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1

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Court Reporting:Court Reporting:Bad Grammar/Bad Grammar/

Good PunctuationGood Punctuation©©


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2


The Standard RuleThe Standard Rule

44


For words ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch,

and -sh, add -es to make the

word plural.

RuleRule

55


fox

mass

church

wish

fez

foxes

masses

churches

wishes

fezes

66

3


RememberRemember

Do NOT use an apostrophe for

the plural of a regular word.

witnesswitness becomeswitnesseswitnesses,

NOT witness’witness’ orwitness’switness’s


witness

class

pass

fox

perch

witnesses

classes

passes

foxes

perches

88


For all other words, add only -s.

RuleRule

99

4


girl

head

storm

vacation

iPhone

girls

heads

storms

vacations

iPhones

1010


Proper NamesProper Names

1111


Follow these same standard rules

to make proper names plural.

RuleRule

1212

5


RememberRemember



ChoiChoi becomes ChoisChois,

NOT Choi’sChoi’s orChoisChois’’


Rood

Burke

Wilson

McDonald

Henderson

Roods

Burkes

Wilsons

McDonalds

Hendersons

1414


RememberRemember



WellsWells becomes WellsesWellses,

NOT WellsWells’’ or Wells’sWells’s or WellsesWellses’’

6


Wells

Burns

Rogers

Ramirez

Hodges

Wellses

Burnses

Rogerses

Ramirezes

Hodgeses

1616


Pronunciation does not affect the

way the plural of a proper name is

spelled.

DiscussionDiscussion

1717


QQ Did you see Mr. Hughes’ car?

AA I did not see Mr. Hughes’s car.

1818

7


When the word the is in front of a

surname, always make the name

plural.

RuleRule

1919


I was with the Olivers..

I was with the Troys..

I was with the Johnsons..

I was with the Rycrafts..

2020


I was with the Wellses..

I was with the Rosses..

I was with the Sanchezes..

I was with the Hodgkines..

2121

8


For Words Ending inFor Words Ending in --YY

2222


If there is a consonant before the

y, change the y to i and add -es.

RuleRule

2323


party

lady

laundry

hurry

sundry

parties

ladies

laundries

hurries

sundries

2424

9


If there is a vowel before the y,

add -s.

RuleRule

2525


attorney

birthday

toy

survey

whey

attorneys

birthdays

toys

surveys

wheys

2626


Do not ever change the spelling

of a proper name.

RuleRule

2727

10


Mary

Patty

Sunday

Hindry

Kelly

Marys

Pattys

Sundays

Hindrys

Kellys

2828


The plural of the word money has

two acceptable spellings:

monies financial issues

moneys different kinds


2929


For Words Ending inFor Words Ending in --OO

3030

11


If the word that ends in -o has to

do with music, add just an s to

make it plural.

RuleRule

3131


cello

piano

soprano

alto

cellos

pianos

sopranos

altos

3232


Otherwise, if there is a consonant

before the -o, add -es to make the

word plural.

RuleRule

3333

12


hero

tomato

veto

torpedo

heroes

tomatoes

vetoes

torpedoes

3434


If there is a vowel before the -o,

add just an s to make the word

plural.

RuleRule

3535


studio

ratio

embryo

cameo

studios

ratios

embryos

cameos

3636

13


It is a good idea to check a

standard dictionary for words

that end in -o as there are

exceptions.


3737



child

woman

mouse

deer

chassis

children

women

mice

deer

chassis

3939

14


English is such fun:

Fish in the plural when you are

counting the number.

Fishes in the plural when you

are looking at types.


4040


If a compound noun has more

than one word, make the main

noun plural.

RuleRule

4141


sister-in-law

attorney

general

court martial

sisters-in-law

attorneys

general

courts martial

4242

15


Some foreign words keep the

original form of the plural.

basis/bases

alumnus/alumni

vertebra/vertebrae


4343


It is always a good idea to consult

a standard dictionary for the

correct form of a plural.


