Unit 4 - Grammar Pronunciation and Usage

Unit 4 Active Reader

Grammar Punctuation Usage Lens

Page 1

The other day,

Introductory word groups and phrases are typically used to add more detail to a sentence and are punctuated with a comma. In almost every circumstance, the comma is placed between the introductory phrase and the subject of the sentence.

As we can see with this example, The other day gives more detail about when the action in the sentence took place (making it an adverbial phrase) and comes before the subject of the sentence, my friend and I.

The important thing to notice is that the core of the sentence, my friend and I went out for lunch, stands on its own as a complete sentence. The other day is additional information, and since it comes at the beginning of the sentence, it gets set off with a comma.

Apparently,

Like introductory phrases, a transitional word or phrase gives additional information that is not absolutely necessary to the core meaning of the sentence. Instead of giving more detail like introductory phrases, though, they help place a sentence into the intentional flow of ideas in the reading.

There are many types of transitions that can be used for a variety of reasons, but all transitions are punctuated with a comma when they come at the beginning of a sentence.

As you can see here, apparently helps to emphasize the unusual nature of the detail that follows in the sentence (Siri’s ability to translate your voice to text in a Facebook status update).

Understanding how transitions are used with a comma helps you understand how ideas relate to one another in a reading. It also helps convey your ideas more clearly in your own writing.

True social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ are meant for chatting with your friends and sharing photos and news.

Parallel structure describes how sentences convey multiple ideas in a way that doesn’t confuse the reader. It generally applies to items or phrases in a series that come after the independent clause in a sentence. When parallel structure applies to items, each word in the series must be the same type, such as a list of nouns or a list of adjectives. When applied to phrases, each phrase in the series must be the same type of phrase.

In the example above, parallel structure is used in two places. The first is with the list of social media sites, which are all proper names of websites.

The second instance of parallel structure is with the phrases at the end of the sentence – chatting with your friends as well as sharing photos and news. They are both verbal phrases that work to complete the predicate started with are meant for.

Notice how both phrases could work independently with the rest of the sentence. If you were to remove the first verbal phrase and subsequent conjunction, the sentence still makes sense.

True social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ are meant for sharing photos and news.

This same thing could be done with the list of social media sites. Even though the sentence becomes less clear because the details are removed, it still makes sense.

True social media sites like Google+ are meant for sharing photos and news.

Checking to see that all items or phrases in a series fit independently with the core of the sentence is a simple way to quickly check for good parallel structure.

But I argue that I'm actually the perfect person to speak out against what's wrong with how we use social media.

Adjectives and adverbs make sentences more descriptive and make descriptions more precise. They are two of the many tools writers use to convey their ideas.

Adjectives are words that modify and describe a noun, which is a person, place, or thing. Adverbs are words that modify and describe an adjective, verb, or other adverb.

In the sentence above, the word actually modifies the verb am, which is the verb in the contraction I’m (I am). It helps the reader know that the author understands that some people may not think she’s the perfect person to speak out against what’s wrong with how we use social media. Adverbs can come before or after the verb they modify.

Adjectives, on the other hand, almost always come before the noun they modify. In the sentence above, the terms perfect person and social media contain adjectives. Perfect helps establish the author’s position that she’s the person to speak out on social media, and social helps the reader understand exactly what kind of media that author is writing about.

Without the adjectives and adverb, the meaning and tone of the sentence change, making it less precise.

But I argue that I'm the person to speak out against what's wrong with how we use media.

Recognizing how writers use adjectives and adverbs also helps you use them more skillfully in your own writing.

Page 2

In a recent survey,

In the example above, the prepositional phrase tells the reader where the information in the rest of the sentence came from. It is not absolutely necessary to the core of the sentence and it comes right before the subject, which is thirty-nine percent of people. This makes it an introductory phrase and it gets punctuated with a comma.

In your own writing, to test if a phrase is an introductory phrase, remove it from the rest of the sentence and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Thirty-nine percent of people said they spent more time socializing online than in person and twenty percent said they prefer texting or talking online than meeting face-to-face.₍₄₎

Since this part of the sentence stands on its own, the phrase at the beginning is extra information, making it an introductory phrase.

