2016 Notes in Spelling,

Grammar, and
Punctuation
For AC 521 Technical Writing
Source: Business English 10th ed. - M. Guffey, C. Seefer
(Cengage, 2011) BBS
AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Contents
Words that are Commonly Misused ........................................................................................................... 4
Because vs. That ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Alright vs. All right................................................................................................................................... 4
Uninterested vs. Disinterested................................................................................................................ 4
Thank you vs. Thank-you ........................................................................................................................ 4
Everyday vs Every day ............................................................................................................................. 4
Foreword vs Forward .............................................................................................................................. 4
A lot vs Alot vs Allot ................................................................................................................................ 4
Through vs Thru ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Peak vs Pique vs Peek ............................................................................................................................. 4
Assure vs Ensure vs Insure ...................................................................................................................... 5
Cited vs Sited vs Sighted ......................................................................................................................... 5
Emigrate vs Immigrate ............................................................................................................................ 5
Its vs Its vs Its ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Stationary vs Stationery .......................................................................................................................... 5
Complimentary vs Complementary ........................................................................................................ 5
Affect vs Effect ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Altogether vs All together ....................................................................................................................... 5
Cannot vs Can not ................................................................................................................................... 6
Envelope vs Envelop ............................................................................................................................... 6
Fianc vs Fiance .................................................................................................................................... 6
Seasons Greetings vs Seasons Greetings............................................................................................... 6
To vs Too vs Two ..................................................................................................................................... 6
May be vs Maybe .................................................................................................................................... 6
Your vs Youre ......................................................................................................................................... 6
A part vs Apart ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Backup vs Back up ................................................................................................................................... 6
Premier vs Premiere ............................................................................................................................... 6
Awhile vs A while .................................................................................................................................... 7
Discreet vs Discrete ................................................................................................................................. 7
Advice vs Advise...................................................................................................................................... 7
Bimonthly vs Semimonthly ..................................................................................................................... 7
Lay down vs Lie Down ............................................................................................................................. 7
Principal vs Principle ............................................................................................................................... 7
Appraise vs Apprise................................................................................................................................. 7
i.e. vs e.g. ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Anxious vs Eager ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Desert vs Dessert .................................................................................................................................... 8
Averse vs Adverse ................................................................................................................................... 8

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Abbreviations vs Initialisms vs Acronyms.................................................................................................... 8

Plural vs Singular ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Nouns from Foreign Languages .............................................................................................................. 9
How to make McDonalds plural? ........................................................................................................... 9
The Distinction Between the number and a number ............................................................................ 10
Quantities and Measures ...................................................................................................................... 10
Pronouns................................................................................................................................................... 10
Types of Pronouns ................................................................................................................................ 10
Summary of Pronoun Cases .................................................................................................................. 11
Compound Subjects and Objects .......................................................................................................... 11
Comparatives ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Subject Complement application on Pronouns ..................................................................................... 11
Infinitive to be without a Subject .......................................................................................................... 12
Infinitive to be with a Subject ............................................................................................................... 12
Making pronouns Clear ......................................................................................................................... 12
Avoiding Gender Bias Pronouns ............................................................................................................ 12
Antecedents Joined by or or nor ........................................................................................................... 12
Who vs Whom ...................................................................................................................................... 13
How to Choose Between who and whom ......................................................................................... 13
Whoever vs Whomever ........................................................................................................................ 14
Whos vs Whose.................................................................................................................................... 14
Writing Concise Sentences........................................................................................................................ 14
Avoiding Opening Fillers ....................................................................................................................... 14
Revising Wordy Phrases ........................................................................................................................ 14
Eliminating Redundant Words .............................................................................................................. 15
Verb Moods .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Subjunctive Mood ................................................................................................................................. 15
Gerunds .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Adjectives and Adverbs ............................................................................................................................. 16
Commonly Confused Adjectives and Adverbs ....................................................................................... 16
Comparisons Within a Group ................................................................................................................ 17
Placing Adverbs and Adjectives............................................................................................................. 17
Due to vs Because of ............................................................................................................................. 17
Prepositions .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Challenging Prepositions ....................................................................................................................... 17
Among, between ............................................................................................................................... 17
Beside, besides.................................................................................................................................. 18
Except ............................................................................................................................................... 18
In, into, in to...................................................................................................................................... 18
Like.................................................................................................................................................... 18

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Necessary Prepositions ......................................................................................................................... 18

