Grammar & PunctuationManagerial Communication

Spring 2014

SMALL BUT IMPORTANT• In 2006, a misplaced comma cost a Canadian cable television company more than $2 million when a court ruled that the errant mark changed the meaning of the company’s contract with another firm.

• In Australia, the badges on the Royal Australian Navy have an extra “L.” The Shadow Defence Minister said, “To have a badge on their upper arm that misspells our country…it doesn’t get any worse than that.”

• Studies show that a single spelling error can cut a company’s online sales in half (blog.hubspot.com).

• “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (Second Amendment of the Constitution, 1789).

•Old Navy released a new line of college-inspired T-shirts with a missing apostrophe: “Lets Go!!”

PUNCTUATION

•Punctuate this sentence:

•Woman without her man is a savage.

•Woman, without her man, is a savage.

•Woman: without her, man is a savage.

•Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours? Gloria

•Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Gloria

PUNCTUATION SHORTHAND•IC (,) coord. conj. (and, or, nor, for, but, so, yet) IC

•IE (,) IC

•IC (;) IC

•IC ( ) DC

Use a comma between independent clauseslinked with a coordinating conjunction.

•The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.

•The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn’t seem to understand.

COMMAS

There are seven coordinatingconjunctions. Remember the word FANBOYS:•For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Coordinating Conjunctions

COMMASDO NOT use a comma before a coordinatingconjunction if what follows the conjunctionisn’t a complete sentence.•Incorrect: Toby finished his

report, and took a short break.•Correct: Toby finished his report

and took a short break.

Use a comma before the last item in a seriesof three or more.

•The candidate promised to lower taxes, protect the environment, reduce crime, and end unemployment.

COMMAS

Use a comma after introductory clauses,phrases, or words that precede the mainclause.

•Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.•After the test, I went jogging.•Consequently, I was too tired to

join friends that evening.

COMMAS

Use commas to set off non-restrictiveelements. Non-restrictive elements are non-essential to the sentence.•That Tuesday, which happens to be

my birthday, is the only day I’m available to meet.•The customer representative, an

industrial engineer, was attentive to us.

COMMAS

Use a semi-colon to separate two closelyrelated independent clauses.

•Road construction has hindered travel around town; streets have become covered with bulldozers, trucks, and cones.

SEMI-COLONS

Use a semi-colon to separate independentclauses when the second one begins with aconjunctive adverb such as however, therefore, or nevertheless or a phrase such as for example or in that case.•Our supplier has been out of that part for

10 weeks; however, we have found another source that can ship the part right away.

SEMI-COLONS

•http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

COLONSUse a colon only after an independent clause (complete sentence). What follows is often a list or is further explanation of the preceding sentence.

• Bring the following items to the exam: a pencil, a scantron, and your ID.

● After a sleepless night, the senator made her decision: she would not seek re-election.

APOSTOPHES•Use an apostrophe for possessives

EXCEPT for personal pronouns.▪To form the possessive of a singular noun, add

an apostrophe and s (‘s).student’s book

Jess’s car ( Jess’ car is also acceptable)▪To form the possessive of an irregular plural

noun (one that does not end in s or es), add the apostrophe and s (‘s).

children’s toys▪To form the possessive of a regular plural noun

(one that ends in s or es), add only the apostrophe (‘).

teachers’ lounge

APOSTROPHES•Use an apostrophe to indicate words left out in a contraction– can’t (cannot)– don’t (do not)– won’t (will not)

•DO NOT use apostrophes with personal pronouns.– his ours– hers theirs– yours its (NOT it’s)

GRAMMAR

Verbs must agree in number with theirsubjects. Incorrect: A trustee, rather than the college administrators, represent the institution at the meeting.

Correct: A trustee, rather than the college administrators, represents the institutionat the meeting.

Either Paul or the girls need to attend the course.Either the girls or Paul needs to attend the course.

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

Pronouns must agree in number with thenouns they refer back to (antecedents).• Each of the saleswomen changed her

dress before dinner.• Every concert-goer was asked to leave

his or her car at the gate.• The children removed their jackets.

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

The pronoun used will depend upon itsposition in the sentence or clause. Use asubjective pronoun when it is in thesubject position of the sentence or clause;use an objective pronoun when it is in theobject position of the sentence or clause;and use the personal pronoun for thepossessive.

PRONOUN CASE

Take the other person out of the sentence todetermine which pronoun to use. • Sheila and (I, me) went to the concert

together.

Take Sheila out of the sentence. Say it the wayyou normally would. • I went to the concert.

Add Sheila back into the sentence. • Sheila and I went to the concert.

OR

• Tricia went on vacation this summer with Dan and (I, me).

Take Dan out of the sentence and say it theway you normally would.• Tricia went on vacation this summer with me.Add Dan back into the sentence.• Tricia went on vacation with Dan and me.

RESTRICTIVE AND NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES

•Clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence are called restrictive. Do not put commas around restrictive clauses.

•Nonrestrictive clauses contain extra information and are non-essential to the sentence. Put commas around nonrestrictive clauses.

• Restrictive: The actor who attracts the most viewers gets a top salary.

• Nonrestrictive: Dr. John Kelly, who taught math for 25 years, received frequent praise from faculty and students.

Be sure items in a series or items of equalweight are the same part of speech.

Incorrect: Three reasons why steel companies keep losing money are that their plants are inefficient, high labor costs, and foreign competition is increasing.Correct: Three reasons why steel companies keep losing money are inefficient plants, high labor costs, and increasing foreign competition.

PARALLELISM

Dangling modifiers occur near the beginnings of

sentences. The sentence often begins with a verb

phrase, although adjectival and adverbial phrases can

dangle also. If the phrase that begins the sentence is

inappropriate for the subject of the sentence, then it is

said to dangle.Incorrect: Walking up the stairs, the pencil was lying on the step.Correct: Walking up the stairs, I saw the pencil lying on the step.

Incorrect: While flying the plane, the engine began to sputter.Correct: While flying the plane, the pilot heard the engine begin to sputter.

DANGLING MODIFIERS

Misplaced modifiers occur toward the middleor end of the sentence. They can usually becorrected by simply rearranging thesentence.Incorrect: He served steak to the men on paperplates.Correct: He served the men steak on paperplates.

Incorrect: Many cats are killed by automobilesAnd trucks roaming the neighborhoods.Correct: Many cats roaming the neighborhoodsare killed by automobiles and trucks.

MISPLACED MODIFIERS

Run-ons occur when two or more independent

clauses are joined together with no punctuation

or connectives. Comma splices occur when two

independent clauses are joined by a comma,

instead of a period or semi-colon.Incorrect: It is important to give you this information there is a lien on her property.Correct: It is important to give you this information because there is a lien on her property.Incorrect: Philadelphia has my favorite symphony orchestra, New York has my favorite ballet company.Correct: Philadelphia has my favorite symphony orchestra; New York has my favorite ballet company.

RUN-ONS and COMMA SPLICES

Lecture Activity•In your groups, complete the worksheet.•First section: Circle the correct word.•Second section: Rewrite the sentence.•Third section: Put the correct letter beside the sentence.