Sentence Correction - Connecting Words

Front 1

Connecting Words

Back 1

In order for phrases and clauses to combine into a complete, grammatical sentence, they must be linked together in the proper way with certain Connecting Words.

A comma is not
enough to join two main clauses. A sentence that violates this rule is called a Run-on Sentence

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Connecting Punctuation

Back 2

Remember that non-essential
modifiers are set off by commas, but essential modifiers are not separated by commas

Do not use a comma before and to separate two verbs that have the same subject.

Either eliminate the comma or add a subject to the second verb, creating a second main clause

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Semicolon:

Back 3

The semicolon (;) connects two closely related statements. Each statement must be able to stand alone as an independent sentence.

Right:

Earl walked to school; he later ate his lunch.

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Colon

Back 4

The colon (:) provides further explanation for what comes before it. For example, you can use a colon to equate a list with its components.

You should be able to insert the word namely or the phrase that is after the colon.

What comes before the colon must be able to stand alone as a sentence.

What comes after the colon does not have to be able to stand alone.

Wrong: I love listening to: classical, rock, rap, and pop music.

In this example, the words preceding the colon (I love listening to) do not form a complete sentence.

Right: I love listening to many kinds of music: classical, rock, rap, and pop.

In the corrected version, the words preceding the colon can stand alone as a sentence.

Whatever needs explanation should be placed as close to the colon as possible.

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Quantity

Rule #1: Words used for countable things vs, words used for uncountable things

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Some nouns in English are Countable. Examples include hat(s), feeling(s), and person/people. Other nouns are Uncountable.

Examples include patience, water, and furniture. If you are unsure as to whether something is countable or not, perform the counting test

For hat: One hat, two hats, three hats. This works. Hat is countable

For patience: One patience (?), two patiences (?), stop. This does not work. Patience is not countable.

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Rule #2: Words used to relate two things vs, words used to relate three or more things

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The other distinction to remember is that you should use between only with two things or people.
When you are talking about three or more things or people, use among.

Wrong: I mediated a dispute BETWEEN Maya, Logan, and Kalen.
Right: I mediated a dispute AMONG Maya, Logan, and Kalen.

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Rule #3; The Number or Number Of versus A Number or The Numbers Of

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The number o f is singular, and A number o f is plural.
Right: THE NUMBER of dogs IS greater than the number of cats.
Right: A NUMBER of dogs ARE chasing away the cats.

(2) The numbers o f is almost always incorrect. Stick to the expression the number of.

Wrong: THE NUMBERS of dogs in Montana ARE steadily increasing.
Right: THE NUMBER of dogs in Montana IS steadily increasing.

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Rule #4; Increase and Decrease vs. Greater and Less

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The words increase and decrease are not the same as the words greater and less.

Increase and decrease express the change of one thing over time.

Greater and less signal a comparison between two things.

Right: The price of silver INCREASED by ten dollars.
Right: The price of silver is five dollars GREATER than the price of copper.

Watch out for redundancy in sentences with the words increase and decrease.

Wrong: The price of silver FELL by a more than 35% DECREASE.
Right: The price of silver DECREASED by more than 35%.