ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English Studies => Topic started by: lexitu on January 12, 2011, 08:15:22 am
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I don't want to place a massive emphasis on the minor details of grammar but I thought it would be a good idea to create awareness of a few little things to look out for. Just remember though, this is me being finicky, making these mistakes is insignificant in the scheme of things and you do not simply "lose marks" for making minor mistakes here and there.
Please help to build on this list as I've compiled it quickly and there's more to be added.
What to look out for:
- Do not place apostrophes to denote plurality e.g. SACs not SAC's.
- Careful when removing contractions e.g. it is "should have" not "should of".
- In most cases, formal writing should not include contractions such as 'can't' unless it is showing speech or is used for a specific purpose or writing medium. Use full words such as cannot, do not, and so on.
- 'There' refers to a place or position, 'their' denotes belonging - "their English teacher", 'they're' = they are.
- 'You' can denote both plurality and singularity.
- There's should only be used for singular. This is so commonly misused it's not funny. My English teacher misused it and she was grammatically and linguistically outstanding. For example, instead of "there's so many words" say "there are so many words".
- Similarly, 'was' is not for plurals. "There were many nachos" is correct.
- I'll keep adding to this list if I think of anything else.
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Your and You're...
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My English teacher always told me to stop using 'split infinitives' such as 'to clearly understand' in my essays. Although I know that there is a bit of a divide as to whether or not split infinitives are 'grammatically correct', I think it is still best to avoid using them in your essays.
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It's and Its.
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People tend to misuse: 'to, two and too' a lot....
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My English teacher always told me to stop using 'split infinitives' such as 'to clearly understand' in my essays. Although I know that there is a bit of a divide as to whether or not split infinitives are 'grammatically correct', I think it is still best to avoid using them in your essays.
They're 100% incorrect but because people use them so often they've become accepted. Dangling/misplaced modifiers are worse but thankfully less common.
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were and we're
their, there and they're
government NOT goverment
disappointment NOT dissappointment
vacuum NOT vaccum
and sometimes it's easy to get confused when microsoft word (that's set on english (u.s.) for me :S) tries to correct "colour" with "color".. IGNORE AMERICAN SPELLINGS of words;
Favourite- not favorite
Colour- not color
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What about affect and effect?
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/effective-vs-affective.html
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were and we're
their, there and they're
government NOT goverment
disappointment NOT dissappointment
vacuum NOT vaccum
and sometimes it's easy to get confused when microsoft word (that's set on english (u.s.) for me :S) tries to correct "colour" with "color".. IGNORE AMERICAN SPELLINGS of words;
Favourite- not favorite
Colour- not color
Although it wouldn't come up too often in an English essay: MUM not mom!!!!
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This thread is making me twitch - it's like an amalgamation of my pet hates. My one is slightly less relevant, but whenever you use 'if' as an hyperthetical, use 'were' or 'had' not 'was'.
If I were to go to the shops?
Would you still go out with me if I were married?
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What about affect and effect?
Absolutely, one of the worst.
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On that topic, would it be noted for the worse if we use Americanised word?
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Yeah many students get confused with the use of affect and effect. I find that saying the sentence out loud or just rereading helps identify whether or not it is correct.
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My English teacher always told me to stop using 'split infinitives' such as 'to clearly understand' in my essays. Although I know that there is a bit of a divide as to whether or not split infinitives are 'grammatically correct', I think it is still best to avoid using them in your essays.
This one's interesting.. can you explain this further Aden?
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Great thread.
It drives me crazy when people don't use the word you're. You are - You're, I don't understand why so many people struggle with it ><
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My English teacher always told me to stop using 'split infinitives' such as 'to clearly understand' in my essays. Although I know that there is a bit of a divide as to whether or not split infinitives are 'grammatically correct', I think it is still best to avoid using them in your essays.
Can you explain this into more detail? I think I may do this but I've never heard anything about it...
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This thread is making me twitch - it's like an amalgamation of my pet hates. My one is slightly less relevant, but whenever you use 'if' as an hyperthetical, use 'were' or 'had' not 'was'.
If I were to go to the shops?
Would you still go out with me if I were married?
*hypothetical? I think, lol.
