The Writer's World : The Editing Handbook

Preface ix PART IV The Editing Handbook 252(2) Grammar Section I: Effective Sentences 254(52) Simple Sentences 254(12) Identify Subjects 254(3) Identify Prepositional Phrases 257(2) Identify Verbs 259(2) Helping Verbs 261(5) Compound Sentences 266(12) Compare Simple and Compound Sentences 266(1) Combine Sentences Using Coordinating Conjunctions 267(3) Combine Sentences Using Semicolons 270(2) Combine Sentences Using Transitional Expressions 272(6) Complex Sentences 278(13) What Is a Complex Sentence? 278(1) Use Subordinating Conjunctions 279(6) Use Relative Pronouns 285(2) Use Embedded Questions 287(4) Sentence Variety 291(15) What Is Sentence Variety? 291(1) Combine Sentences 292(1) Include a Question, a Quotation, or an Exclamation 293(1) Vary the Opening Words 294(2) Combine Sentences with a Present Participle 296(2) Combine Sentences with a Past Participle 298(2) Combine Sentences with an Appositive 300(6) Grammar Section 2: Common Sentence Errors 306(24) Fragments and Run-Ons 306(14) Fragments 306(6) Run-Ons 312(8) Faulty Parallel Structure 320(10) What Is Parallel Structure? 320(2) Identify Faulty Parallel Structure 322(8) Grammar Section 3: Problems with Verbs 330(38) Present and Past Tenses 330(15) What Is Verb Tense? 330(1) The Simple Present Tense 331(4) The Simple Past Tense 335(6) Avoid Double Negatives 341(4) Past Participles 345(13) Past Participles 345(3) The Present Perfect Tense: have/has + Past Participle 348(2) The Past Perfect Tense: had + Past Participle 350(1) The Passive Voice: be + Past Participle 351(7) Other Verb Forms 358(10) Problems with Progressive Forms (-ing) Verbs 358(2) Nonstandard Forms: gonna, gotta, wanna 360(2) Problems with Conditional Forms 362(1) Nonstandard Forms: would of, could of, should of 363(5) Grammar Section 4: Verb Agreement and Consistency 368(21) Subject-Verb Agreement 368(15) Basic Subject-Verb Agreement Rules 368(5) More Than One Subject 373(1) Special Subject Forms 374(3) Verb Before the Subject 377(1) Interrupting Words and Phrases 378(5) Tense Consistency 383(6) Consistent Verb Tense 383(6) Grammar Section 5: More Parts of Speech 389(36) Nouns, Determiners, and Prepositions 389(16) Singular and Plural Nouns 389(5) Count Nouns and Noncount Nouns 394(2) Determiners 396(3) Prepositions 399(6) Pronouns 405(20) Pronoun Case 405(6) Relative Pronouns (who, whom, which, that, whose) 411(1) Reflexive Pronouns (-self/-selves) 412(2) Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement 414(1) Indefinite Pronouns 415(4) Vague Pronouns 419(1) Pronoun Shifts 420(5) Grammar Section 6: Modifiers 425(25) Adjectives and Adverbs 425(14) Adjectives 425(3) Adverbs 428(4) Comparative and Superlative Forms 432(7) Mistakes with Modifiers 439(11) Misplaced Modifiers 439(4) Dangling Modifiers 443(7) Grammar Section 7: Word Use and Spelling 450(27) Exact Language 450(9) Use Specific and Detailed Vocabulary 450(3) Avoid Wordiness and Redundancy 453(1) Avoid Cliches 454(1) Standard English vs. Slang 455(4) Spelling and Commonly Confused Words 459(18) Spelling Rules 459(7) 120 Commonly Misspelled Words 466(3) Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Words 469(8) Grammar Section 8: Punctuation and Mechanics 477(35) Commas 477(13) What Is a Comma? 477(1) Commas in a Series 478(1) Commas After Introductory Words or Phrases 479(1) Commas Around Interrupting Words and Phrases 480(2) Commas in Compound Sentences 482(1) Commas in Complex Sentences 483(1) Commas in Business Letters 484(6) The Apostrophe, Quotation Marks, and Titles 490(13) The Apostrophe 490(5) Quotation Marks 495(3) Punctuation of Titles 498(5) Capitalization and Other Punctuation Marks 503(9) Capitalization 503(3) Other Punctuation Marks 506(6) Grammar Section 9: Editing 512(101) Editing Paragraphs and Essays 512(101) Appendices Appendix 1: Grammar Glossary 593(2) Appendix 2: Irregular Verbs 595(2) Appendix 3: A Quick Guide to Verb Tenses 597(1) Appendix 4: Combining Ideas in Sentences 598(1) Appendix 5: Punctuation and Mechanics 599(3) Appendix 6: Writing Paragraphs and Essays in Exams 602(6) Appendix 7: Spelling, Grammar, and Vocabulary Logs 608(5) Credits 613(2) Index 615