Unnecessary Prepositions ..................................................................................................................... 18
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition ................................................................................................... 19
Typical Problems with Prepositions ...................................................................................................... 19
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions ............................................................................................................... 19
Conjunctions ............................................................................................................................................. 21
So vs Therefore/Consequently .............................................................................................................. 21
Maintaining Parallelism while using Correlative Conjunctions ............................................................. 21
Punctuation .............................................................................................................................................. 21
Punctuation for clauses......................................................................................................................... 21
Punctuating Around Quotation Marks .................................................................................................. 21
That vs Which ....................................................................................................................................... 22
Uses for Italics ....................................................................................................................................... 22
Uses for Brackets .................................................................................................................................. 22
Words Following marked and stamped ................................................................................................ 22
General Rules for Numbers ....................................................................................................................... 23
Writing Numbers in Word or Figure Form ............................................................................................ 23
Numbers That Begin Sentences ............................................................................................................ 23
Placing Commas in Numbers ................................................................................................................ 23
Hyphenating Numbers .......................................................................................................................... 23
Money ................................................................................................................................................... 23
Related Numbers .................................................................................................................................. 23
Round Numbers .................................................................................................................................... 24
The Chicago Manual of Style vs The Modern Language Association Style Manual vs The Associated Press
Stylebook and Libel Manual ...................................................................................................................... 24
Other Questions/Topics ............................................................................................................................ 24

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and

Punctuation for AC 521
Words that are Commonly Misused
Because vs. That
Which is correct?
1. The reason we were late is because there was an accident on Interstate 26.
2. The reason we were late is that there was an accident on Interstate 26.
Statement 2 is Correct. Why?
Is is a linking verb. In most cases the subject of such verb will be linked to a word that either describes
it or renames it. We call such words subject complements.
The first sentence wont work because the subject (reason) is being linked to a clause that functions as
an adverb: because there was an accident on Interstate 26. One trick for remembering which
construction is correct is to think of the words reason and because as creating a redundancy, saying
in effect the reason is the reason.

Alright vs. All right

All right is considered to be correct; however, alright is quite common in fictional dialogue.

Uninterested vs. Disinterested

Uninterested means lacking interest.
Disinterested means unbiased or impartial.

Thank you vs. Thank-you

Thank you is a verb. (e.g., I thank you.)
Thank-you is a noun or an adjective. (e.g., Please send a thank-you note.)

Everyday vs Every day

Everyday is a single word and is an adjective, so its the one that is used in front of a noun to describe
something as normal or commonplace.
Every day is an adjective (every) plus a noun (day), and it means each day.

Foreword vs Forward
Foreword (commonly misspelled as foreward or forward) refers to the word before the book itself.
Forward means toward the front; in the direction that one is facing or traveling.

A lot vs Alot vs Allot

A lot means to a considerable degree or extent. It could also mean often or frequently.
Alot does not exist.
Allot means to assign as a share or portion or to distribute.

Through vs Thru
Some people use thru as a variant of through; however, this usage is informal and should be avoided in
business writing.

Peak vs Pique vs Peek

Peak is a maximum, to achieve a maximum, to bring to a maximum.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Pique means to provoke or arouse, or to provoke resentment or indignation. It also works as a noun
referring to a feeling of resentment or indignation resulting wounded pride.
Peek means to glance quickly, to look furtively, or a quick or furtive look.

Assure vs Ensure vs Insure

All three words mean to make secure or certain, they are not interchangeable.
Assure refers to persons and may suggest setting someones mind at rest (let me assure you that we are
making every effort to locate it).
Ensure and insure both mean to make secure from loss, but only insure is now used in the sense of
protecting or indemnifying against loss (the building and its contents are insured). Use ensure to mean
to make certain (the company has ensured the safety of all workers).

Cited vs Sited vs Sighted

Cited which means to summon or to quote.
Site means a location, as in a building site or a Web site.
Sight means a view or to take aim, as in the building was in sight. The word sight also refers to the
ability to see.

Emigrate vs Immigrate
To emigrate means to move from a country, so you emigrated from Croatia.
To immigrate means to move to a country, so you immigrated to the United States.

Its vs Its vs Its

Its is never correct. Always change it to one of the forms below.
Its is the contraction of it is and it has. Its has no other meaning.
Its is the form to use in all other instances. Its is a possessive form; that is, it shows ownership the same
way as Philips or his does.

Stationary vs Stationery
Stationary means not moving or unchanging in condition.
Stationery means materials that are used for writing or typing or paper that is used for writing letters.

Complimentary vs Complementary
Complimentary means containing a compliment, favorable, or free (the dinner came with
complimentary wine; he made a complimentary remark).
Complementary means completing or making perfect (The online edition of The Wall Street Journal is
the perfect complement to your print subscription.

