Common Usage and Punctuation

Problems

Accept is verb meaning: to receive.

Except is a preposition meaning: other than.

Accept, Except

Affect is almost always used a verb meaning:

to influence. Effect, usually a noun, means: result

Occasionally, effect is a verb meaning: to bring about or to cause

Affect, Effect

The two words all ready are used as an

adjective meaning: ready

Already is an adverb meaning: by or before this time or even now

All ready, Already

Alright, though it is seen more and more

frequently in print, is not considered a correct spelling.

Make sure that in your own writing, you always use the two word form.

All right, alright

All together: together as a group

Altogether: completely or in all

All together, Altogether

Awhile is an adverb, meaning: for a while.

A while is an article and a noun, usually used after the preposition for

Awhile, a while

Do not use because after the reason. Say the

reason…is that or re-word the sentence altogether.

BAD: The reason he is sad is because his dog died.

because

Due to means: caused by. Should be used only when the words caused

by can logically be substituted.

BAD: Due to a rare virus, he became seriously ill on this recent trip.

Due to

Farther refers to distance.

Further refers to additional or to a greater degree or extent.

Farther, further

Do not use kind of or sort of in place of rather

or somewhat

BAD: I feel sort of sick. GOOD: I feel somewhat sick

Kind of, sort of

Use fewer for things that can be counted.

Use less for quantities that can not be counted.

Fewer, less

Lay means “to put or set (something) down.”

Its principle parts-lay, laying, laid- are usually followed by a direct object.

Lie means “to recline”. It’s principle parts- lie, lying, lay, and lain- are never followed by a direct object.

Lay, lie

Have is possession

Of is a preposition

WRONG: I could of gone if I had wanted.

Of, have

Than is used in comparisons. Do not confuse

it with the adverb then, which usually refers to time.

Than, then

Use a comma before a conjunction to

separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

Conjunctions: and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet

Example: We saw many beautiful sights on our vacation, but we spend too many hours on the road.

Comma, Colon, Semicolon

Avoid using this suffix to create new words for

a particular situation.

WRONG: Gradewise, I did well last marking period.

-wise

Use a comma after an introductory word,

phrase or clause.

Example: Yes, I will be happy to stay over.

Over the thickly wooded hills, I saw a bear.

Use a comma to separate adjectives of equal

rank.

Example: The twisting, scenic path leads to the park.

Comma

Use a comma to set off parenthetical

expressions.*

*a phrase that is loosely related to the rest of the sentence

Example: I’ll start dinner, Dad, in a while.

That’s a nice suit, Mr. Jones.

Use a comma to set off nonessential

expressions.* *appositive phrases Example: The piano, now located in the

Orchard House, is the same one my grandmother used to play.

Use a comma to set off a direct quotation

from the rest of the sentence.

Example: The boy suggested, “We should go on a picnic.”

“I want to eat popcorn,” the boy continued, “and swim.”

Use a semicolon to join clauses that aren’t

already joined by a conjunction.

Example: Jen celebrated her birthday; we ate several pieces of cake.

I cleared the table; Mark washed the dishes.

Semicolons

Use a colon before a list of items.

Example: The snacks for the hike included: apples, nuts, and raisins.

Colons

Use a colon to introduce a quotation that is

formal or lengthy. (three sentences or more) Example: The speaker on health food stated:

“Putting additives in food would cause…yada, yada, yada.”

Use a colon to introduce a formal appositive. Example: Tonight, we present a well known

chef: Julia Child.