Reading this thread makes me think that English Grammar should be introduced as a subject in primary schools and lower secondary schools!
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affect: verb
effect: noun
simple :)
..unless you're being wanky and using effect as a verb... but if I need to explain how, it's safer to just not use it :)
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*hypothetical?
aaaawks
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edit: ^^ techically affect can also be a noun, but I wouldn't use affect as a noun or effect as a verb. In everyday speech, the easiest way of being fail safe is to use affect as a verb, and effect as a noun. I.e. The GFC affected the Australian economy minimally. The GFC had a minimal effect on the Australian economy.
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S instead of a Z
e.g. Rationalise, not rationalize
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
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My English teacher always told me to stop using 'split infinitives' such as 'to clearly understand' in my essays. Although I know that there is a bit of a divide as to whether or not split infinitives are 'grammatically correct', I think it is still best to avoid using them in your essays.
This one's interesting.. can you explain this further Aden?
A split infinitive occurs whenever an adverb 'cuts' or 'splits' the full infinitive of a verb. Normally a full infinitive would be 'to say', 'to do' or 'to go' (which many foreign languages would teach), but a split infinitive would be 'to slowly go', where the 'to' and the infinitive verb bit has been split in two parts by an adverb. The primary reason why people are arguing against this being grammatically incorrect is because there are just times when it is impossible to 'not' have a split infinitive without a sentence making sense or flowing well. You can read more about it here:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/page/grammartipsplitinfinitive
Although it wouldn't come up too often in an English essay: MUM not mom!!!!
Haha, EXACTLY!
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Organisation, not Organization.
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
I only mean in some words obviously.
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
I only mean in some words obviously.
I was joking lol, you're right obviously and MS Word is quite annoying in that regard :/
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(un)consciousness and decision, damn c's and s's :(
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should I get us all started on 'flammable' and 'inflammable'?
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
If not another subject, schools should place a greater emphasis on grammar, especially in the early years. If my memory serves me correctly, in Junior school we had grammar as a separate subject and in year seven/eight, we had two lessons of english devoted to grammar every rotation. Also, French/German/Italian students have grammar drilled into them, so why can't we! Sometimes I think our understanding of grammar in LOTEs is better than our understanding of grammar in our own language (in general, that is.)!
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
If not another subject, schools should place a greater emphasis on grammar, especially in the early years. If my memory serves me correctly, in Junior school we had grammar as a separate subject and in year seven/eight, we had two lessons of english devoted to grammar every rotation. Also, French/German/Italian students have grammar drilled into them, so why can't we! Sometimes I think our understanding of grammar in LOTEs is better than our understanding of grammar in our own language (in general, that is.)!
You speak like my old (v. old) English teacher who got us to go through the latin roots of English words. Personally Grammar would bore me to death and LOL so true, I know more Japanese grammar than English!
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What about than and then? -.-
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same: german and french helped my knowledge of english grammar immeasurably
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What about than and then? -.-
*twitch*
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What about than and then? -.-
*twitch*
Quite prone to it myself, always have to edit my posts :P
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
If not another subject, schools should place a greater emphasis on grammar, especially in the early years. If my memory serves me correctly, in Junior school we had grammar as a separate subject and in year seven/eight, we had two lessons of english devoted to grammar every rotation. Also, French/German/Italian students have grammar drilled into them, so why can't we! Sometimes I think our understanding of grammar in LOTEs is better than our understanding of grammar in our own language (in general, that is.)!
You speak like my old (v. old) English teacher who got us to go through the latin roots of English words. Personally Grammar would bore me to death and LOL so true, I know more Japanese grammar than English!
LOL, I had an English teacher exactly like that. In fact, I had quite a few. Plus my Latin teacher would go off topic a lot and talk about English grammar in parallel to the Latin we were using. I think I'm a product of such old-school teaching! :P
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(un)consciousness and decision, damn c's and s's :(
Oh i hate those as well :P
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(un)consciousness and decision, damn c's and s's :(
Oh i hate those as well :P
Especially conscientious :(
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
If not another subject, schools should place a greater emphasis on grammar, especially in the early years. If my memory serves me correctly, in Junior school we had grammar as a separate subject and in year seven/eight, we had two lessons of english devoted to grammar every rotation. Also, French/German/Italian students have grammar drilled into them, so why can't we! Sometimes I think our understanding of grammar in LOTEs is better than our understanding of grammar in our own language (in general, that is.)!