Affect vs Effect
Affect is a verb meaning to influence (smoking affects health; government policies affect citizens).
Affect may also mean to pretend or imitate (he affected a British accent).
Effect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means result (the effect of the law is slight). As a verb (and
heres the troublesome part) effect means to produce a result (small cars effect gasoline savings; GM
effected a new pricing policy).

Altogether vs All together

Altogether: means completely or as a whole (Altogether we spent $400 on our vacation).
All together means gathered in one location or all acting collectively (The committee members were
all together in one room).

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Cannot vs Can not

Cannot is always written as one word.

Envelope vs Envelop
Envelope is an enclosing cover for a letter, card, etc.
Envelop means to completely cover, enclose or surround someone or something

Fianc vs Fiance (pronounced the same)

Fianc refers to a man that a woman is engaged to be married to.
Fiance refers to a woman that a man is engaged to be married to.

Seasons Greetings vs Seasons Greetings

If you are referring to one season, it is Seasons Greetings.

To vs Too vs Two
To may serve as a preposition (I am going to the store), and it may also serve as part of an infinitive
construction (to sign his name).
Too may be used to mean also (He will attend too). In addition, the word too may be used to indicate
to an excessive extent (The letter is too long).
Two beings one more than one in number.

May be vs Maybe
Maybe is an adverb which means perhaps. (e.g., Maybe she will call.)
May be means have the ability to. (e.g., He said that he may be able to help us.)

Your vs Youre
Your means relating to or belonging to you.
Youre means you are.

A part vs Apart
A part is used when you are using the article a followed by the noun part (e.g., having you as a part
of your celebration).
Apart means at a distance or as a separate unit.

Backup vs Back up
Backup is used as a noun (We need to have a backup in case of an emergency) or an adjective (I hope
you made a backup copy of your hard drive.)
Back up is used as a verb (Be sure to back up your files before going home tonight).

Premier vs Premiere
Premier can be used as an adjective meaning first in position, rank, importance or time. (e.g., Google
is one of the premier Web search tools). It may also be used a noun that means the prime minister of a
parliamentary government.
Premiere can serve as a noun which means a first performance or exhibition or as a verb which means
to give a first performance.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Awhile vs A while
Awhile as one word is an adverb meaning for a period of time (we sat awhile to rest our feet).
A while is a noun phrase with a serving as an article to describe the noun while (I have been searching
for a while for the perfect site).
A good trick to remember is that if this word follows the word for, write it as two words.

Discreet vs Discrete
Discreet means showing good judgment and prudent. The word may also mean unobtrusive or
unnoticeable.
Discrete means separate or noncontinuous.

Advice vs Advise
Advice is a noun meaning a suggestion or recommendation (She went to her attorney for tax advice).
Advise is a verb meaning to counsel or recommend (Her attorney advised her to open an IRA).

Bimonthly vs Semimonthly
Bimonthly means published every other month (every two months), but it may also mean occurring
twice a month.
Semimonthly means occurring twice a month.

Lay down vs Lie Down

Commands are given in the present tense. You would never tell someone to Closed the door because
commands are not given in the past tense. To say Lay down (which is the past-tense form of lie) is the
same as saying Closed the door. Therefore, use the present tense: Lie down.

Principal vs Principle
Principal may be used as a noun meaning chief or head person. In addition, it may be used as an
adjective to mean chief or main.
Principle means a law or rule.

Appraise vs Apprise
Apprise means to inform or notify.
Appraise means to estimate (he will appraise your home before you set its selling price).

i.e. vs e.g.
The abbreviation i.e. stands for the Latin id est, meaning that is (The package exceeds the weight limit,
i.e., 5 pounds). The abbreviation e.g. stands for the Latin exempli gratia, meaning for the sake of
example or for example (The manufacturer may offer a purchase incentive, e.g., a rebate or discount
plan). Notice the use of a comma after i.e. and e.g. Also notice that both abbreviations are written using
lowercase letters and periods.

Anxious vs Eager
Anxious is an adjective meaning worried or apprehensive (Maggie is anxious about getting her biopsy
results).
Eager is an adjective meaning anticipating with enthusiasm (Stan is eager to get started on the new
project).

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Desert vs Dessert
Desert refers to arid land (they were lost for days in the desert). As an adjective, desert is used to
describe something that is desolate or sparsely occupied (a desert island). These two forms have the
same pronunciation, with the accent on the first syllabus. As a verb, desert means to withdraw from or
leave (the army will desert the village at noon).
Dessert is a noun referring to a sweet course or dish (my favorite part of the meal is dessert). Both the
verb desert and the noun dessert have the same pronunciation, with the accent on the second syllable.

