Libraries: Tutoring: Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and Punctuation FAQ

Every essay tutored for content (such as art, government, and sociology) is also reviewed by an English tutor for grammar, punctuation, and style. You should review the notes from both tutors, before you begin revising your essay.

Each "Grammar" box contains handouts and websites. The handouts are the top of each box. For "Punctuation,"

For information about avoiding plagiarism and how to paraphrase and summarize, go to the Avoiding Plagiarism and How to Cite subject tab.

Do you need a different way to say something? Are you unsure when to use certain words? You can find the answers to these and other questions in our Vocabulary tab.

The websites we post are to help you, the student. If you encounter a link that is no longer active (for example, some sites change their addresses), please, contact the Upwsing LibGuide's administrator directly so she can replace it: ioanna.panos@hccs.edu. To better serve you, be as precise as possible about the name of the link and where you found it. **To outside entities, no soliciting links or services from your business or organization. The purpose of our resource center is to help our students with their coursework. We do not help companies or organizations advertise their services.**

Searchable Websites - Grammar & Writing

These are links to websites you can search to find information about writing, grammar, and punctuation.

Below this box are smaller boxes containing handouts, websites, and videos about specific issues from various sources.

Purdue Online Writing Lab
"The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction."
Quick and Dirty Tips: Grammar
Interesting articles and Pinterest-type images to help you understand and remember grammar.

Grammar: General Information (Handouts and Websites)

Grammar Pamphlet
A quick reference guide for grammar.
Making a Point Powerfully and Succinctly
"Impactful writing requires stating what you wish to say not only clearly but also accurately and concisely. Sentences marked “delete” or which have a note saying, for example, “Avoid using needless words” are ineffective due to wordiness. The point you want to make will have a direct and stronger impact if you eliminate unnecessary words."
Most Common Writing Blunders
Here is a quick references of some of the most common mistakes in word usage, bogus words, and sentence structure. Watch out for these errors in writing essays!

20 Most Common Grammar Errors (Excelsior Online Writing Lab)
"Every few years, [Andrea] Lunsford and her team of researchers examine thousands of student essays and survey hundreds of writing teachers in order to give us this list....Let’s look at the list, so you can see if you have had similar errors in your writing. Once you understand the problem, you are well on your way to correcting it."
Grammatical Terms (Literary Devices Definition and Examples of Literary Terms)
A list of grammatical terms you may have heard in class or by your tutor.
Passive Voice Demo [YouTube] -- UNC Writing Lab
This video demonstrates what passive voice is and how you can fix it in your writing.

Grammar: Sentences and Paragraphs (Handouts and Websites)

Clarifying "This" and "That"
"By no means is this a complete list of correct ways to use “this” and “that.” Rather, these are some of the most common ways to write and revise using those words.
The URL posted at the top of this handout is the free part of the site. When a tutor first accessed the site, all the information was free. The site created a paywall for the rest of the document. Upswing / online tutoring at HCC does not endorse any company’s pay-for product. However, because so many students were used to this information, we have decided to post only the parts that are free."
Confusing, Unclear, and Difficult to Understand Sentences and Passages
"Powerful writing requires clearly stating what you wish to say. Lack of clarity can be due to the use of general, vague, and unnecessary words, and informal language, slang, or clichés. Inappropriate or weak word choices and grammatical errors also contribute to lack of clarity. Studying the following examples should help you recognize unclear writing and learn how to revise it. Italicized parts of an example indicate the part(s) of the sentence that are unclear and need to be changed. Sometimes, more than one clear revision is possible."
Dangling Modifiers
"A dangling modifier, which is usually a participial phrase, is for the most part, at the beginning of a sentence and the noun which it is supposed to modify is not in the following clause." This handout gives examples of dangling modifiers and suggestions for revisions.
How to Build a Paragraph
Step by Step Guide to Building Paragraphs
Misplaced Modifiers
"A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from the word(s) it modifies, that is, the word(s) that it describes, clarifies, or gives details about...When a tutor or instructor indicates you have written a misplaced modifier, carefully read the sentence and decide what that phrase modifies, and move what is indicated to be a misplaced modifier to just before or after that word." This handout gives examples of misplaced modifiers and suggestions for revisions.
Parallel Structure (also called Parallelism)
Defines parallel structure and gives examples. Use parallelism to create sentences that are balanced and clear.
Run-on Sentences
Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.
Sentence Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.
Sentences Needing Simplification
"Trying to give too much information in one sentence can result in the sentence being difficult to understand, confusing and/or illogical. Weak or inappropriate word choices can also result in lack of clarity, especially when various grammatical errors are also present...The following examples of sentences needing simplification are used to indicate different ways to revise such sentences. Sometimes, however, a revision is difficult due to the complexity and lack of clarity of the sentence that had been marked 'confusing' or as not making sense."
There is / was, There are / were, It is / was Sentences
"One of the easiest but least effective ways to begin a sentence is with There is/are, There was/were, or It is/was. However, the point you want to make will have a stronger and direct impact if you begin the sentence by focusing on the subject."

