“Ill-fitting grammars are like ill-fitting shoes. You can get used to it for a bit, but then one day your toes fall off and you can’t walk to the bathroom,” says Jasper Fforde, the British author of Thursday Next novels. Whether it is a letter, an e-mail or a cover letter, using correct grammar and punctuation will ensure that your message is delivered clearly and effectively to the recipient. Writing letters or books and reading periodicals or novels are creative ways to improve your grammar and vocabulary. You can gain mastery over grammar and punctuation with practice and dedication.
1. Check the use of articles
Use the definite article ’the’ and the indefinite article ’an’ wisely. For specific instances, use the definite article. For example: Someone called the doctor living next door. For general references, use the indefinite article ‘a/an.’ For example: Can you lend me a book? The correct use of articles will ensure clarity in your message.
2. Mind your apostrophe
The apostrophe is one type of punctuation that is often misused. It is used to indicate possession and in contractions. For example: it’s, children’s literature, they’re, haven’t etc. Sometimes there are usages like she walk’s the dog; this is wrong. “The walks” here is not the possessive of walk. It is the present tense of the verb to walk. Verbs never take possessive apostrophes. The correct sentence is she walks the dog.
3. Use countable and uncountable nouns
Countable and uncountable nouns are often misused. Countable nouns are for things we can count. Uncountable nouns are for things we cannot count. Some and any are used with countable nouns. For example: I have got some books. Have you got any pencils? Few and many are also used with countable nouns. For example:I have got a few dollars. I haven’t got many notepads. Little and much are used with uncountable nouns. For example: I’ve got a little money. I haven’t got much rice.
4. Use comma diligently
“I love ham, grilled cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. Comma, comma, and comma, because otherwise it would read grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly, grouped together, which would make a weird sandwich,” says Jarod Kintz, the author of My love can only occupy one person at a time.
Use commas to separate words and word groups in a series. For example: I went to the market to buy apples, oranges and bananas. The last comma in a series is called Oxford comma. Most fiction and non-fiction books prefer using the Oxford comma. Always use a comma after an introductory phrase or dependent clauses to avoid misreading. For example: If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
Use commas to set off names, nicknames, or terms of endearment, or title of a person directly addressed. For example: Will you, Aisha, do that project for me? Good day, Captain. Yes, honey, I will reply to your mail.
5. Check homophones and spellings
Homophones are one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling (such as the words to, too, and two). Some commonly misused homophones are affect/effect, than/then, which/witch, accept/except, loose/lose, hear/here, stationery/stationary, compliment/complement, weather/whether, bare/bear, brake/break, and many more. It is a good idea to check your writing for homophone errors. When in doubt, you can also refer to a dictionary.
Image credit: Gwydion M Williams on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
I’m Smitha Abraham. I love traveling in my flights of imagination and use these flights to craft short stories and poetry. I am a budding writer from India. My passions are reading, creative writing, listening to music, learning new languages, meeting new people, getting acquainted with different cultures and traveling. Authors like Isabel Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, genres like magic realism, historical romance, and writing styles that are imaginative and flow effortlessly fascinate me. I love to unwind with a book curled up on a sofa or by gazing at the stars by the sea shore. I am a nature lover and spending time admiring the sunset and sunrise is relaxing for me.