| As a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices - | | | | compared to a pair. It is clear from the sentence that |
| 4 Examples") explained, writers can take steps to | | | | the other two dogs, by being grouped together, are |
| prevent simple, and common, errors from degrading | | | | larger than the bulldog. |
| their writing. Five areas of writing that cause authors | | | | Comma Use |
| problems are discussed in this article. | | | | The use of commas can be confusing for many |
| Split Infinitives | | | | writers. Three rules for using commas are addressed |
| First let us exam the famously frowned upon split | | | | here. The first rule involves comma use when a series |
| infinitive. Maybe some readers do not know, or do not | | | | is given, such as in the example below. |
| remember, what a split infinitive is exactly. To | | | | I bought carrots, peas, and watermelons. |
| understand split infinitives, readers must first remember | | | | Some readers may consider this rule controversial; |
| what constitutes an infinitive. An infinitive is a phrase | | | | some teachers and editors may say the final comma |
| that includes a verb preceded by the word "to," such | | | | is not necessary, in my opinion the use of the final |
| as, "to play" or "to investigate." Now that we know | | | | comma is more appropriate than not. If, for some |
| what an infinitive is, maybe we now remember our | | | | reason, your teacher or editor tells you the final |
| English teachers lecturing us against "splitting" them. | | | | comma is unnecessary then ask them to explain why, |
| Simply put, a split infinitive is when a writer puts a word | | | | I do not have an explanation as to why some have a |
| between the word "to" and the associated verb. | | | | preference for not using the final comma. |
| Therefore, a split infinitive would look something like the | | | | Do not use a comma when only two items are in the |
| following examples: | | | | series, such as in the sentence below. |
| He was going to quickly investigate the theft. | | | | I saw birds and fish at the pet store. |
| Tommy likes to neatly color in his book. | | | | The second rule for use of commas is to use a |
| These two examples would be re-written as shown | | | | comma before the "and" when a wholly correct clause |
| below. | | | | is introduced. The way to determine if the clause is |
| He was going to investigate the theft quickly. | | | | wholly correct is to ask if it makes sense on its own, |
| OR | | | | such as having its own subject(s) and verb(s). The |
| He was quickly going to investigate the theft. | | | | example below shows two clauses separated by |
| Tommy likes to color neatly in his book. | | | | "and," along with a correctly used comma. |
| OR | | | | We went to the store, and Joan bought some juice. |
| Tommy likes to color in his book neatly. | | | | The third rule is an extension of the second rule; do not |
| Splitting infinitives is not criticized to the degree it has | | | | use a comma to separate a sentence from text that |
| been in the past. As many reputable sources explain, | | | | could not be a complete clause on its own. The |
| occasionally splitting an infinitive is acceptable. Even | | | | example below shows an incorrect use of a comma |
| some progressive English teachers will agree with this | | | | in this situation. |
| idea. Compact Oxford Online Dictionary explains that | | | | We are going home, and sleep. |
| the rule for not splitting infinitives was based on an | | | | The ending of the example sentence ("...and sleep") is |
| analogy to Latin, a language that writes infinitives as | | | | not a complete sentence on its own, therefore, a |
| one word, such as bibere 'to drink.' The decision to | | | | comma should not be used before "and." |
| argue with an English teacher about the acceptance | | | | Acronyms and Abbreviations |
| of splitting infinitives is your decision to make. As | | | | Completely spell out acronyms and abbreviations the |
| Oxford states, "...in standard English the use of split | | | | first time they are used. Once a writer decides to use |
| infinitives is broadly accepted as both normal and | | | | an acronym or abbreviation they should be used |
| useful.1" If you do decide to argue with an English | | | | throughout the remainder of the text, switching back |
| teacher, feel free to point out that people such as John | | | | and forth between the full spelling and the acronym or |
| Donne, William Wordsworth, and Benjamin Franklin split | | | | abbreviation should be avoided. |
| infinitives at will. The larger problem occurs when a | | | | Using "etc.," "i.e.," and "e.g." |
| writer consistently splits their infinitives. If splitting the | | | | The final rules discussed in this article involve the use |
| infinitive helps with emphasis or the statement flows | | | | of several common abbreviations. The first |
| better go ahead and split the infinitive. | | | | abbreviation is "etc." This comes from Latin and is an |
| Superlatives and Comparatives | | | | abbreviation for et cetera, which means "and others." |
| Writers should also strive to use superlatives and | | | | First, make sure that a period is included at the end; |
| comparatives correctly. Some cases of incorrect use | | | | second, make sure that the "others" have been |
| may sound okay, but if the author remembers the | | | | specified previously. A final note on this abbreviation, if |
| rules that they learned for using superlatives and | | | | it is used put the letters in the correct order; "ect." is not |
| comparatives they will realize that they have made | | | | correct. |
| the error. For example when a sentence is written as | | | | The second abbreviation often misused is "i.e." Also |
| below it sounds correct, but it is not. | | | | from Latin, this is a shortened form of id est which |
| One of the most common mistakes a cook makes is | | | | means "that is." When used correctly this abbreviation |
| not using fresh ingredients. | | | | indicates an alternative way of stating something. The |
| In this example, the lack of fresh ingredients is either a | | | | most common error when using "i.e." is not following it |
| common mistake or it is the most common mistake; | | | | with a comma; there should be two periods and a |
| there generally cannot be two, or more, most common | | | | comma in this abbreviation. |
| mistakes. A case where there can be two "mosts" is | | | | The final abbreviation discussed in this article is "e.g." |
| in an exact tie. For example, if 20 mistakes are made | | | | Again, this is an abbreviation for a Latin phrase, |
| and two of them occur six times each (making up 12 | | | | "exempla gratia." This is used when the writer means |
| of the 20 mistakes) and the remaining eight mistakes | | | | "for example" or "for instance." Some people believe |
| are all different, then the two mistakes that occurred | | | | that "e.g." stands for example given, this is not true, but |
| six times each could be labeled as the most common | | | | it can be a helpful way to remember that it does have |
| mistakes. | | | | something to do with an example. Similar to the use of |
| The sentence below shows another way that a | | | | "i.e." many writers forget to put a comma after the |
| comparative can be written incorrectly. | | | | second period in "e.g." Below are three correct |
| Of the three dogs, the bulldog was the smaller. | | | | examples of these abbreviations. |
| To use a comparative there needs to be something | | | | Bob bought a whole bunch of office supplies, pens, |
| compared to something else. The bulldog either was | | | | pencils, staples, paper, highlighters, and erasers on his |
| the smallest of the three dogs or was smaller than | | | | way home. He purchased so many things that when |
| another dog in the group. Both sentences below are | | | | he got home he realized that he had forgotten a bag |
| written correctly. | | | | at the store. He had his pens and pencils, but the |
| The bulldog was smaller than the German shepherd | | | | staples etc. were still at the store. |
| and the St. Bernard. | | | | John is a big person, i.e., he is over six feet tall. |
| The bulldog was the smallest of the three dogs. | | | | The black horse is fast, e.g., it has won all of its races. |
| A third sentence, shown below would also be correct. | | | | By using the rules above your writing will make more |
| The bulldog was smaller than the other two dogs. | | | | sense and will be correct. Future articles will address |
| This is written correctly because the bulldog is | | | | other writing errors and provide additional advice. |