You speak like my old (v. old) English teacher who got us to go through the latin roots of English words. Personally Grammar would bore me to death and LOL so true, I know more Japanese grammar than English!
LOL tell me about it... I didnt even know there was such thing as a relative clause in english. :o
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(un)consciousness and decision, damn c's and s's :(
Oh i hate those as well :P
Especially conscientious :(
Heheh i love it when teachers spell that incorrectly on school reports ;D
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@herzy: Epic triple post ;D
@fuzzy-logic: Where's the space/time for another subject, "English grammar".
@Andioo: ...but it's prize, not prise :P
I only mean in some words obviously.
I was joking lol, you're right obviously and MS Word is quite annoying in that regard :/
Yeah MS word is a bitch with an OCD for adding Z's ;p
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oh my english tutor told me this but apparently gets and gots shouldn't be used... eg. i got married is bad grammer o.o
and smart isnt intelligent, it means well dressed; dumb shouldnt be used to mean stupid, it actually means cannot speak.
i dont know..
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Can someone explain 'who' and 'whom'?
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As a general rule, if there is ever a 'to', then use whom. As in, To whom do I address this letter?
If you know your grammar, you'll know this is because 'who' is used as a subject, 'whom' as an object. It's the same as the differene between he/his (who) and him (whom).
I sent a letter to him. To whom do I send this letter?
It is his turn to deal. Who's turn is it to deal?
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oh my english tutor told me this but apparently gets and gots shouldn't be used... eg. i got married is bad grammer o.o
and smart isnt intelligent, it means well dressed; dumb shouldnt be used to mean stupid, it actually means cannot speak.
i dont know..
Hmm yeah. It's not really bad grammar, more bad expression. "Got" is a flexible word that can interchange with more specific words. Overusing "got" not only makes an essay stale, but it also means that you're not refining your expression to convey a more exact meaning. E.g "I got a letter" could easily be replaced by "I received a letter".
As for dumb, it carries the "stupid" meaning informally. Personally, I love language being stretched to include both informal and figurative words.
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Although it wouldn't come up too often in an English essay: MUM not mom!!!!
Haha, EXACTLY!
[/quote]
MAN YOU GUYS ARE NEVER GONNA LET THIS GO.
I like "Mom" hmph
Oh, and in Literature class, our final class in fact we had "Emma" trivia. Our teacher rather meanly humiliated this girl because instead of asking the question, she went,
"What is wrong with this question? To who did Frank send a letter apologising for his poor behaviour?"
or
"What's wrong with the word "affect" in, What affect did Emma's criticism of Mr. Martin have on Harriet's decision?"
Poor girl.
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Although it wouldn't come up too often in an English essay: MUM not mom!!!!
Haha, EXACTLY!
MAN YOU GUYS ARE NEVER GONNA LET THIS GO.
I like "Mom" hmph
Oh, and in Literature class, our final class in fact we had "Emma" trivia. Our teacher rather meanly humiliated this girl because instead of asking the question, she went,
"What is wrong with this question? To who did Frank send a letter apologising for his poor behaviour?"
or
"What's wrong with the word "affect" in, What affect did Emma's criticism of Mr. Martin have on Harriet's decision?"
Poor girl.
[/quote]
Although it wouldn't come up too often in an English essay: MUM not mom!!!!
Haha, EXACTLY!
MAN YOU GUYS ARE NEVER GONNA LET THIS GO.
I like "Mom" hmph
Oh, and in Literature class, our final class in fact we had "Emma" trivia. Our teacher rather meanly humiliated this girl because instead of asking the question, she went,
"What is wrong with this question? To who did Frank send a letter apologising for his poor behaviour?"
or
"What's wrong with the word "affect" in, What affect did Emma's criticism of Mr. Martin have on Harriet's decision?"
Poor girl.
