My birthday is in the Summer.
Even More… “A lot” is always two words. Example: I love my students a lot.
Even More… The names of towns, cities, states, countries, planets, buildings, ships, monuments, and companies are capitalized. Example: The Sears Tower in Chicago is enormous. Example: Does your mom work for Apple, Inc.?
Even More… Use “who” when referring to a person; use “that” when referring to an object. Example: Bob is the guy who sold me the car. NOT: Bob is the guy that sold me the car. Example: That is the car I want. Example: She wanted a friend who would keep her secrets.
Even More… Use words instead of figures for numbers that take only one or two words to spell out, and figures instead of words for numbers that require three or more words to spell. Example: My brother just turned twenty-seven years old. NOT: My brother is 27 years old. Example: When you go to the store, pick up 160 paper plates. Example: There were six kids in my family.
Even More… When you must begin a sentence with a number, spell out the number. Example: Four hundred and fifty motorcycles joined in the parade. NOT: 450 motorcycles joined the parade.
Even More… Use figures for dates and addresses. The time of day followed by a.m. or p.m. is always expressed in figures. Example: We will meet at 6:00 p.m. on October 3. Example: We will meet tomorrow at six o’clock in the morning.
Even More… Acronyms do not require periods, but they are capitalized. Example: He is a member of the CIA. Example: Scott had to train for many months to join the SWAT team. Example: Do you have a VIP pass for the concert?
Even More… Put a comma after a name if it is followed by a title and a comma after the title if it does not end the sentence. Example: Go see John Smith, M.D., for a prescription. Example: Trey’s real name is George Glayde Brown, III.
Even More… To show possession for a plural noun ending in “s,” only add an apostrophe after the “s”. Example: The team manager collected all the players’ helmets.
Even More… To show possession for a singular noun ending in “s,” add an apostrophe and “s”. This usually applies to names ending in “s”. Example: Go to the Simmons’s house to borrow milk. Example: Dennis’s bag is in the car.