GrammarCheck: April 18, 2000

April 18, 2000
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
-------------------------------------------------

Four sentence types dominate modern English structure--simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. This week we'll look at simple sentences.

SIMPLE sentences state a complete, independent idea using a subject and a verb.

EXAMPLES:

The little brown dog barked.
(dog = subject; barked = verb)

We just moved into a new condominium.
(We = subject; moved = verb)

- - - - - - -

When used as part of a longer unit of discourse, a simple sentence is called an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

EXAMPLES:

John milked the cows at 5 a.m.
(John milked the cows = independent clause)

Cindy worked late so I came in early.
(Cindy worked late = 1st independent clause; I came in early = 2nd independent clause)

- - - - - - -

Simple sentences are useful for making the text easy to read and to understand. Examples of documents often using simple sentences include instruction manuals, spec sheets, and procedural guidelines.

Next week we'll look at compound sentences.

-------------------------------------------------

PAST ISSUES AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Subscribers to GrammarCheck can now read past issues at the following web site address: http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives

-------------------------------------------------

SPELLING TIP:

Remember the old grammar school jingle about spelling "ie" words?

'i' before 'e'
except after 'c'
or when sounded like 'a'
as in 'neighbor' or 'weigh'

It still works for many words like "mischief" and "piece" or "reign" and "sleigh," but here are some exceptions:

foreign, forfeit, seize, weird

Use the mnemonic (pronounced nee-máhn-ik) principle to help you memorize exceptions. Mnemonic means attaching personal meanings to a word to help you remember its correct spelling.

EXAMPLES:

foreign: this "ie" word is spelled in a "foreign" way--"ei"

seize: "seize" the inverted spelling of this "ie" word

weird: notice the "weird" spelling of this "ie" word

- - - - - - -

Here are a few to practice for next week when we'll print correct spellings:
Which in each pair is spelled correctly?

biege or beige
breif or brief
ceiling or cieling
deceive or decieve
grieve or greive
seive or sieve

(Get your cursor off the "spell check" and put down that dictionary--no cheating!)

-------------------------------------------------

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS TO EDITING EXERCISES

Thanks to everyone who submitted their answers to last week's editing exercises (sentence combining and "words to avoid"). Here are some of the best answers:

ORIGINAL: It's just that it is kind of hard with so many of us living in different states. But we manage somehow.

ANSWERS:

Somehow we manage, though it's hard with so many of us living in different states. (Robert)

So many of us living in different states makes it hard, but we manage somehow. (Juliea)

Living in different states makes it difficult, but we manage. (Judith)

It's hard with so many of us living in different states, but we manage. (Betty)

We manage somehow, although it's rather difficult because many of us live in different states. (Jane)

Living in different states is difficult, but we manage somehow. (Debbie)

It's kind of hard with so many of us living in different states, but somehow we manage. (Wicked Wench)

Though many live in other states, we seem to manage. (Reg in Australia)

- - - - - - -

ORIGINAL: The problem with Wal-Mart's planning now is that it is still a relatively new store. There are still kinks and bugs to work out.

ANSWERS:

Still a relatively new store, Wal-Mart has yet to work out problems in planning. (Robert)

There still are kinks and bugs to work out in Wal-Mart's planning, as it is a relatively new store. (Jane)

Still a relatively new store, Wal-Mart needs to work out the kinks and bugs of planning. (Elsie)

- - - - - - -

ORIGINAL:

For nearly fifty years, we have strived to make quality and service number one. Because of this, we have won numerous consumer excellence awards.

ANSWERS:

For nearly fifty years, we have strived to make quality and service number one, winning numerous consumer excellence awards. (Robert)

We have won numerous customer excellence awards during our fifty years of making quality and service our number one goal. (Jane)

Good work, readers!

-------------------------------------------------

YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS

QUESTION: Is a semi-colon always proper between two independent clauses that contain commas in one or both clauses?

GRAMMARCHECK: It depends. If commas are used within the independent clauses, a semi-colon may be used to link the two clauses unless they are joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction.

EXAMPLES:

Muffy, our cat, had 3 kittens; our neighbor's cat, Jumper, had two.

Muffy, our cat, had 3 kittens, but our neighbor's cat, Jumper had two.

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: In a composition (multi-paragraph), how many sentences are generally used in the "approach" step of the introduction?

GRAMMARCHECK: To grab your reader's attention, you may want to begin with an offbeat or informational sentence:

EXAMPLES:

One out of four college students will be exposed to AIDS this year.

Ouch! Professional athletes' salaries rise again.

Many writers feel that an introductory paragraph of 3 to 5 sentences is adequate, utilizing a hook (attention-getter), lead-in statement, transition to focus, focus or thesis statement, and possible restatement. (We'll explore these in more detail in a future edition.)

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: Hi over there. I'd like your opinion on these sentences I wrote recently. I was a little embarrassed after I'd sent them but can't decide whether they're clumsy or clever???

"My 'forward' production includes what feels to me as a pronounced lip protrusion but is not in fact so when I look in the mirror. As a tenor I don't imitate him but I notice that Bryl Terfel is a clear proponent of the forward relaxed lips."

I seem to have made a mental statement before settling on the subject. How do you see this? Would it confuse the 'average' reader? Thank you. (Reg, Sydney, Australia)

GRAMMARCHECK: Hi, Reg. Your sentences might confuse someone unfamiliar with the terminology of your text. The focus appears to be related to music performance theory. If so, readers might have trouble 'translating' your message, and the structure could be simpler. To clarify, try using simple sentences and balanced sentence structure.

EXAMPLE: My 'forward' production (in vocal performance) includes what feels like a pronounced lip protrusion, but the mirror suggests otherwise. Bryl Terfel is a clear proponent of forward relaxed lips, but as a tenor I don't imitate him.

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: Do you use "I" or "me" in this sentence?

On June 8, 1999, Search Committee, Mary, John, Sam and ? met to review the position.

GRAMMARCHECK: In this sentence use "I" because the proper names and self-reference appear in the subject position and perform the action of the verb:

EXAMPLE: On the June 8, 1999, Search Committee, Mary, John, Sam, and I (subjects) met (verb) to review the position.

But use "me" in the object position to receive the action of the verb:

EXAMPLE: Gerald (subject) gave (verb) me (object) another chance to finish the job.

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: Hi. This is a stanza from a poem I wrote:

"Now, now--patience, all,"
says an old and wrinkled shell.
"Watch the sky; bide your time.
All will soon be well."

Did I punctuate it correctly, or should I use the quotation marks like this:

"Now, now--patience, all,"
says an old and wrinkled shell.
"Watch the sky; bide your time."
"All will soon be well."

Thanks for your help!

GRAMMARCHECK: Your first sample is correct. Place quotation marks around sections of quoted speech that are not interrupted by narrative comments like "he said" or "and then." You need not place quotation marks around each sentence.