[/quote]
Mom is like MAWM
LOL
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are you purposely imitating my poor quoting technique? :P
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http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
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I know a few American people well I am sure we all do haha.
They weren't too sure on the use of things such as 'u' for words such as colour so they did worried over mistakes and being marked down for spelling.
One that I see is people using commas way to often in a big sentence. If it is big break down into two seperate ones that can be connected easily.
Also then and than also trip me up sometimes even though it is one of the easier ones to get right.
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This thread is making me twitch - it's like an amalgamation of my pet hates. My one is slightly less relevant, but whenever you use 'if' as an hyperthetical, use 'were' or 'had' not 'was'.
If I were to go to the shops?
Would you still go out with me if I were married?
The use of "an" should be highlighted. "An" is used before a word beginning with a vowel, or in some special circumstances like say "an hour".
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A eucalyptus tree
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This thread is making me twitch - it's like an amalgamation of my pet hates. My one is slightly less relevant, but whenever you use 'if' as an hyperthetical, use 'were' or 'had' not 'was'.
If I were to go to the shops?
Would you still go out with me if I were married?
How about:
If we had to enrol by Friday then I would do it tomorrow.
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YES! 'An' should not be used unthinkingly - it should be used in a natural way: an hour, an honest person, a historic event, a euro, etc.
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*an historic event...
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it's because of the french influence on our language. as a general rule, french nouns beginning with h would be preceded by 'an', same as 'un' being pronounced in french before a vowel or a (silent) h.
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*an historic event...
Grr!!!! Punch on time mate :) I know this is by no way solid I-told-you-so material, but it makes a lot of sense. On ABC's word watch good old Kel (?) Richards was saying that the an is only used for when there is a vowel sound at the beginning of a word. Historic has a consonant sound because the h is not 'silent'. It just feels so much more fluent.
I await the surrebuttal.
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*an historic event...
Grr!!!! Punch on time mate :) I know this is by no way solid I-told-you-so material, but it makes a lot of sense. On ABC's word watch good old Kel (?) Richards was saying that the an is only used for when there is a vowel sound at the beginning of a word. Historic has a consonant sound because the h is not 'silent'. It just feels so much more fluent.
I await the surrebuttal.
Which is technically right? :P As in, hypothetically speaking, if we were to write "a/an historic event" in the Eng exam, would we write a or an?
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*an historic event...
Grr!!!! Punch on time mate :) I know this is by no way solid I-told-you-so material, but it makes a lot of sense. On ABC's word watch good old Kel (?) Richards was saying that the an is only used for when there is a vowel sound at the beginning of a word. Historic has a consonant sound because the h is not 'silent'. It just feels so much more fluent.
I await the surrebuttal.
Which is technically right? :P As in, hypothetically speaking, if we were to write "a/an historic event" in the Eng exam, would we write a or an?
an event which is historic :P
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Haha Luke, and @ Andilo - I think there are arguments for both. Like a few things in the English language it's ambiguous.
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Haha Luke, and @ Andilo - I think there are arguments for both. Like a few things in the English language it's ambiguous.
If you're going to correct grammatical mistakes, maybe get Andiio's name correct :P
that deserves another karma hahaha
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Hey stop bargaining for karma, punk! :P What did I get wrong BTW? :S
I know his name, just chose not to use it.
(BTW let's keep this short so we don't go off-topic for too long).
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Haha Luke, and @ Andilo - I think there are arguments for both. Like a few things in the English language it's ambiguous.
Andilo? :P
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Oh, WHOOPS. I've been doing that for a while now, somehow the double i didn't register. Andiio, my sincerest of apologies as the right to a name is a basic human right not to be ignored. I give you permission to call me lexilu :)
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Oh, WHOOPS. I've been doing that for a while now, somehow the double i didn't register. Andiio, my sincerest of apologies as the right to a name is a basic human right not to be ignored. I give you permission to call me lexilu :)
IMO lexilu is better ;D
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Hahaha I got my pet to do the menial jobs for me :P
Yes ATAR, you are now my pet haha
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Hahaha I got my pet to do the menial jobs for me :P
Yes ATAR, you are now my pet haha
It got my post count to 900 - that is all that matters :P
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Some grammar questions :>
1) When you say 'I think' at the end of a sentence, should you put a comma before it?
e.g. They have good chicken, I think.