4444


16


For every word that you want to

make SINGULAR possessive,

add an apostrophe s to the

singular form of the word -- no

exceptions.

RuleRule

4646


boy

woman

person

child

teenager

boy’’s

woman’’s

person’’s

child’’s

teenager’’s

4747


class

witness

boss

bass

fox

class’’s

witness’’s

boss’’s

bass’’s

fox’’s

4848

17


Mr. Ross

Ms. Sanchez

Mrs. Wells

Mr. Hodges

Ms. Hopkins

Mr. Ross’’s

Ms. Sanchez’’s

Mrs. Wells’’s

Mr. Hodges’’s

Ms. Hopkins’’s

4949


For the plural possessive of

words that end in s, add only the

apostrophe -- (most plurals do

end in s).

RuleRule

5050


girls

friends

sisters

witnesses

classes

girls’’

friends’’

sisters’’

witnesses’’

classes’’

5151

18


the Rosses

the Wellses

the Burnes

the Hodges

the Hopkins

the Rosses’’

the Wellses’’

the Burneses’’

the Hodgeses’’

the Hopkinses’’

5252


For the plural possessive of

words that do not end in s,

add apostrophe s.

RuleRule

5353


children

men

oxen

women

children’’s

men’’s

oxen’’s

women’’s

5454

19


Add all possessive apostrophes

onto the end of the word.

RuleRule

5555


singular brother-in-law

sing. poss. brother-in-law’’s

plural brothers-in-law

pl. poss. brothers-in-law’’s

5656


singular aide-de-camp

sing. poss. aide-de-camp’’s

plural aides-de-camp

pl. poss. aides-de-camp’’s

5757

20


Be sure you have the correct form

of the base word -- that is,

singular or plural -- before you

make it possessive.


5858


……to the boy……

……to the boy’’s friends……

……to the boys……

……to the boys’’ friends……

5959


……at Ms. Chung……

……at Ms. Chung’’s neighbor……

……at the Chungs……

……at the Chungs’’ neighbor……

6060

21


……to the witness……

……to the witness’’s testimony……

……to the witnesses……

……to the witnesses’’ testimony……

6161


……with Mr. Ross……

……with Mr. Ross’’s son……

……with the Rosses……

……with the Rosses’’ son

6262


……to Ms. Jones……

……to Ms. Jones’’s house……

……to the Joneses……

……to the Joneses’’ house……

6363

22


These forms are really just

homophones where you are

picking out the correct form.


6464


boy

boy’’s

boys

boys’’

class

class’’s

classes

classes’’

6565


Hess

Mr. Hess’’s

the Hesses

the Hesses’’

Hodges

Ms. Hodges’’s

the Hodgeses

the Hodgeses’’

6666

23


Be sure to use the correct

singular or plural form for the

context of the sentence.


6767


……my manager’’s assistants……

……all the managers’’ assistants……

……one witness’’s statements……

……two witnesses’’ statements……

……my son’’s birthday……

……my sons’’ birthdays……

6868


Don’t use the possessive when

you just want the plural.

RuleRule

6969

24


……a card from the Oliver’’s……

……a card from the Olivers’’……

……a card from the Olivers……

7070


We went with the Rays last night..

(the people, the family)

We were at the Rays’’ last night..

(their house, their apartment)

7171


When two people own the same

thing, the possessive goes onto

the end of only the second one.

RuleRule

7272

25


……Joan and Jerry’’s son……

……Joe and Edie’’s bar…..…..

BUTBUT

……John’’s and Jim’’s wives……

7373


[email protected]@margieholdscourt.com


26


Use an apostrophe to show

omitted letters in contractions.

RuleRule

7676


you are

I will

it is

has not

cannot

you’’re

I’’ll

it’’s

hasn’’t

can’’t

7777


Use an apostrophe to make

letters and numbers plural -- or

NOT??