Averse vs Adverse
Averse is an adjective meaning disinclined and generally is used with the preposition to (The little boy
was averse to bathing).
Adverse is also an adjective, but it means hostile or unfavorable (Adverse economic conditions
halted the companys growth).

Attaching -wise to nouns (e.g., budgetwise, taxwise, saleswise)

These are considered commercial jargon is frowned on by many language experts. Therefore, it is better
to use On the basis of ____________ (e.g. budget, tax, sales)

Abbreviations vs Initialisms vs Acronyms

Abbreviations - a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr.
for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound.

Initialisms and Acronyms are types of abbreviations that are used to shorten phrases.
a. Initialisms are abbreviations that are pronounced one letter at a time. (e.g., FBI, HTML, IBM,
DVD). Note that most people would simply call these abbreviations, which is fine. Some would
call them acronyms, which sticklers would challenge.
b. Acronyms is a word formed from the initial letters of an expression. Acronyms are pronounced
as single words (e.g., scuba from self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, PIN from
personal identification number, laser from light amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation, NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization, AIDS from Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome, ASAP from as soon as possible, radar from radio detecting and ranging).

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Plural vs Singular
Nouns from Foreign Languages
Nouns borrowed from other languages retain a foreign plural. A few, however, have an Americanized
plural form, shown in parentheses in the following list.
Singular Plural

Alumna (feminine) Alumnae (pronounced a-LUM-nee

Alumnus (masculine) Alumni (pronounced a-LUM-ni)

Analysis Analyses

Axis Axes

Bacterium Bacteria

Basis Bases

Beau Beaux (or beaus)

Crisis Crises

Criterion Criteria (or criterions)

Curriculum Curricula (or curriculums)

Datum Data

Diagnosis Diagnoses

Emphasis Emphases

Formula Formulae (or formulas)

Hypothesis Hypotheses

Matrix Matrices (or matrixes)

Medium Media (or mediums)

Memorandum Memoranda (or memorandums)

Nucleus Nuclei (or nucleuses)

Parenthesis Parentheses

Phenomenon Phenomena (or phenomenons)

Stimulus Stimuli

Vita Vitae

How to make McDonalds plural?

Your best bet is to use the common noun restaurant after the proper noun; then make the common
noun plural. For example, We visited several McDonalds restaurants.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

The Distinction Between the number and a number

When the word number is the subject of a sentence, its article (the or a) becomes significant. The is
specific and therefore implies singularity; a is general and therefore implies plurality. This means that
the number is singular and a number is plural. Ignore any prepositional phrases that follow.
The number of times you have been late to work is unacceptable. (Singular)
The number of requests for registered domain names is growing annually. (Singular)
A number of items are included on todays agenda. (Plural)
A number of stocks are traded daily. (Plural)

Quantities and Measures

When they refer to total amounts, quantities and measures are singular. If they refer to individual units
that can be counted, quantities and measures are plural.
Forty dollars is all you will pay for monthly Internet access. (The quantity is expressed as a total
amount.)
Forty dollars were laid out on the table during the demonstration. (The quantity is expressed as
individual units. Although technically correct, the sentence would be less awkward if it read
Forty dollar bills were laid out . . .)
Three years is the period of the loan. (The quantity is expressed as a total amount.)
Three years are needed to renovate the property totally. (The quantity is expressed as individual
units.)

Pronouns
Types of Pronouns
1. Personal Pronouns replace nouns or other pronouns. Examples
a. Subjective Case: I, we, you, he, she, it, they
b. Objective Case: me, us, you, him, her, it, them
c. Possessive Case: my, mine, our, ours, your, yours, his, hers, its, their, theirs
2. Relative pronouns join subordinate clauses to antecedents. Examples: who, whose, whom,
which, that, whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever.
3. Interrogative pronouns replace nouns in a question. Examples: who, whose, whom, which,
what.
4. Demonstrative pronouns designate specific persons or things. Examples: this, these, that, those.
5. Indefinite pronouns replace nouns. Examples:
a. Always singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone,
everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, somebody, someone
i. Either of the women is able to see her personnel record.
ii. Either the woman or her friends have left their packages. (see below for further
discussion)
b. Always plural: both, few, many, several
i. Few of our employees have their own private parking spaces.
6. Reflexive pronouns emphasize or reflect on antecedents. Examples: myself, yourself, himself,
herself, itself, oneself, and so on.
7. Reciprocal pronouns indicate mutual relationship. Examples: each other, one another.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Summary of Pronoun Cases

