CMSI 401: Basic Grammar for Successful Writing

Grammar Hints Rationale

When you are writing your homework, or if you decide to do a term paper for your semester project, or even if you are writing comments in your JavaScript, html, or CSS code, you will need to observe the proper rules of basic grammar. If you do not, you will get a lower grade. Your homework is not just about getting the right answers; it is also about expressing yourself. This fact will become especially apparent when you are writing answers to the Social Issues questions from the textbook.

To assist you in getting the best possible grades, expressing your thoughts in correct English grammar, and making sure that you are able to make yourself understood to the best of your ability, here are a few helpful hints from the resident Grammar Nazi.

Remember that English is tricky — it can be taught and learned through tough, thorough thought, though.

Common Grammar Errors

• Use its when indicating the possessive — example: The cat licked its fur.
  Use it's when making a contraction of it and is — example: It's time to go.
• Use their when indicating the possessive — example: They all had their hats on.
  DON'T use their [which is plural] for the singular case — example: The user had their own idea of how to navigate the GUI.
  INSTEAD if you can't make the sentence gender-specific [i.e., The user had her own idea…], try to re-write the sentence so the plural properly matches [i.e., Users had their own ideas of….
  NOTE that because of modern English vernacular, it is becoming more acceptable to mis-use this, but you now know the technically correct method.
  Use there when indicating a location — example: The refreshment stand is over there.
  Use they're when making a contraction of they and are — example: They're going to Taco Hell tonight.
• Use to as a preposition — example: We are marching to Praetoria.
  Use two when indicating a number or pair — example: There are two ways to implement a loop.
  Use too when indicating also — example: Stuart wants to go, too.
• Use were when indicating the plural past tense — example: They were happy before the grades came out.
  Use we're when making a contraction of we and are — example: We're going to have burgers and beers at the Lair.
• Use is for singular present tense — example: The book 'Lions and Tigers' is interesting.
  Use are for plural present tense — example: Lions and tigers are fierce creatures.
• Use has when indicating singular ownership — example: A dog has a tail and paws.
  Use have when indicating plural ownership — example: All dogs have a tail and paws.
• Use passed when something has occurred previously — example: The time for turning in assignments has passed.
  Use past when referring to a previous time — example: That is all in the past, so don't dwell on it.
• Use your when indicating the possessive — example: Don't bug me, or I'll get in your face!
  Use you're when making a contraction of you and are — example: You're right, that is definitely hostile.
• Use whether when indicating an option — example: I can't decide whether to wear my pants rolled up or down.
  Use weather when talking about meteorology — example: Typical autumn weather ma'am?
• Use where when indicating a location — example: Put your money where your mouth is.
  DON'T use where when indicating a situation — example: This is the case where your goofing off caused a problem.
  INSTEAD write This is the case in which your goofing off caused a problem.