RuleRule

7878

27


……too many p’’s in the word……

……too many ps in the word……

……has X’’s there……

……has Xs there……

……in her 60’’s……

……in her 60s……

7979


Use an apostrophe to show

omitted numbers.

RuleRule

8080


……1990……

…’…’90……

……2006……

…’…’06……

8181

28


If two apostrophes are needed,

use the one that indicates the

year.

RuleRule

8282


……1990’’s……

…’…’90’’s……

…’…’90s……

8383


The Weird OneThe Weird One

akaaka

It Isn’t About Possessive!It Isn’t About Possessive!

8484

29


……one week’’s pay……

……three days’’ duration……

……a stone’’s throw……

8585


When an adjective that is right in

front of the noun has an s on it

AND it denotes a time, distance,

amount, or value,

use an apostrophe.

RuleRule

8686


Use apostrophe s when the

amount is singular and an

s apostrophe when the

amount is plural.

RuleRule

8787

30


……one year’’s time……

……a week’’s vacation……

……an hour’’s wait……

……three weeks’’ duration……

……20 minutes’’ delay……

……a few dollars’’ worth……

8888


If there is no s, the combination

is hyphenated.

RuleRule

8989


……one week’’s vacation……

……one--week vacation……

……15 minutes’’ delay……

……15--minute delay……

9090

31


THE APP

If you don’t have a QR reader,

download “QR Scanner” by Grip’d for

the iPhone;

go to www.qrdroid.com for the Android.

9191


If you want a text message to

come to your phone for new

blog posts, opt in by texting

txtrs MargieWW TO 368638.

9292



32




Add a standard prefix to the

front of the word to make a solid

word.

RuleRule

9696

33


postoperative

preordained

unappreciated

detoxify

hypertensive

hypothermia

9797


unnecessary

undeveloped

underrated

underappreciated

dissatisfied

disappointed

9898


ExceptionsExceptions

9999

34


Hyphenate the word with the

prefix when there is already a

word with the same spelling.

RuleRule

100100


resign

reform

recreation

multiply

unionized

re--sign

re--form

re--creation

multi--ply

un--ionized

101101


Hyphenate vowel combinations

that do not exist in the language.

RuleRule

102102

35


intra--abdominal

anti--inflationary

reenter

coordinate

103103


Hyphenate a word when adding

it to a capitalized word.

RuleRule

104104


……un--American activities……

……mid--March delivery……

……post--June date……

105105

36


Hyphenate all self- words.

RuleRule

106106


self--satisfaction

self--indulgence

self--employed

self--destructive

107107


37


Add a standard suffix to the end

of the word to make a solid word.

RuleRule

109109


yearlong

statewide

newsworthy

manlike

daylong

areawide

praiseworthy

apelike

110110


Problems withProblems with --wisewise

111111

38


lengthwise

edgewise

otherwise

likewise

112112


workwise

jobwise

projectwise

shopwise

113113


punctuationwise

punctuation--wise

doctorwise

doctor--wise

114114

39


runs batted in

runs batted in--wise

real estate

real estate--wise

115115



40


pipefitter

pipe fitter

118118


backseat

checkmark

trademark

goalkeeper

front seat

check list

trade name

goal kick

119119


Part of Speech MattersPart of Speech Matters

120120

41


hold up

hold out

take up

holdup

holdout

take--up

121121


He intends to take over.

The takeover was unsuccessful.

We will cross over just to the south.

The crossover was blocked.

She will go ahead of us.

She gave me the go-ahead.

122122


Thank you for all you have done.

I sent a thank-you to everyone.

123123

42


MultipleMultiple--Word NounsWord Nouns

124124


DefinitionDefinition

A compound noun is a noun that

has more than one word. These

nouns can be

a solid word

a hyphenated word

separate words


bookkeeper

roommate

sister--in--law

right--of--way

social security

emergency room

126126

43



A direct adjective is an adjective

that comes right in front of a noun.


When a compound noun is

separate words and is being used

as a direct adjective, do not use a

hyphen.

