1. Advanced Technical Writing
Lecture 5
Mechanics
Writing a Sentence
Mohammed Alhanjouri

2. Avoiding Common Errors of Grammar
One of the most important skills a writer can have is the ability to compose clear, complete sentences. The sentence is the basic unit of communication in all forms of English.
Funk, McMahan,
Elements of Grammar
On these notes pages, references are made to The Craft of Editing (Springer-Verlag, 2000) and The Craft of Scientific Writing, 3rd edition (Springer-Verlag, 1996). If you would like a 60-day evaluation copy of The Craft of Scientific Writing or The Craft of Editing, please go to the following web page:
This first slide is an opening slide for discussion of grammar. Many teachers and students consider discussion of these topics as trivial, but recruiters of engineering students cite knowing the rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage as an important asset. Also some teachers claim that such a study is tiresome, but it is interesting how some of these rules change over the years. These changes cause all sorts of disputes, especially in engineering and science because many engineers and scientists look for rules without exceptions. English is a language of exceptions. Also interesting is how some of these rules depend upon location (the United States versus Great Britain).
Although students in the United States often complain about the difficulty of learning grammar, English actually has few grammatical rules compared with other languages such as German. Strictly speaking, grammar refers to the order of words to produce meaningful sentences. What’s probably most difficult about English is usage because English is such a hodgepodge of other languages. (Craft of Scientific Writing, Appendix A; Craft of Editing, Chapter 3, Appendix)

3. REQUIREMENT OF A WRITTEN SENTENCE
A capital letter at the beginning
A period, a question mark, or an exclamation point at the end
A subject, stated only once
A complete verb phrase
Standard word order:
in English, the regular sequence is Subject + Verb + Object, with insertions possible at several points in the sequence
An independent core idea that can stand alone ( main clause)

4. Combining Sentences Example: Dr. George was a successful engineer.
He won the prize.

5. The most important aspect of grammar is understanding what a sentence is
Sentence: A sentence is group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought.
Fragment: A fragment being a group of words that either is missing a subject or a verb or does not express a complete thought.
Information about eliminating run-on sentences and fragments in scientific writing can be found on pages 111 and 129 in The Craft of Editing and page 259 in The Craft of Scientific Writing. Grammar exercises #1 and #3 focus on these errors (
Run-on: A run-on is two or more independent clauses that are not joined properly, for instance, a common mistake is to have a comma between the clauses.

6. Which are sentences (S), fragments (F), or run-ons (RO)?
1 Rubidium has no major uses, however, it is more common in the earth than zinc, copper, or nickel.
2 Although carbon dioxide occurs naturally, man has dramatically increased its concentration this past century.
3 Several systems can detect plastic explosives. For example, thermal neutron activation systems, nitrogen sniffer systems, and enhanced x-ray systems. RO S
With mechanics (grammar, punctuation, and usage), I have a bias as far as the most egregious error that a student can make, and that error is not understanding what constitutes a sentence. The sentence is the fundamental unit of expression in professional writing. If a student does not understand what constitutes a sentence, then he or she is far behind as being able to communicate as a professional. The most common mistake as far as running on a sentence occurs in the top example. Here, the student does not recognize that “however” is an adverb, and therefore cannot join two independent clauses.
In showing this slide, I cover up the column on the right and ask the students what each group of words is: a sentence, a run-on, or a fragment. Information about eliminating run-on sentences and fragments in scientific writing can be found on pages 111 and 129 in The Craft of Editing and page 259 in The Craft of Scientific Writing. Grammar exercises #1 and #3 focus on these errors (
S / F

7. Shown in Yellow are corrections to the errors from the previous slide
Although rubidium has no major uses, it is more common in the earth than zinc, copper, or nickel.
Although carbon dioxide occurs naturally, man has dramatically increased its concentration this past century.
Possible corrections of errors on previous slide.
Several systems can detect plastic explosives. Examples include thermal neutron activation systems, nitrogen sniffer systems, and enhanced x-ray systems.

8. Note that there are several ways to correct each of these errors
Rubidium has no major uses; however, it is more common in the earth than zinc, copper, or nickel.
Rubidium has no major uses, but it is more common in the earth than zinc, copper, or nickel.
Rubidium has no major uses. This metal, however, is more common in the earth than zinc, copper, or nickel.
Alternative corrections of first error.

9. , Avoiding Common Errors of Punctuation
Punctuation marks are the traffic signs and signals placed along the reader’s road. They tell him when to slow down and when to stop, and sometimes they warn him of the nature of the road ahead. Traffic engineers do not always agree on what signs should be used and where they should be placed, and neither do writers or editors.
Theodore M. Bernstein
The Careful Writer ,
Opening slide for discussion of punctuation. Many teachers and students consider discussion of these topics as trivial, but it is interesting how some of these rules change over the years and how some of these rules depend upon location. These changes cause all sorts of disputes, especially in engineering and science because many engineers and scientists look for rules without exceptions. English is a language of exceptions. (Craft of Scientific Writing, Appendix A; Craft of Editing, Appendix)

10. PUNCTUATIONS

11. Period (.) To indicate the end of a declarative sentence
Example: Here is the place.
To indicate that letters are used as abbreviations
Example: Dr. Carle D. Reynolds
To indicate decimal fractions
Example: 16.34

12. Three Periods--Ellipses (…)
To indicate that a portion of quoted matter is omitted
Example: “To receive, obey, and pass on…”

13. Comma ( , ) To separate independent clauses joined by a conjunction
Example: This is the street, but I don’t know the number of the house.
Note: no comma is used unless each statement is independent.
Example: You will police the area and maintain a fire watch.

