Grammar Tips for Journalists

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“ But I thought this was a journalism class, not an English composition class?” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Why study grammar? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

One more reason: ,[object Object]

Overview of today’s lesson: ,[object Object],[object Object]

[object Object],So, let’s begin…

1. Mix up sentence length ,[object Object]

Simple sentences ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Compound sentences ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Compound sentence ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

2. Use pronouns ,[object Object],[object Object]

Here’s why. Below is a sentence that does NOT replace nouns with pronouns: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Different kinds of pronouns ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

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Pronoun agreement ,[object Object]

Two confusing cases ,[object Object],[object Object]

Who vs. Whom ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Possessive Pronouns ,[object Object]

Possessive Pronouns ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

3. Writing in active voice ,[object Object]

Passive (indirect): Active (direct):

Sentences in active voice are also more concise than those in passive voice because fewer words are required to express action in active voice than in passive. For example… Another reason journalists should use active voice:

Changing passive to active ,[object Object]

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: most of the class

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: agent not specified; most likely agents such as "the researchers"

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: the CIA director and his close advisors

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: agent not specified; most likely agents such as "we"

Some exceptions ,[object Object]

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: The presiding officer

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: The leaders

Passive (indirect): Active (direct): Agent: The scientists

Some Suggestions 1. Avoid starting a sentence in active voice and then shifting to passive. For example: He tried to act cool when he slipped in the puddle, but the other students still laughed at him . He tried to act cool when he slipped in the puddle, but he was still laughed at by the other students . Many customers in the restaurant found the coffee too bitter to drink, but they still ordered it frequently. Many customers in the restaurant found the coffee too bitter to drink, but it was still ordered frequently. Revised Unnecessary shift in voice

[object Object],[object Object],Seeking to lay off workers without taking the blame, the CEO hired consultants to break the bad news. Seeking to lay off workers without taking the blame, consultants were hired to break the bad news. Who was seeking to lay off workers? The consultants?) To save time, Kristin wrote the paper on a computer. To save time, the paper was written on a computer. (Who was saving time? The paper?) Revised Dangling modifier with passive voice

Now on to Part 2… ,[object Object]

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1. Missing comma after introductory phrases. ,[object Object],[object Object]

2. Vague pronoun reference ,[object Object],[object Object]

3. Missing comma in compound sentence. ,[object Object],[object Object]

4. Wrong word. ,[object Object],[object Object]

4. Wrong word. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

4. Wrong word. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

4. Wrong word ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

5. No comma in nonrestrictive relative clauses. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

6. Wrong/missing inflected ends. ,[object Object],[object Object]

6. Wrong/missing inflected ends. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

7. Wrong/missing preposition ,[object Object],[object Object]

7. Wrong/missing preposition ,[object Object]

8. Comma splice ,[object Object],[object Object]

8. Comma splice ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

9. Possessive apostrophe error ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

10. Tense shift ,[object Object],[object Object]

11. Unnecessary shift in person ,[object Object],[object Object]

12. Sentence Fragments ,[object Object],[object Object]

13. Wrong tense or verb form ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

14. Subject-verb agreement ,[object Object],[object Object]

15. Missing comma in a series ,[object Object],[object Object]

16. Pronoun agreement error ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

17. Unnecessary commas with restrictive clauses ,[object Object]

18. Run-on, fused sentence ,[object Object]

18. Run-on, fused sentence ,[object Object],[object Object]

19. Dangling, misplaced modifier ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

19. Dangling, misplaced modifier ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

19.1 Squinting Modifiers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

19.1 Squinting Modifiers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

20. Who, Which, That ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Sources ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Grammar Tips for Journalists

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