Clichés -- UNC Writing Lab
"This handout [website] discusses clichés and why you should generally avoid them in order to achieve specificity in both your academic writing and your application essays."
Coordinating Conjunctions (Excelsior College OWL)
"Coordinating conjunctions coordinate or join two equal parts...he key to using coordinating conjunctions is to think about what they are coordinating. This will help you make decisions about which one to use and how to punctuate."
Fragments and Run-ons -- UNC Writing Lab
"If instructors have ever returned your papers with 'frag,' 'S.F.,' 'R.O.,' or “run-on” written in the margin, you may find this handout [website] useful. It will help you locate and correct sentence fragments and run-ons."
Misplaced Modifier
"Misplaced and dangling modifiers are phrases that are not located properly in relation to the words they modify. Misplaced modifiers lead to illogical sentences that are difficult to follow."

Grammar: Words (Handouts and Websites)

Adjectives and Adverbs
Definitions and examples of adjectives and adverbs to help you understand their differences and how you can use them to improve your writing style.
Pronoun and Antecedent
Defines "antecedent" and "pronoun" and gives examples.
Pronoun Usage
Defines what a pronoun is and how it can be used.
Proper Use of Articles (a, an, the)
This helps explain how to properly use indefinite (a, an) and definite (the) articles.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Verb Tense Consistency (OWL Purdue)
Explanations and examples of verb tenses and how to maintain consistency.
"Very" - Other ways to say it.
This handout is designed to help you come up with alternative ways to express your ideas without having to use the word “very”. By using precise diction, your readers will be able to better understand your ideas.
Who, Which, or That?
This gives rules and examples for using: who, which, that.
Who or Whom?
This helps you understand when to use "who" and "whom."

Cliché - Explanation and Avoiding Them
"A cliché (pronounced ‘klee-SHAY’) is a saying, image, or idea which has been used so much that it sounds terribly uncreative...Using clichés is considered bad writing and speaking because they make it sound like you didn’t put any thought into your words."
Noun / Pronoun Agreement
A website from Walden University, "The purpose of a pronoun is to take the place or refer back to a noun in a sentence. Just like subjects and verbs, nouns and pronouns should agree in number within a sentence."
Subject-Verb Agreement
A website from Walden University, explaining the rules of subject-verb agreement. This site includes examples.

Punctuation - Handouts

Capitalization Rules
A reference guide to when to capitalize words and examples.

Extended Use for Comma Usage (OWL Purdue)
[For now, this replaces HCC online tutoring's old Comma Usage handout.] The site gives rules and examples for comma usage. See the menu on the left-hand side for other comma issues, such as commas versus semicolons.

Punctuation - Websites

11 Common Writing [but Mostly Punctuation] Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
"In the professional world [and in college!], your writing is important. You use it on a daily basis to express yourself and your ideas, and the way it's received matters.
It makes sense, then, to ensure that you're doing everything possible to be received well. Here are some of the most common writing mistakes and how to fix them:" (From our Yammer page.)
20 Most Common Grammar Errors (Excelsior Online Writing Lab)
"Every few years, [Andrea] Lunsford and her team of researchers examine thousands of student essays and survey hundreds of writing teachers in order to give us this list....Let’s look at the list, so you can see if you have had similar errors in your writing. Once you understand the problem, you are well on your way to correcting it."
The Commas That Cost Companies Millions
"For most people, a stray comma isn’t the end of the world. But in some cases, the exact placement of a punctuation mark can cost huge sums of money."
Coordinating Conjunctions (Excelsior College OWL)
"Coordinating conjunctions coordinate or join two equal parts...he key to using coordinating conjunctions is to think about what they are coordinating. This will help you make decisions about which one to use and how to punctuate."
Ellipsis (Literary Terms)
An ellipsis [ … ] can be used to indicate you have omitted words from quoted material or for style (such as in creative writing. This site provides explanations and examples of how to use the ellipsis both ways.
Hyphens and Dashes (Education First)
Hyphens and dashes "are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different." This site explains the differences and gives examples.
Semicolons
From the writing center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, "Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated."
Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes
"This handout [website] explains the most common uses of three kinds of punctuation: semicolons (;), colons (:), and dashes (—). After reading the handout, you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing."
Titles of Works -- Punctuation Guide
How do you format the titles of books versus articles? How do you format titles of artworks? You can find out this and much more in this website!
What is a Comma Splice? (Quick and Dirty Tips)
A comma splice is one of the most common comma mistakes. A comma splice is when you use a comma to connect two ideas that can stand alone in a sentence. Usually, this means you need to use a period, instead of a comma. For more information about what a comma splice is and how to edit your sentence, visit this site.
When to Capitalize Articles (Such as "the") in Publication Names
"Whether you captialize the word "the" when it's part of a publication name depends on which style guide you follow."

Tutoring: Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and Punctuation FAQ

Searchable Websites - Grammar & Writing

Grammar: General Information (Handouts and Websites)

Grammar: Sentences and Paragraphs (Handouts and Websites)

Grammar: Words (Handouts and Websites)

Punctuation - Handouts

Punctuation - Websites

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