2) Before a quote, should there always be a comma?
3) If you're quoting or paraphrasing something, does it always have to be in quotation marks? e.g. in a journal entry, I might write, 'I thought damn, missed the damn train again, damn it' but if in reality I thought something else, do I still need to put quotation marks around the thought?
4) When do you put a dash between words that are combined? e.g. blue-coloured or red-haired
5) If a quote has an exclamation mark, do you still have to put a period in at the very end?
6) If an entire sentence is in brackets, does the period come before or after the bracket?
7) When you make a list of something, should there be a comma in between each item, and when you introduce it, should it be a colon or semi-colon?
8) Is a comma before 'and' and 'or' ok? Does it depend on context?
Thanks
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3) If you're quoting or paraphrasing something, does it always have to be in quotation marks? e.g. in a journal entry, I might write, 'I thought damn, missed the damn train again, damn it' but if in reality I thought something else, do I still need to put quotation marks around the thought?
Quoted or direct speech:
He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. "And just what pleasure have I found, since I came into this world?" he asked.
Reported or normal indirect speech:
He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. He asked himself what pleasure he had found since he came into the world.
Free indirect speech:
He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. And just what pleasure had he found, since he came into this world?
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I think the most emphasis needs to go on PROOF READING! People tend to miss stuff alot, proof read as much as you can to add the final touch to your essay. Make sure it is making sense and there are no spelling mistakes. Also don't drag a sentence on to be too long.
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Some grammar questions :>
1) When you say 'I think' at the end of a sentence, should you put a comma before it?
e.g. They have good chicken, I think.
2) Before a quote, should there always be a comma?
3) If you're quoting or paraphrasing something, does it always have to be in quotation marks? e.g. in a journal entry, I might write, 'I thought damn, missed the damn train again, damn it' but if in reality I thought something else, do I still need to put quotation marks around the thought?
4) When do you put a dash between words that are combined? e.g. blue-coloured or red-haired
5) If a quote has an exclamation mark, do you still have to put a period in at the very end?
6) If an entire sentence is in brackets, does the period come before or after the bracket?
7) When you make a list of something, should there be a comma in between each item, and when you introduce it, should it be a colon or semi-colon?
8) Is a comma before 'and' and 'or' ok? Does it depend on context?
Thanks
1) Yes.
2) Nope.
5) No. An explanation mark replaces the period.
They are the ones I can actually answer. Awaiting answers on the rest though because I want to know as well. :)
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Some grammar questions :>
1) When you say 'I think' at the end of a sentence, should you put a comma before it?
e.g. They have good chicken, I think.
2) Before a quote, should there always be a comma?
3) If you're quoting or paraphrasing something, does it always have to be in quotation marks? e.g. in a journal entry, I might write, 'I thought damn, missed the damn train again, damn it' but if in reality I thought something else, do I still need to put quotation marks around the thought?
4) When do you put a dash between words that are combined? e.g. blue-coloured or red-haired
5) If a quote has an exclamation mark, do you still have to put a period in at the very end?
6) If an entire sentence is in brackets, does the period come before or after the bracket?
7) When you make a list of something, should there be a comma in between each item, and when you introduce it, should it be a colon or semi-colon?
8) Is a comma before 'and' and 'or' ok? Does it depend on context?
Thanks
1) Yes.
2) Nope.
5) No. An explanation mark replaces the period.
They are the ones I can actually answer. Awaiting answers on the rest though because I want to know as well. :)
3. Paraphrasing should never be in quotation marks. Internal speech (ie thoughts) are often in italics, but they do not need to be as they were not actually spoken. It helps the reader, though. Also, only the exact words thought ought to be in italics (ie not the 'I thought' part).
4. When they operate as a phrasal adjective (ie two words that join together to describe a noun separate from them). For example, a blue-coloured bird is a bird that is blue in colouring, whereas a blue coloured bird is ambiguous, as it could also mean a coloured bird that is sad ('blue').
6. If the start of the sentence is inside the brackets, all the punctuation pertaining to that sentence should also be inside the brackets.
