Who are the fanboys? for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Whats the rule - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who are the fanboys?

What’s the rule about the fanboys?

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never begin a sentence with and, but, or

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Never begin a sentence with and, but, or ?

This “rule” may be useful to prevent fragments: Incorrect: And your little dog too. vs. Correct: I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog too. Who said that?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This rule is a problem when it causes sentences to go on too long: I like ice cream, and I like cake, but I don’t like the ice cream on the cake. vs. I like ice cream, and I like cake. But I don’t like ice cream on the cake.

could even be three sentences

Never begin a sentence with and, but, or ?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

If you begin a sentence with and, but, or; make sure it’s complete. And if you join two complete sentences with one of those words, put in a comma to separate them. Comma Splice: I like cake and I like ice cream.

Never begin a sentence with and, but, or ?

as

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never begin a sentence with because

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Never begin a sentence with because ?

This “rule” may be useful to prevent incomplete sentences: Incorrect: Because I like ice cream. BUT Correct: Because I like ice cream, I ate a pint.

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

Make sure a sentence beginning with because, since, although, unless (or any other subordinating conjunction), has two parts. The second part must be a complete, independent sentence.

Never begin a sentence with because

as

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never use I in your writing

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This “rule” is useful in scholarly, scientific writing: Incorrect: I measured the solution. Correct: The solution was measured.

Never use I in your writing?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This “rule” can be a problem in writing cover letters and professional messages: Unclear: The author of this letter would be a useful employee for your company. Weird: The author of this email would like to meet with the reader of this email.

Never use I in your writing?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

Use I when you are talking about or referring to yourself. (Don't refer to yourself in third person.)

Never use I in your writing

as

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never use you in your writing

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This “rule” is useful to prevent confusion: You can fix your nylons with nail polish. (to the class) Correct: Nail polish can fix nylons. Never use you in your writing? — confusing/ambiguous

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This “rule” is a problem when it causes awkward constructions: Weird: The company is sending the reader of this email a refund. Correct: The company is sending you a refund. Never use you in your writing?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

Use you when you are directly addressing a person or group but not for a generalization.

Never use you in your writing

as

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Put commas in wherever you would pause

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of This “rule” will just get you in trouble: Incorrect: I like ice cream but, I don’t like cake. Correct: I like ice cream, but I don’t like cake.

Put in commas wherever you would pause?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

Check out a writer’s handbook for the real rules.

Put in commas wherever you would pause?

as

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

The thesis statement goes at the end of the first paragraph

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

This “rule” can help you to remember to put in a thesis, but that’s not usually an appropriate location: Creative writing: wait until the end, imply it,

• r put it wherever you want

Professional writing: the thesis statement goes in the first or second sentence—at least the topic and purpose

The thesis statement goes at the end of the first paragraph?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Which of these is correct? ABCs

• r

ABC’s

Use your company style guide

• r pick a

style and stick with it.

Mp3, mp3, mP3

• r

MP3 iFixit

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never split an infinitive

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Never split an infinitive?

This “rule” is useful to confuse people about grammar and make you sound stuffy. Outdated and irrelevant to English: “You can’t say, ‘To boldly go where no one has gone before’” Where is that quote from?

Beber Boire Bere To drink

Do follow this “rule”: If your boss insists on it.

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Never end a sentence with a preposition

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Never end a sentence with a preposition?

This “rule” is also useful to confuse people about grammar and make you sound stuffy. Outdated and irrelevant to English: “You can’t say, ‘Can you believe what mothers have to put up with?’” Correction required by this “rule”: Can you believe with what mothers must put up? Do follow this “rule”: If your boss insists on it.

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Who has heard . . .

Avoid all helping verbs: (must, could, have, be, etc.)?

?

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Avoid all helping verbs: (must, could, have, be, etc.)?

This “rule” may be useful to reduce wordiness: Before: Jack was hired by Mack. After: Mack hired Jack.

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Avoid all helping verbs: (must, could, have, be, etc.)?

This “rule” is a problem when it changes meaning: We ate lunch. vs. We have eaten lunch. (still bearing on the present) It rains. vs. It’s raining.

Fanboys and other myths . . . sort of

Revise

Don’t overuse helping verbs.

Avoid all helping verbs: (must, could, have, be, etc.)?

as