Corey-Gruenes style.doc
Style Sheet (sample)
1. The Comma Splice (splice)
Rule: Do not join to two independent clauses (complete sentences) together with a comma.
Violation: The mayor's plan will never be carried out, it's simply too impractical.
Correction (period): The mayor's plan will never be carried out. It's simply too impractical.
Correction (subordinating conjunction): The mayor's plan will never be carried out because it's simply too impractical.
Correction (semicolon): The mayor's plan will never be carried out; it's simply too impractical. (Note: Only use a semicolon when the two sentences you're joining are very closely related.)
2. Run-On Sentences (RO/Run-On)
Rule: Run-On sentences occur when no punctuation exists between two independent
clauses (complete sentences).
Violation: The mayor's plan will never be carried out it's simply too impractical.
Correction: The mayor's plan will never be carried out. It's too impractical.
3. Sentence Fragments (frag/fragment)
Rule: Complete sentences express a complete thought and almost always have a subject and a verb.
Violation: My amazingly brilliant English teacher.
Correction: My amazingly brilliant English teacher loves to talk about The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
* Note that introductory phrases and subordinate clauses cannot stand on their own either.
Violation: While I was shopping.
Correction: I spent too much money while I was shopping.
or While I was shopping, I spent too much money.
4. Commas and Compound Sentences (CCS)
Rule: Compound sentences are formed when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined using both a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, for, but, yet, so)
Violation: The mayor would like to hire 25 more police officers but the city simply doesn't have the funding to do so.
Correction: The mayor would like to hire 25 more police officers, but the city simply doesn't have the funding to do so.
5. Commas and Introductory Elements (IE)
Rule: Use a comma to separate an introductory phrase of more than three words.
Violation: After working hard all day the mayor went home to relax with his wife and children.
Correction: After working hard all day, the mayor went home to relax with his wife and children.
* Note that introductory phrases often start with words that tell give us direction in regard to place, time, and condition. The prepositions in, on, when, during, after are often signals for these types of phrases.
Rule: Use a comma after an introductory subordinate/dependent clause.
Violation: Although having more police on the streets would be nice the mayor will need to find more funding to make that happen.
Correction: Although having more police on the streets would be nice, the mayor will need to find more funding to make that happen.
* Note: Words such as although, since, if, unless, when, after, although, as, before, and because at the beginning of sentences often signal to you that a dependent class is coming. Example: If I go to bed earlier, I'll be more alert in class tomorrow.
6. Unnecessary Commas (UC)
Unnecessary commas can show up just about anywhere, so there is no one rule that covers them all. However, I've given two common rules that when violated seem to give rise to unnecessary commas.
Rule #1: Use a comma before—not after—the expressions such as and including.
Violation: I own several Bob Marley albums such as, Talkin' Blues and Rastaman Vibration.
Correction: I own several Bob Marley albums, such as Talkin' Blues and Rastaman Vibration.
Rule #2: Don't separate a subject from its verb
Violation: The test, won't be easy.
To finish the test on time, won't be easy either.
Correction: The test won't be easy.
To finish the test on time won't be easy either.
7. Commas and Items in a Series
This is a rule that is commonly violated in newsprint and other media. In academic writing, please make sure that you remember that last comma.
Rule: Use a comma after all items (except the last) in a series of three or more.
Violation: I bought two pair of shoes, five pair of boxers and six shirts.
Correction: I bought two pair of shoes, five pair of boxers, and six shirts.
8. Commas and Coordinate Adjectives (Cord.Adj.)
Rule: Put a comma between coordinate adjectives (adjectives that modify the same noun).
Violation: It was a hot sunny day.
Correction: It was a hot, sunny day.
Tip: if you can put "and" between the two adjectives, and it still makes sense, then you need to put a comma between them.
9. Subjects/Verb Agreement (Agree)
Rule: A subject must agree with it's verb.
Violation: The group are going to meet tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.
Correction: The group is going to meet tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.
Explanation: Group--although it might contain many members--is singular, so you must use the singular form of the verb, "is" in this case.
10. "So" Verses "So That" (that)
Rule: So is often NOT used as a coordinating conjunction. If you can put "that" after "so", and the
sentences still makes sense, then DO NOT use a comma before "so" because it is not acting
like a coordinating conjunction.
Violation: I want to buy a warmer winter coat, so I won't freeze to death this January.
Correction: I want to buy a warmer winder coat so [that] I won't freeze to death this January.
11. Lay/Lie
Rule: "Lay" means to set something down. "Lie" means to tell a lie or to position oneself.
Violation: I'm going to lay down for a while.
Correction: I'm going to lie down for a while.
12. Nonessential Elements and Commas
Rule: Use commas to set off words and phrases that are not essential to the meaning of the
sentence.
Violation: The Republicans had a huge victory in Tuesday's election not good news for
the democrats
Correction: The Republicans had a huge victory in Tuesday's election, not good news
for the democrats