1. Subjective Case
a. Subject of the verb They are managers.
b. Subject complement The top applicant is he.
c. Infinitive to be without a subject Sharon pretended to be she.
2. Objective Case
a. Direct or indirect object of the verb Give him another chance.
b. Object of a preposition Send the order to him.
c. Object of an infinitive Ann hoped to call us.
d. Infinitive to be with subject We thought the guests to be them.
When the words between, but, like, and except are used as prepositions, errors in pronoun case are
likely to occur. To avoid such errors, isolate the prepositional phrase, and then use an objective-case
pronoun as the object of the preposition
e.g., Every employee [but Weston and her] will work overtime this weekend.
Just between you and me, profits are slipping.
Sean is certain that nobody but he can access the files.

Compound Subjects and Objects

When a pronoun appears in combination with a noun or another pronoun, we must give special
attention to cases selection. Use this technique to help you choose the correct pronoun case: Ignore the
extra noun or pronoun and its related conjunction, and consider separately the pronoun in question to
determine what the case should be.
e.g., Philip and he attended the conference.
You and I must write the report.
Lindsay asked you and me for advice.

Comparatives
Comparatives are often introduced by words such as than or as. To determine the pronoun case in only
partially complete comparative statements introduced by than or as, always mentally finish the
comparative by adding the implied missing words.
e.g., Christina enjoys reading as much as he. (Christina enjoys reading as much as [not him] enjoys
reading.)
Oprah is a better cook than she. ( better cook than she is.)
Tardiness annoys Matthew as much as me. ( as much as it annoys me.)

Subject Complement application on Pronouns

Less frequently, subjective-case pronouns also perform as subject complements. A pronoun that follows
a linking verb and renames the subject must be in the subjective case. Some linking verbs are is, are,
was, were, be, being, been. Other linking verbs express the senses: feels, appears, tastes, sounds, seems,
looks.
e.g., It is he who will make the final decision. (Not him)
I am sure it was she who sent the instant message. (Not her)
If you were I, what would you do? (Not me)
In conversation it is common to say, It is me, or more likely, Its me. Careful speakers and writers,
though, normally use subjective-case pronouns after linking verbs. If the resulting constructions sound
too formal, revise your sentences appropriately. For example, instead of It is I who placed the order, use
I placed the order. When answering the telephone, careful speakers say, This is she or This is he.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Infinitive to be without a Subject

An infinitive is the present tense of a verb preceded by the word to e.g., to sit, to run, and to dream.
An important infinitive is to be. Subjective pronouns are used following the infinitive to be when the
infinitive has not subject. In this instance the infinitive joins a complement (not an object) to the subject.
e.g., Matthew was mistakenly thought to be I. (The infinitive to be has no subject; I is the
complement of the subject Matthew)
Why would Jennifer want to be she? (The infinitive to be has no subject; she is the complement
of the subject Jennifer)

Infinitive to be with a Subject

When the infinitive to be has a subject, any pronoun following it will function as an object.
e.g., The interviewer believed the best candidate to be her. (The subject of the infinitive to be is the
candidate, therefore, the pronoun functions as an object. Try it another way: The interviewer
believed her to be the best candidate. You would not say, The interviewer believed she to be the
best candidate.)
Gary expected the caller to be me.
Simon judged the top five performers to be them.

Making pronouns Clear

Do no use a pronoun if your listener or reader might not be able to identify the noun it represents.
Unclear: Matthew told Ron that he had been selected for the position.
Clear: Matthew told Ron that Ron had been selected for the position.
Unclear: In that ball park they do not allow you to smoke in the stands.
Clear: The ball park management does not allow fans to smoke in the stands.
Or: Smoking is not allowed in the ball park stands.
Unclear: When Annette Jenkins followed Dawn OMalley as president, many of her policies were
reversed.
Clear: When Annette Jenkins followed Dawn OMalley

Avoiding Gender Bias Pronouns

e.g.,
Gender-Biased: A passenger must show his passport before boarding.
Alternative 1: Passengers must show their passports before boarding.
Alternative 2: A passenger must show a passport before boarding. (less emphatic)
Alternative 3: A passenger must show his or her passport before boarding. (wordy)
Wrong: A passenger must show their passport before boarding.