14. Comma ( , ), cont. To separate parts of a series
Example: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
To separate coordinate or “equal” adjectives in a series
Example: a loud, sharp blast

15. Comma ( , ), cont.
To separate introductory statements beginning with such words as when, while, since, if, because, until, although, and whenever (or other subordinate conjunctions)
Example: When the rain was falling, there was very little wind.
To set off introductory prepositional phrases (starting with on, in, at, to, by, for, of, through, etc.)
Example: By the time she crawled into bed, she was too exhausted to sleep.

16. Comma ( , ), cont.
Short prepositional phrases (3 words or less) are not always followed by commas.
Example: In Japan he served as platoon commander.
To separate non-essential elements from the rest of the sentence.
Examples: The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, rates a salute.
I visited Albany, the capital of the state of New York

17. Comma ( , ), cont.
To set off introductory phrases beginning with verb participles ending in –ing, -ed, -en, etc.
Example: Having turned off the lathe, I stopped the motor.
To set off such expressions as on the other hand, you might say, and of course, (such expressions are called interrupters)
Example: He was, of course, the first person I saw.

18. Semicolon ( ; )
To separate independent statements that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so)
Example: Black is a mixture of all colors; white is the complete opposite.

19. Semicolon ( ; ), cont.
To separate independent statements when the second statement begins with such conjunctive adverbs or phrases like therefore, however, thus, otherwise, on the other hand, for example, in fact, that is, etc.
Example: I submitted a request six months in advance; still, I did not receive a permit in time for the departure.

20. Hyphen ( - ) Example: a one-way street, chocolate-covered peanuts
To join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun
Example: a one-way street, chocolate-covered peanuts
Use a hyphen with compound numbers
Example: forty-six, sixty-three
Our much-loved teacher was sixty-three years old.
Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-; with the suffix -elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and with figures or letters
Example: ex-husband, self-assured

21. Italics
To indicate the titles of books, plays, magazines, long musical compositions, works of art, movies, and television show series
Example: I highly recommend The Technique of Clear Writing, by Robert Gunning.
To indicate use of foreign words
Example: And there I was, en dishabille.

22. Colon ( : )
Used after an independent clause (complete sentence) to direct attention to a list, an appositive, or a quotation
Example: He laid down three rules: no smoking, no idle talk, and no sleeping.
A rainbow consists of the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
The speaker quoted a popular saying: “We grow too soon old and too late smart.”
To separate two independent clauses (complete sentences) when the second one summarizes or explains the first
Example: Faith is like love: it cannot be forced.

23. Use numerals when referring to measurements
When to use numerals
Specific measurements 3 volts, 2 seconds, 1 m/s
Percentages 15 percent
Monetary figures $3000
Large numerals 5 million
When to write out numbers
Counting (one or two words) twenty-three gages
Informal measurements two hours
First word of sentence Thirty-three...
See page 121 in The Craft of Editing or page 140 in The Craft of Scientific Writing.

24. Certain words are commonly misused
We produced a small (amount, number) of autos this year, even (fewer, less) than last year.
A company’s success depends on (its / it's) employees.
The new material is (composed / comprised) of plastic and iodine.
It appears (as if, like) the Department of Energy will choose the third option.
number
fewer
its
This slide shows common usage errors that occur in engineering and science. In showing this slide, I cover up the answers on the right, and ask the students to identify which word is correct in each of the sentences. Discussions of these errors can be found in Appendix B.
Moreover, an interactive web exercise on usage can be found at the “Writing Exercises” link on the “Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students” (
composed
as if

25. Certain words are commonly misused
Reduced weight was the (principal / principle) reason for choosing aluminum.
The talk centered (around / on) the (principal / principle) of virtual work.
(Regrettably / Regretfully), the launch was delayed because of thunderstorms.
You need not proceed any (farther / further) on your test.
The serum had serious side (affects / effects).
principal on
principle
Regrettably
This slide shows more common usage errors that occur in engineering and science. In showing this slide, I cover up the answers on the right, and ask the students to identify which word is correct in each of the sentences. Discussions of these errors can be found in Appendix B.
Moreover, an interactive web exercise on usage can be found at the “Writing Exercises” link on the “Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students” (
further
effects

26. Non-words and nonsensical groupings of words also cause problems
Whichever design you choose is (alright / all right) with me.
(Irregardless / Regardless) of the shipping delay, the work will stop because of the strike.
Applying that set of constraints is a (most unique / unique / very unique) way to approach the problem.
The serum had (alot / a lot) of side effects.
all right
Regardless
unique
This slide shows more misuses of language that occur in engineering and science. In showing this slide, I cover up the answers on the right, and ask the students to identify which word is correct in each of the sentences. Discussions of these errors can be found in Appendix B. Note that all right and a lot are too informal for many writing situations in engineering and science.
a lot

27. Combining Sentences Coordination and Subordination
Subordinating conjunctions and dependent clauses
Avoiding fragments with subordinate clause
Clauses with although

28. When using subordination, you must be careful to avoid writing illogical sentence. Sometimes, depending upon the logical sequence of events, one idea must be subordinated to another. Avoid illogical subordination.
For example:
Sentence 1:
I was blinded by the setting sun.
Sentence 2:
I drove through a boulevard stop sign.

29. (Incorrect) (correct) (correct) Rewrite the sentences as:
Because I drove through a boulevard stop sign, I was blinded by the setting sun.
I drove through a boulevard stop sign because I was blinded by the setting sun.
Because I was blinded by the setting sun, I drove through a boulevard stop sign.
(Incorrect)
(correct)
(correct)