While all of that is good,

There are many types of transitions that can be used for a variety of reasons, but all transitions are punctuated with a comma when they come at the beginning of a sentence.

In the example above, the phrase is actually a dependent clause. It contains a subject and a verb, but has the subordinating conjunction while at the beginning, which means that it cannot stand on its own. The purpose of this transition is to set up a counterpoint to the ideas that came before. Since the rest of the sentence stands on its own, this first part is set off with a comma.

We love to connect with each other about experiences, laugh at silly videos, and share news.

Parallel structure describes how sentences convey multiple ideas in a way that doesn’t confuse the reader. It generally applies to items or phrases in a series after the independent clause in the sentence. When parallel structure applies to items, each word in the series must be the same type, such as a list of nouns or a list of adjectives. When applied to phrases, each phrase in the series must be the same type of phrase.

In the example above, a series of verbal phrases tells the reader about three ways people use social media. More importantly, each phrase could work on its own in the sentence.

We love to connect with each other about experiences.

We love to laugh at silly videos.

We love to share news.

When checking for good parallel structure in your own writing, break the sentence up in this way to make sure the phrases are all grammatically the same.

Social media can help people who are shy or have special needs learn how to communicate better.

Adjectives and adverbs make sentences more descriptive and make descriptions more precise. They are two of the many tools writers use to convey their ideas.

Adjectives are words that modify and describe a noun, which is a person, place, or thing. Adverbs are words that modify and describe an adjective, verb, or other adverb.

In the sentence above, special is an adjective because needs is acting as a noun in this instance even though it is also common to use it as a verb. Likewise, better is acting as an adverb modifying the verb communicate even though better can also be an adjective, as in “my better half sends thank-you notes after the holidays.”

Notice how the meaning would be less precise without these particular modifiers. In fact, the sentence itself becomes awkward and loses some of its intended meaning.

Social media can help people who are shy or have needs learn how to communicate.

Recognizing how writers use adjectives and adverbs also helps us use them more skillfully in our own writing.

Page 3

In 2011,

In this case, the prepositional phrase tells the reader when the event described in the rest of the sentence happened. It is extra information that can be left out of the independent clause, meaning that it is an introductory phrase and needs a comma to set it off.

You may notice that short introductory phrases such as this will sometimes appear without a comma. That is because it is generally accepted to leave out the comma after short introductory phrases. In your own writing, however, it is best to ignore such an exception and just follow the rule because following the rule will always be grammatically correct.

At the same time,

There are many types of transitions that can be used for a variety of reasons, but all transitions are punctuated with a comma when they come at the beginning of a sentence.

This paragraph has many transitional phrases, all punctuated with a comma.

At the same time,

In this demonstration and in many other cases,

In fact,

Also,

All of the transitions connect the ideas in the paragraph and keep the author’s flow moving toward the final conclusion that “social media is bringing about the end of real journalism.”

It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide.₍₇₎

In the example above, all the items in the series are nouns, giving balance to the sentence. All of the items could be described differently, giving the same information but in a way that could be confusing to the reader. For instance:

It can lead to anxiety, feeling depressed, and even suicide.₍₇₎

“Feeling depressed” is a verbal phrase and does not match the other nouns, giving the sentence faulty parallel structure.

Using parallel structure in your own writing keeps the reader focused on your ideas rather than on the way your ideas are expressed.

Using social media to bully others, called "cyber bullying," is another common risk that can be extremely harmful.

Adjectives and adverbs make sentences more descriptive and make descriptions more precise. They are two of the many tools writers use to convey their ideas.

Adjectives are words that modify and describe a noun, which is a person, place, or thing. Adverbs are words that modify and describe an adjective, verb, or other adverb.

In the example above, common acts as an adjective modifying the noun risk, and extremely is an adverb modifying the adjective harmful. Removing these two modifiers reduces the impact of the sentence and the importance of the issue.

Using social media to bully others, called "cyber bullying," is another risk that can be harmful.

As you can see, adjectives and adverbs help writers be more precise with their details.