RuleRule

128128


……in real estate……

……real estate agent……

……in the Marine Corps……

……Marine Corps sergeant……

……on life support……

……life support system……

129129

44




as a direct adjective and it has a

suffix, use a hyphen for the suffix,

but leave the noun as separate

words.

RuleRule

130130


……real estate--type deal……

……Marine Corps--related issue……

……life support--dependent patient……

……Tea Party--driven principles……

……White House--based decision……

131131




as a direct adjective and it has a

prefix, use a hyphen for the

prefix, but leave the noun as

separate words.

RuleRule

132132

45


……pre--high school days……

……post--Peace Corps time……

……sub--swimming pool level……

……anti--Roe v. Wade sentiments……

……ex--prime time hit……

133133


Some Random RulesSome Random Rules

134134


lawyer--diplomat

actor--director

secretary--treasurer

135135

Two jobs/one person

46


That’s a no--no.

He was a “melon--felon.”

It was a lot of razzle--dazzle.

136136

Repeating, rhyming……


……wearing a T--shirt……

……made a U--turn……

……created the H--bomb……

137137

A letter and a word……


……wore hand--me--downs……

……was make--believe……

……no give--and--take……

138138

Combinations with no noun……

47


L--1011

F--16

DC--10

139139

Planes……


……was a second lieutenant……

……acting chief of police……

……is vice president……

140140

Civil and military titles……

There is NO hyphen.


Be on the Alert!!Be on the Alert!!

141141

48


small businessman

small business man

small--business man

142142



49


rubber--stamp

pinch--hit

double--check

moonlight

proofread

145145



50


NOT SO FAST!NOT SO FAST!

There are issues with theThere are issues with the

dictionary and adjectives.dictionary and adjectives.

148148



A direct adjective is an adjective

that comes right in front of a noun.


Hyphenate two or more words

that form a unit BEFORE the

noun.

RuleRule

150150

51


long--range plans

much--anticipated event

long--winded speaker

wall--to--wall carpeting

old--fashioned ideas

151151


Test the need for a hyphen by trying

each word alone in front of the

noun. If each word cannot modify

alone, hyphenate the combination.


152152


short--term goal

Is it a short goal?

Is it a term goal?

high--density neighborhood

Is it a high neighborhood?

Is it a density neighborhood?

153153

52


often--used term

Is it a often term?

Is it a used term?

little--heard word

Is it a little word?

Is it a heard word?

154154


light--green Honda

Is it a light Honda?

Is it a green Honda?

brand--new stove

Is it a brand stove?

Is it a new stove?

155155


Get It ALL!Get It ALL!

156156

53


……24--hour--a--day job……

……seven--day--a--week responsibility……

……$50,000--a--year income……

……22--day--old baby……

……three--week--long class……

157157


A Few Familiar Patterns…A Few Familiar Patterns…

Don’t Hyphenate Them!Don’t Hyphenate Them!

158158


Each adjective modifies the noun

separately.


159159

54


their last meeting

……their meeting……

……last meeting……

that shocking testimony

……that testimony……

……shocking testimony……

160160


my favorite aunt

……my aunt……

……favorite aunt……

her wandering mind

……her mind……

……wandering mind……

161161


The closest adjective to the noun

modifies the noun. The next

adjective modifies the combination

of the first adjective and the noun.


162162

55


……ugly green bug……

First, it is a bug.

Then, it is a green bug.

Last, it is a green bug that is ugly.

……equals no hyphen……

163163


……sunny breakfast room……

First, it is a room.

Then, it is a breakfast room.

Last, it is a breakfast room that issunny.


164164


……first three cars……

First, they are cars.

Then, there are three cars.

Last, they are the three cars thatare first.


165165

56


……tasty holiday tradition……

First, it is a tradition.

Then, it is a holiday tradition.

Last, it is a holiday tradition that istasty.


166166


……tall blond woman……

First, she is a woman.

Then, she is a blond woman.

Last, she is a blond woman that istall.


