1. Grammar for Life
Rules and Examples

2. Master Your Modifiers
Definition: A modifier is a word or group of words that modifies, or describes, another word or group of words in a sentence. A modifier should always appear next to the word or words it modifies. Incorrect Example: Smothered in gravy, Derek ate his turkey. Correct Example: Option 1: Derek ate his turkey, which was smothered in gravy. Option 2: Derek ate his smothered in gravy turkey.

3. Vary Your Sentences
Concept: Varying Sentences - Varying sentences spices up your writing and keeps things interesting without ever boring your reader. To do so, follow the instructions below.
Rule: To vary a sentence, put an adverb in the beginning of the sentence, rather than anywhere else.
Example of Incorrect Usage: I tiptoed quietly down the stairs to quench my thirst at three in the morning.
Example of Correct Usage: Quietly, I tiptoed down the stairs to quench my thirst at three in the morning.

4. Concept: Vary Your Sentences
Rule: Move a prepositional phrase to the beginning of a sentence so the sentence does not sound awkward. Incorrect: Sally takes a ballet class at the end of each week. Correct: At the end of each week, Sally takes a ballet class.

5. Vary Your Sentences Ex:
You can form a compound sentence by linking two regular sentences together.
You can use the following words to join sentences:
FANBOY – for, and, nor, but, or, your -also, however, although, therefore, and.
Ex:
Incorrect: My brownie was delicious, I ate it all.
Correct: My brownie was delicious, therefore, I ate it all.

6. Vary Your Sentences- Rule # 4
Rule # 4: Combine two or more sentences by placing the clause in the middle of one of the sentences:
Incorrect Example: Jasmine
loves to eat chicken. She is fat
and lazy.
Correct Example: Jasmine, my fat
lazy cat, loves to eat chicken.
By: Emily Del Villar and Charlotte Atkinson

7. Redundancy
Rule: Do not use unnecasary repitition in your writing to keep it clear and effective.
Definition: The use of words or data that could be omitted without loss of meaning or function; repetition or overlapping, especially of words.
Incorrect: We have to go to soccer at 2:55 P.M., after school, after our classes are over.
Correct: We have to go to soccer at 2:55 P.M., after school.

8. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off words or phrases that are not essential elements to the sentence. Incorrect: Suzy my friend went to the mall to buy a new outfit for the first day of school. Correct: Suzy, my friend, went to the mall to buy a new outfit for the first day of school.
Comma Sense

9. Comma Sense
Rule: Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Incorrect: When I make an ice cream Sunday I make sure to put on sprinkles cherry’s chocolate syrup and whip cream.
Correct: When I make an ice cream Sunday I make sure to put on, sprinkles, cherry’s ,chocolate syrup, and whip cream.