7 - Part A. A list where each item is short should not be introduced by either a colon or a semi-colon. The list should flow on naturally, and a comma should be placed between each item. Some people omit the comma after the penultimate item and before the final 'and', while others use it. I judge it based on what would be clearest for the reader in the exact sentence I am writing.
7 - Part B. A list where each item is long also need not be introduced by any punctuation. The only difference is that each item on the list should be separated by a semi-colon - this is because each item on the list may have its own commas within it, so it would be confusing if items were also *separated* by commas. In this type of list, a semi-colon should always be used after the penultimate item and before the final 'and'.
7 - Part C. Semi-colons never introduce lists. Semi-colons give an intermediate connected-yet-separate identity to multiple clauses that are complete in themselves; they recognise that the two clauses do not flow naturally on from each other and thus cannot use a comma, but also recognise that they are logically connected in meaning. (Note: That sentence is intentionally intended to be an example!) That is why they are used to separate list items when each list item is practically a sentence in itself. Colons are effectively used in place of 'ie' or 'in other words' to signal that you are about to essentially say something you have already said, but in a more detailed way.
:) Depends both on context and the conventions one was taught. Always ask what would be most clear for the reader and natural in the context, in my opinion.
Wow. Massive grammar-high. Brilliant.
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What's the difference between a cat and a semi-colon?
A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a semi-colon is a pause at the end of a clause.
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What's the difference between a cat and a semi-colon?
A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a semi-colon is a pause at the end of a clause.
That's ridiculously cute, and not *despite* its nerdiness.
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i had lots or trouble with
a lot vs alot
and inturn vs in turn. I STILL DONT KNOW WHICH IS CORRECT
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'alot' and 'inturn' are non-existent!
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'alot' and 'inturn' are non-existent!
Yep second this. They both annoy me.
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'alot' and 'inturn' are non-existent!
Says who?
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it's when saying, 'it's legs are huge' is wrong
you dont use an apostrophe s to show possession for 'it'
'alot' and 'inturn' are non-existent!
Says who?
its a lot, and in turn i think
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Obligatory link
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
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it's when saying, 'it's legs are huge' is wrong
you dont use an apostrophe s to show possession for 'it'
'alot' and 'inturn' are non-existent!
Says who?
its a lot, and in turn i think
Correct.
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saying "could of" instead of "could have"
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Saying <name> and myself.
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As a general rule, if there is ever a 'to', then use whom. As in, To whom do I address this letter?
If you know your grammar, you'll know this is because 'who' is used as a subject, 'whom' as an object. It's the same as the differene between he/his (who) and him (whom).
I sent a letter to him. To whom do I send this letter?
It is his turn to deal. Who's turn is it to deal?
Whose and who's..
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saying "could of" instead of "could have"
I think both are accepted now though, although "should have" is traditionally the correct way
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I think both are accepted now though, although "should have" is traditionally the correct way
I don't think that 'could of' is accepted at all, at least not among 'educated' people. Perhaps it is among other people who say 'could of', but seeing as it's just a mis-pronunciation of 'could have' I doubt it's actually formally accepted anywhere.
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Not sure if this is where this is suppose to be, but for VCE is any preference given to American vs British/Australian spelling of words like organise/organize? I've always felt spelling words with an 's' was classier :P
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Recieve instead of receive. This might only be me who does this though.
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Not sure if this is where this is suppose to be, but for VCE is any preference given to American vs British/Australian spelling of words like organise/organize? I've always felt spelling words with an 's' was classier :P
At least for VCE English, you are being assessed in part on your ability to follow the "rules" of standard Australian English. So yes you need to use -s- where possible, which is a good thing for you :)
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Just a note that lots of these questions relate to style guides for writing (e.g. where to place commas or quotation marks), and have nothing to do English grammar.
For words ending in 'ise'/'ize', the latter is the *Oxford* spelling.
My pet hate: treating 'data' as a plural.
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I've made it my sole mission in life to correct the usage of 'and me', 'me and' + 'and I' of as many people as possible.
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I've made it my sole mission in life to correct the usage of 'and me', 'me and' + 'and I' of as many people as possible.
You and me should team up on this. Oh, wait...