Antecedents Joined by or or nor

When antecedents are joined by or or nor, the pronoun should agree with the closer antecedent. The
closer antecedent will be the one that comes after the or or nor.
Either April or Gloria left her message on the discussion board.
Neither the employees nor the supervisor expects to see his salary increased this year.
Neither the supervisor nor the employees expect to see their salaries increased this year.
(Notice that salaries must also be made plural.)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Who vs Whom
Who Subjective-case form; may function as the subject of a verb or as the subject complement of a
noun following the linking verb.
Whom Objective-case form; may function as the object of a verb or as the object of a preposition.
e.g., Who do you think will be chosen for the job? (Who is the subject of the verb phrase will be
chosen.)
Allison asked me who my boss is. (Who is the complement of boss.)
Whom should we recommend? (Whom is the object of the verb phrase should recommend.)
Edmund is the one to whom I spoke. (Whom is the object of the preposition to.)

How to Choose Between who and whom

The choice between who and whom becomes easier if the sentence in question is approached using the
following three steps:
1. Isolate the who/whom clause.
2. Invert the clause, if necessary, to restore normal subjectverbobject order.
3. Substitute the subjective pronoun he (she or they) for who. Substitute the objective pronoun
him (her or them) for whom. If the sentence sounds correct with him, replace him with whom. If
the sentence sounds correct with he, replace he with who.
e.g., Here are the records of the man (who/whom) we have selected.
Isolate: ____ we have selected
Invert: we have selected ____
Substitute: we have selected him
Equate: we have selected whom
Complete: Here are the records of the man whom we have selected.
Do you know (who/whom) his doctor is?
Isolate: ____ his doctor is
Invert: his doctor is ____ (or ____ is his doctor)
Substitute: his doctor is he (or he is his doctor)
Equate: his doctor is who (or who is his doctor)
Complete: Do you know who his doctor is?

In choosing who or whom, ignore parenthetical expressions such as I hope, we think, I believe, they said,
and you know.
e.g., Edward is the candidate (who/whom) we believe is best.
Isolate: ____ we believe is best
Ignore: ____ [we believe] is best
Substitute: he is best
Equate: who is best
Complete: Edward is the candidate who we believe is best.
Other e.g.,
Whom do you think we should call? (Invert: You do think we should call him/whom.)
The person to whom we gave our evaluation was Roshanda. (Invert: The evaluation was given to
him/whom.)
Do you know who the manager is? (Invert: The manager is he/who.)
Whom would you like to include in the acknowledgment? (Invert: You would like to include
him/whom in the acknowledgment.)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Whoever vs Whomever
As with who and whom, whoever is subjective and whomever is objective. The selection of the correct
form is sometimes complicated when whoever or whomever appears in clauses. These clauses may act
as objects of prepositions, objects of verbs, or subjects of verbs. Within the clauses, however, you must
determine how whoever or whomever is functioning in order to choose the correct form. Study the
following examples and explanations.
Issue a password to whoever needs one. (The clause whoever needs one is the object of the
preposition to. Within the clause itself, whoever acts as the subject of needs and is therefore in
the subjective case. Think: he needs one.)
A scholarship will be given to whoever meets the criteria. (The clause whoever meets the criteria
is the object of the preposition to. Within the clause, whoever acts as the subject of meets and is
therefore in the subjective case. Think: he meets the criteria.)
We will accept the name of whomever they nominate. (The clause whomever they nominate is
the object of the preposition of. Within the clause, whomever is the object of they nominate and
is therefore in the objective case. Think: they nominate him.)

Whos vs Whose
Whos is a contraction which means who is or who has.
Whose functions as a possessive pronoun.
e.g., We havent decided whose proposal will be accepted.
Whose applications were submitted by the deadline?
Please let me know whos on call this evening.
Do you know whos scheduled to give the keynote address?

Writing Concise Sentences

Avoiding Opening Fillers
Openers such as there is, it is, you might be interested to learn that, and this is to inform you
that fill in sentences but generally add no meaning. Train yourself to question these
constructions. About 75 percent can be eliminated, almost always resulting in more concise
sentences.

Wordy: There are three students who volunteered to help.

Revised: Three students volunteered to help.
Wordy: This is to inform you that our offices will be closed on Monday.
Revised: Our offices will be closed on Monday.

Revising Wordy Phrases

Some of our most common and comfortable phrases are actually full of word fat. When
examined carefully, these phrases can be pared down considerably.

