SC: Trigger Words. These words should Trigger you to automatically check for Splits and Errors. How are they used or not used? Flashcards
and
X and Y
“and” is by far the most common Parallel Marker and Trigger Word!
,and
X, Y, and Z (list of 3+ items)
OR
Subject + Verb, and Subject + Verb
The comma is not generally used for “X and Y” unless there is a new subject for Y:
I ran and jumped.
He ran, and she jumped
An exception is if there are commas to set off a parenthetical modifer:
I ran with Joe, who is fast, and biked with Mary.
like (for comparison)
like X, Y. (or, unlike X, Y)
Only used to compare 2 Nouns
RIGHT: Like Mary, Joe runs fast.
WRONG: Mary runs fast like her brother does.
Use “As” to compare 2 verbs
RIGHT: As he did last month, Joe will break his quota this month.
LIKE (for examples)
No! Use “SUCH AS” for examples
WRONG: Joe eats foods LIKE broccoli
RIGHT: Joe eats healthy foods, SUCH AS broccoli
RIGHT: Joe eats SUCH healthy foods AS broccoli. (sounds odd, but correct)
NOT
not X but Y
not only X but also Y
more / less / greater / ____-er
more THAN
greater THAN
faster THAN
but
X but Y
not X but Y
not only X but also Y
or
X or Y
either X or Y
it
Check for 2 kinds of pronoun errors:
1) Agreement (Singular vs Plural)
WRONG: Apples are so prolific that IT can be bought anywhere.
“Apples” is Plural –> use “they”
2) Ambiguity - does the pronoun have a clear reference noun?
Note: in most “Pronoun Ambiguity” errors, there will be an alternative answer choice that uses the full noun instead of the pronoun. (some ambiguity is sometimes allowed)
between
between X and Y
both
both X and Y
,which
,which must correctly refer to the noun before the comma
a common error is to refer to a verb or another noun
Note: very rarely, the ,which will correctly “jump over” a short prepositional phrase.
RIGHT: The emails to John, which were written quickly, changed everything.
“which” clearly doesn’t refer to “John” (we would use “who” instead of “which), so it is allowed to jump over “to John”.
they
Check for 2 kinds of pronoun errors:
1) Agreement (Singular vs Plural)
WRONG: When the company launched, they were short on capital
“company” is singular
2) Ambiguity - does the pronoun have a clear reference noun?
Note: in most “Pronoun Ambiguity” errors, there will be an alternative answer choice that uses the full noun instead of the pronoun. (some ambiguity is sometimes allowed)
verb-ing blah blah, _____
verb-ed blah blah, _____
although/despite/while/like/unlike/etc blah blah blah, _____
What do we need to check?
Intro Modifier structure – “_____” after the comma must identify WHO/WHAT the modifier before the comma refers to
Running through the woods, the deer escaped the predator
Created with care, our product is the best.
Although it is strong, the kite still broke.
Unlike Joe’s car, Bill’s truck has substantial cargo capacity.