10: EDITING THE NEWS Flashcards
What are the two most common grammatical errors writers make?
The two most common errors include the comma splice and the split infinitive.
What is the comma splice?
It is a run-on sentence of incorrectly connected independent clauses.
The following sentence is an example of what?
I am a big believer in personal independence, I moved out of my parents’ home when I was eighteen.
This is a sentence that contains a comma splice.
What are the two ways to correct this sentence?
I am a big believer in personal independence, I moved out of my parents’ home when I was eighteen.
By either the replacing the comma with a period of semicolon. Whichever chosen way to correct the comma splice is decided, the two independent clauses need to be separated.
Correct: I am a big believer in personal independence. I moved out of my parents’ home when I was eighteen.
Correct: I am a big believer in personal independence; I moved out of my parent’s home when I was eighteen.
What is the definition of an infinitive?
An infinitive is a verbal that includes the word “to.”
The following are examples of what?
To sleep
To help
To ski
These are examples of infinitives.
When does a split infinite occur?
The split infinitive occurs when another word comes between “to” and the verb.
What are these examples of?
They’re examples of the split infinitive: Instances in which another word comes between “to” & the verb.
How can the first wrong sentence with its split infinitive be corrected?
This sentence can be corrected by bringing the infinitive to its verb. This means removing the adverb “quickly” & perhaps placing the adverb at the end of the sentence.
The 1st wrong sentence with a split infinitive being corrected:
She had to finish the homework quickly.
How can the second wrong sentence with its split infinitive be corrected?
It can be corrected by removing the interrupting phrase: “before bed.”
The infinitive and its verb need to be next to each other: “before bed” is then moved to the end of the sentence:
She needed to take her medicine before bed.
How are restrictive clauses identified?
Restrictive clauses are those that are necessary for understanding the sentence.
Which relative pronoun can only be used in a restrictive clause?
It is the relative pronoun: “that.”
What is the relative pronoun that can be used in both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses?
“Which” is the relative pronoun that can be used in both restrictive & nonrestrictive clauses.
The following is an example of which pronoun being used in which clause?
They own the house, which used to be Martin’s, and was built next door.
The RP “which” being used in a nonrestrictive clause.
The following is an example of which pronoun being used in which clause?
They own the house which used to be Martin’s.
The RP “which” being used in a restrictive clause.
In this restrictive clause sentence - what can it be replaced with?
They own the house which used to be Martin’s
“Which” can be replaced with the relative pronoun: “that.”
What are homophones?
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings.
What are the five most common homophones?
- Affect vs. Effect
- Principal vs. Principle
- It’s vs. Its
- Their vs. There vs. They’re
- To vs. Too vs. Two
What is the primary difference between “affect” & “effect”?
“Affect” is a verb. “Effect” is a noun.
The following is an example of what?
Do you think the change in dates will affect the outcome?
It is an example of affect being a verb in a sentence.
The following is an example of what?
The long nights at the restaurant had a bad effect on her grades.
“Effect” being a noun in a sentence.
What needs to be remembered when it comes to the difference between “it’s” & “Its”?
It needs to be remembered that the apostrophe in “it’s” is standing in for the letter “i” in “is” in which “is” is different from “its” because “its” serves as a possessive pronoun as there is no apostrophe.
What is the possessive pronoun “its” similar to?
“his” or “hers,” which do not have apostrophes.
What is the definition of “their”?
“Their” is the possessive for “they.”
This sentence is an example of what?
The barking dog is their pet.
“Their” is the possessive for they.
What is the definition of “there”?
“There” is an adverb that means “in that place.”
This is an example of what?
It’s over there!
“There” being an adverb.
What is the definition of “they’re”?
“They’re” is a contraction for the words “they are.”
What is the definition of “To”?
“To” is a preposition.
The following is an example of what?
She is going to the party.
The preposition “to” being used.
What is the definition of “Too”?
“Too” is an adverb that signifies in addition or more than what is wanted, needed, acceptable, possible.
The following is an example of what?
- She wanted to come to the party, too.
- The dessert was too much.
The adverb “too” being used.
Why does a run-on occur?
A run-on occurs when a writer is trying to fit more information than is comfortable into one sentence.
This sentence is an example of what? How might this be corrected?
The same information above, but is split into two sentences - which is a tighter & better form & it keeps everything from “running”:
According to the CMS, the rule of parallel structure says what?
The rule of parallel structure says that every element of a parallel series must be a functional match of the others (word, phrase, clause, sentence) and serve the same grammatical function in the sentence (e.g. noun, verb, adjective, adverb).”
Parallel structure means what when it comes to having a list of some kind within your sentence?
It means that parallel structure requires all the items in the list needed to match functionally.
This is an example of what?
An example of having parallel structure within a list.
What is this parallel structure within this sentence?
Each grammatical function of the three verbs functionally match each other & to the “I” in the story.
This sentence is an example of what?
It’s an example of incorrect syntax- where there isn’t a parallel structure.
How come this sentence does not have a parallel structure?
It’s because there are two nouns and a verb.
What are the two ways in which this sentence which has incorrect syntax can be corrected?
By either inserting a pronoun in order to keep the verb or by turning the verb into a noun.
The sentence being corrected by inserting a pronoun in order to keep the verb in the sentence:
She was a teacher and a writer, and she instructed aerobics classes at the gym.
The sentence being corrected by turning the verb into a noun:
She was a teacher, a writer, and an aerobics instructor at the gym.