Wordy Phrases Concise Substitutes

as per your suggestion as you suggested
at this point in time now
due to the fact that because
for the purpose of to
give consideration to consider
in all probability probably
in spite of the fact that even though
in the amount of for

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

in the event that if

in the near future soon
in the neighborhood of about
in view of the fact that since
with regard to about

Wordy: Due to the fact that fire damaged our distribution center, we must delay some
shipments.
Revised: Because fire damaged our distribution center, we must delay some shipments.
Wordy: We expected growth in the neighborhood of 25 percent.
Revised: We expected about 25 percent growth.

Eliminating Redundant Words

Words that are needlessly repetitive are said to be redundant. Writers must be alert to
eliminating redundant words and phrases, such as the following:

advance warning exactly identical perfectly clear

alter or change few in number personal opinion
assemble together free and clear potential opportunity
basic fundamentals grateful thanks positively certain
collect together great majority proposed plan
consensus of opinion integral part reason why
contributing factor last and final refer back
dollar amount midway between true facts
each and every new changes very unique
end result past history visible to the eye

Verb Moods
Three verb moods are available to enable a speaker or writer to express an attitude toward a subject: (a)
The indicative mood is used to express a fact (We need the contract); (b) the imperative mood is used
to express a command (Send the contract immediately); (c) the subjunctive mood is used to express a
doubt, a conjecture, or a suggestion (If the contract were here, we would be pleased). The subjunctive
mood may cause speakers and writers difficulty and therefore demands special attention.

Subjunctive Mood
Careful speakers and writers use the subjunctive mood in the following constructions:
If and wish Clauses
When a statement that is doubtful or contrary to fact is introduced by if, as if, or wish,
substitute the subjunctive form were for the indicative form was.
If Laurie were prepared, we could proceed. (Laurie is not prepared.)
She acts as if she were the boss. (She is not the boss.)
Jos wishes he were able to snowboard. (Jos is not able to snowboard.)
But if the statement could possibly be true, use the indicative form.
If Chris was in the audience, I missed him. (Chris might have been in the
audience.)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

That Clauses
When a that clause follows a verb expressing a command, recommendation, request,
suggestion, or requirement, use the subjunctive verb form be for to be verbs. For third-
person singular verbs, drop the s or es.
The CEO required that all board members be [not is] present at the meeting.
Our manager recommends that all reports be [not are] proofread twice.
The Secret Service requires that everyone near the president receive [not
receives] top security clearance.
Motions
When a motion is stated, a subjunctive verb form should be used in the following
that clause.
Manuel moved that a vote be [not is] taken.
Jeremy seconded the motion that the meeting be [not is] adjourned.
Caution: In a sentence without that clauses, do not mix subjunctive and indicative verbs.
Correct: If she were skilled, she would receive job offers. (Both verbs are
subjunctive.)
Correct: If she is skilled, she will receive job offers. (Both verbs are indicative.)
Incorrect: If she were skilled, she will receive job offers. (One subjunctive verb
and one indicative verb.)

Gerunds
A gerund is a verb form ending in ing that is used as a noun. Gerunds often describe activities.
In using gerunds, follow this rule: Make any noun or pronoun modifying a gerund possessive, as in
Karens procrastinating or Dales computing. Because we sometimes fail to recognize gerunds as nouns,
we fail to make their modifiers possessive:
Incorrect: The staff objects to Curtis smoking.
Correct: The staff objects to Curtiss smoking.
The staff does not object to Curtis, as the first version states; it objects to his smoking. If we substitute a
more easily recognized noun for smoking, the possessive form seems more natural: The staff objects to
Curtiss behavior. Behavior is a noun, just as smoking is a gerund; the noun or pronoun modifiers of both
must be possessive.
Stephanie resented his calling during lunch. (The gerund calling requires the possessive pronoun
his, not the objective-case pronoun him.)
The manager appreciated your working late. (Not you working.)
Not all verbs ending in ing are, of course, gerunds. Some are elements in verb phrases and some act as
adjectives. Compare these three sentences:
I saw Clay driving. (The word driving functions as an adjective describing Clay.)
I admired Clays driving. (As the object of the verb, driving acts as a gerund.)
Clay is driving. (Here is driving is a verb phrase.)

Adjectives and Adverbs

Commonly Confused Adjectives and Adverbs
The following adjectives and adverbs cause difficulty for some writers and speakers. With a little study,
you can master their correct usage.
almost (adj. nearly): Almost (not Most) everyone wants to work.
most (adj. greatest in amount): Most managers are good leaders.
farther (adv.actual distance): How much farther is the airport?
further (adv.additionally): Lets discuss the issue further.
sure (adj.certain): She is sure of her decision.
surely (adv.undoubtedly): He will surely be victorious.
later (adv.after expected time): The contract arrived later in the day.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

latter (adj.the second of two things): Of the two options, I prefer the latter.
fewer (adj.refers to countable items): Fewer requests for tours were granted this year.
less (adj.refers to amounts or quantities): Less time remains than we anticipated.
real (adj.actual, genuine): The real power in the company lies with the board of directors.
really (adv.actually, truly): Jan is really eager to take her vacation.
good (adj.desirable): A number of good plans were submitted.
well (adv.satisfactorily): Amy did well on her performance evaluation.
(adj.healthy): Jamal feels well enough to return to work.