167167


Coordinate AdjectivesCoordinate Adjectives ----

Enter the CommaEnter the Comma

168168

57


Sometimes the adjectives modify

the noun separately, AND their

order can be reversed.


169169


When two adjectives modify the

noun equally – that is, their order

can be reversed, and you can put

and in between them – use a

comma between them.

RuleRule

170170


……sweet,, tender ham……

……tender,, sweet ham……

The ham is tender and sweet.

The ham is sweet and tender.

……use a comma……

171171

58


……competent,, efficient aide……

……efficient,, competent aide……

The aide is competent and efficient.

The aide is efficient and competent.


172172


……considerate,, caring mate……

……caring,, considerate mate……

The mate is considerate and caring.

The mate is caring and considerate.


173173


……trivial,, trifling event……

……trifling,, trivial event……

The event is trifling and trivial.

The event is trivial and trifling.


174174

59


What If the Adjective Is NOTWhat If the Adjective Is NOT

in Front of the Noun?in Front of the Noun?

175175


Do not hyphenate these word

combinations when they are not

in front of the noun.

RuleRule

176176


……low--key approach……

……The approach,, low key,, is……

……The approach is low key..

177177

60


……good--looking man……

……The man,, tall and good looking,,

is……

……The man is tall and good looking..

178178


……high--level,, well--paying positions……

……These positions,, well paying and

high level,, are……

……These positions are high level and

well paying..

179179


ExceptionsExceptions

180180

61


Do not hyphenate a combination

that begins with a word ending in

–ly when the combination is used

as a direct adjective.

RuleRule

181181


……fully equipped office……

……recently built homes……

……highly desirable neighborhood……

……newly organized company……

182182


Do not hyphenate comparison

forms when they are used as a

direct adjective.

RuleRule

183183

62


……higher priced items……

……better developed ideas……

……faster moving train……

……lower level position……

184184


Do not hyphenate a compound

noun when it is separate words

and is being used as a direct

adjective.

RuleRule

185185


……high school teacher……

……emergency room doctor……

……social security payments……

……public health menace……

186186

63


Do not hyphenate an amount

that is expressed with figures and

words when it is used as a direct

adjective.

RuleRule

187187


……56 million trees……

……2 million people……

……$700 billion bailout……

……$5 trillion deficit……

188188


Do not hyphenate percentages or

degrees when they are used as

direct adjectives.

RuleRule

189189

64


……17 percent increase……

……40 percent drop……

……90 degree angle……

……95 degree temperatures……

190190


Quotes or Hyphens?Quotes or Hyphens?

191191


When the direct adjective is

something someone would have

said, use quotes instead of

hyphens.

RuleRule

192192

65


……his ““I don’t care about anyone else

but me”” attitude……

……her ““How can you do this to me?”?”

remarks……

……the ““This is not my fault””

syndrome……

193193



Put a fraction that is standing

alone into words.

RuleRule

195195

66


……led by one fourth……

……sent two thirds……

……lost over one fifth……

……three fourths here……

196196


Hyphenate a fraction ONLY

when it is used directly in front of

a noun.

RuleRule

197197


……two--thirds increase……

……one--fourth reduction……

……two thirds of the men……

……decreased by one fourth……

198198

67


When a fraction is combined with

a whole number, called a “mixed

number,” put it into figures.

RuleRule

199199


……one third of them……

……7 1/3 of them……

……saw three fourths here……

……saw 5 3/4 here……

200200


68


Use the suspension hyphen to

attach a word to its common

basic element.

RuleRule

202202


second--grade students and third--

grade students

second--grade and third--grade

students

second-- and third--grade students

203203


short--term goals and long--term

goals

short--term and long--term goals

short-- and long--term goals

204204

69


northbound lanes and southbound

lanes

northbound and southbound lanes

north-- and southbound lanes

205205


Exhibit 5-A and 5-B

Exhibit 5-A and -B

I am referring to 4-C

I am referring to -C

206206



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