What a great excuse to write about my favorite grammar gaffes! This blog post is intended as a friendly refresher to all who email, text, type, blog, post or copywrite for a living. (However, like good table manners, good grammar is an asset no matter what you do for a living.)
1. It's or Its
This has to be the most common grammatical error. It's just too easy to slip up. The only solution is to carefully proof every its/it's in your writing and ask your colleagues to do the same when they proof it. (You do have a second set of eyes to review your writing, don't you?)
1. It's or Its
This has to be the most common grammatical error. It's just too easy to slip up. The only solution is to carefully proof every its/it's in your writing and ask your colleagues to do the same when they proof it. (You do have a second set of eyes to review your writing, don't you?)
2. Commas
Here's the deal. When two independent clauses (i.e. clauses that stand on their own as sentences) are joined with a conjuction (and, but, so, etc.), a comma is required before the conjunction.
However, if you're connecting an independent clause and a phrase, no matter how sorely tempted you are, don't use a comma. E.g.:
(W)right On Communications is up for an InfluenceSD Agency of the Year award, and our team would be honored with your vote. (correct)
(W)right On Communications is up for an InfluenceSD Agency of the Year award, and would be honored with your vote. (incorrect)
3. Possessive or Plural?
The possessive s, like it's and its, is something to proof very closely. Most often, I find that the possessive is omitted. E.g.:
The cars horn blared. (incorrect) vs. The car's horn blared. (correct)
Neither fear nor forget the possessive plural. Approach it as a thing of beauty and a sign of your awesomeness every time you get it right: The cars' horns blared. (I'm awesome.)
4. Compliment vs. Complement
This is another common grammatical challenge, especially for people who write restaurant menu descriptions, apparently.
The cabernet reduction compliments the beef. (incorrect, unless the sauce can talk)
The cabernet reduction complements the beef. (correct)
The waiter compliments your good grammar. (correct)
Complement means to go well with something. E.g. Julie, blue complements yours eyes. If you were to say this to me, you would be paying me a compliment. (By the way, feel free.)
5. Creative Prose vs. Gobbledygook
Grammar is the difference between creativity and gobbledygook, in this blogger's humble opinion. Rules are meant to be broken, of course. But it's only creative genius if you're breaking the rules intentionally. Otherwise, it's wreaking havoc.
Trying to write creative, colorful copy without a basic understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the English language is like auditioning on American Idol when your only singing experience is in the shower or for your mom. You might think it sounds good...
Respect the rules, but experiment.
Two Questions for Others
Where do you stand on commas before "and" in a list? I had a client early in my career who insisted on using one, so I adopted that practice for her and hung on to it by habit. Since that time, I've had another client who prefers no comma before "and." I have two rules of thumb: 1) whatever you choose to do, be consistent, and b) if you're writing for a client and he or she has a strong preference, adopt it and be consistent.
I proofed this post as best as I could, but if I made any typos, misplaced commas, etc. please let me know so that I can improve. Thanks!!
7 comments:
Ah, the Oxford comma controversy. Most American style guides prefer to *not* use it, but most picky grammar/usage folks prefer to use it. Me, I prefer the extra comma. That said, the style guides of nearly every place I've worked has said not to use it... unless it would clarify an ambiguity.
So, like you, basically what the client wants. :)
You can check out my blog for a bit of a punctuational controversy for Grammar Day, too. :)
http://pointsonstyle.blogspot.com
Sorry, (W)right, maybe it's the teacher in me. Please excuse this nit I'm picking. In your conclusion I don't think you need both so and that. So would do.
BTW, I agree with you on your comma controversy. I learned no comma, then, at the last place I worked the manager decided she wanted a comma after the and in a series and one space after a period. "Yes, Ma'am, Mrs. Client. Whatever you say." I want to get out of that habit. I learned in school no comma and two spaces. I need to get back into that habit.
BJ, I'm a Canuck too. Am enjoying your punctuation post. Thanks for sharing it!
And Steve, your nit pick is exactly what I want to hear. I always try to do away with extra words.
Funny that the consensus so far is 'whatever the client/boss wants!'
I prefer no extra comma. I think it's just how I was brought up, with one, two and three instead of one, two, and three. To me the extra comma is like a hiccup in the sentence.
"...is like a hiccup in the sentence"--I love it, Louise!
Great advice, Julie. My non-scientific approach to extra commas is that, knowing my own predilection for adding them, I write the article and proof it right afterwords and try to take out as many of them as possible.
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