#1 - What is the governing rule? The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but he still ventured off unafraid. My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture; she should have remained a student. Gregor has not changed physically; however, he has given himself an excuse to hide from the pain of previous experiences.

Answers to #1: 1.Compound sentences are joined by a) a comma followed by a fanboys conjuntion, b) a semicolon, or c) a semicolon followed by a modifier. 2.Use commas to bracket (set off) nonrestrictive phrases not essential to the sentence’s meaning; do not use commas to bracket (set off) phrases essential to the sentence’s meaning. 3.When beginning a sentence with introductory phrase or dependent clause, follow it with a comma.

#2 - What is the governing rule? #1. a. The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field. b.My window, as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning. #2. a. The man who has too many ties has too few necks. b. The cats with six toes are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.

Answer to # 2: Use commas to bracket nonrestrictive phrases, which are not essential to the sentence’s meaning. Do not use commas to bracket phrases that are essential to the sentence’s meaning.

#3 - What is the governing rule? a. After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread, he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter. b. With this, he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother and father.

Answer to #3: When beginning a sentence with an introductory phrase or clause, follow it with a comma.

#4 - What is the governing rule? Incorrect -- Correct 1. The Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the beautiful centerpiece, were devoured by the escaped grizzly. The Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the beautiful centerpiece, was devoured by the escaped grizzly. 2. The cart, as well as its contents, were gone. The cart, as well as its contents, was gone. 3. The girl, along with her classmates, like the new teacher. The girl, along with her classmates, likes the new teacher.

Answer to #4: Make the subject and verb agree with each other, not with a word/s that comes between them.

#5 - What is the rule/convention? Incorrect -- Correct 1. I was glad to be departing for Australia but I was nervous when I left my apartment. I was glad to be departing for Australia but nervous to be leaving my apartment. 2. The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records, and mathematical calculations. The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records, and calculating mathematical equations.

Answer to # 5: Use parallel construction to make a strong point and create a smooth flow.

#6 – What is the govering rule? Incorrect --- Correct In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much as mine. In a democracy, anyone’s vote counts as much as mine. The lobsters claws were bound. The lobster’s claws were bound.

Answer to # 6: To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an “s.”

#7 – What is the governing rule? Incorrect --- Correct Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled: “I’m sick!” Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled, “I’m sick!” Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones, “You make me angry.” Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones: “You make me angry.”

Answer to # 7: Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. If the introductory material is an independent clause, add the quotation after a colon. If the introductory material ends in “thinks,” “saying,” or some other verb indicating expression, use a comma.

# 8 – What is the governing rule? Incorrect --- Correct Its neck decorated in strings of flowers, the salesman rode the horse through the food court. The salesman rode the horse, its neck decorated in strings of flowers, through the food court. Filled with bad diesel, he drove his truck to Dallas despite the knocking. Although it was filled with bad diesel, he drove his truck to Dallas despite the knocking.

Answer to # 8: Be sure that a pronoun, a participial phrase, or an appositive refers clearly to the proper subject. These errors are called MISPLACED MODIFIERS.

# 9 – What is the governing rule? Incorrect --- Correct A refund was given to him by the car company. The car company gave him a refund. A good score was achieved by the team. The team achieved a good score.

Answer to # 9: Use the active voice unless you specifically need to use the passive.

#10 – What is the governing rule? Incorrect --- Correct I would like to assert that the author should be considered to be a buffoon. The author is a buffoon. Before going to the supermarket, we made a list of the groceries we needed in order to make the food that we intended to eat for dinner. Before going to the supermarket, we made a list of groceries that we need to prepare dinner.

Answer to # 10: Omit unnecessary words.

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