Comparisons Within a Group

When the word than is used to compare a person, place, or thing with other members of a group to
which it belongs, be certain to include the words other or else in the comparison. This inclusion ensures
that the person or thing being compared is separated from the group with which it is compared.
Illogical: Alaska is larger than any state in the United States. (This sentence suggests that Alaska
is larger than itself.)
Logical: Alaska is larger than any other state in the United States.
Illogical: Our team had better results than any team in the company.
Logical: Our team had better results than any other team in the company.
Illogical: Alex works harder than anyone in the office.
Logical: Alex works harder than anyone else in the office.

Placing Adverbs and Adjectives

The position of an adverb or adjective can seriously affect the meaning of a sentence. Study these
examples:
Only Cathi MacPherson can change the password. (No one else can change it.)
Cathi MacPherson can only change the password. (She cant do anything else.)
Cathi MacPherson can change only the password. (She cant change anything else.)
To avoid confusion, adverbs and adjectives should be placed close to the words they modify. In this
regard, special attention should be given to the words only, merely, first, and last.
Confusing: He merely said that the report could be improved.
Clear: He said merely that the report could be improved.
Confusing: Seats in the five first rows have been reserved.
Clear: Seats in the first five rows have been reserved.

Due to vs Because of
Due to is acceptable when it introduces an adjective phrase, as in Success was due to proper timing. In
this sense, due to is synonymous with attributable to. However, because of should introduce adverbial
phrases and should modify verbs: Money was lost because of poor attendance. Because of modifies the
verb phrase was lost.

Prepositions
Challenging Prepositions
Use special caution with the following prepositions.
Among, between
Among means in or through the midst of or surrounded by. It is usually used to speak of
three or more persons or things; between means shared by and is usually used for two
persons or things.
A merger agreement was made between Oracle and PeopleSoft.
Profits were distributed among the four partners.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Beside, besides
Beside means next to; besides means in addition to.
The woman sitting beside me on the plane was Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox.
Besides a rsum, you should bring a list of your references to the interview.
Except
The preposition except, meaning excluding or but, is sometimes confused with the verb
accept, which means to receive.
Everyone except Paula and him attended the training session.
Did you accept the job offer from Starbucks?
In, into, in to
In indicates a position or location. Into can mean several things, including (a) entering
something, (b) changing form, or (c) making contact. Some constructions may employ in as an
adverb preceding an infinitive:
The meeting was held in the conference room. (Preposition in indicates location.)
We will move into our new facilities on May 1. (Preposition into indicates entering
something.)
Their son has grown into a fine young man. (Preposition into indicates changing form.)
I ran into Stan on the way to the meeting. (Preposition into indicates making contact
with someone.)
They went in to see the manager. (Adverb in precedes infinitive to see.)
Like
The preposition like should be used to introduce a noun or pronoun. Do not use like to introduce
a clause (a group of words with a subject and a predicate). To introduce clauses, use as, as if, or
as though.
She looks like Reese Witherspoon. (Like used as a preposition to introduce the object
Reese Witherspoon.)
He looks as if (not like) he is prepared. (Do not use like to introduce the clause he is
prepared.)
As (not Like) I said in my e-mail message, the production deadline has changed. (Do not
use like to introduce the clause I said in my e-mail message.)

Necessary Prepositions
Dont omit those prepositions necessary to clarify a relationship. Be particularly careful when two
prepositions modify a single object.
Our appreciation for and interest in your ideas remain strong. (Do not omit for.)
What type of employee are you looking for? (Do not omit of.)
Don Foster is unsure of how to approach the problem. (Do not omit of.)
Benefits for exempt employees seem to be higher than for nonexempt employees. (Do not omit
for.)
When did you graduate from high school? (Do not omit from.)

Unnecessary Prepositions
Omit unnecessary prepositions that clutter sentences.
Leave the shipment outside the door. (Better than outside of)
Both candidates are qualified. (Better than both of the candidates)
I am not sure when the delivery is scheduled. (Better than is scheduled for)
Where is the meeting? (Better than meeting at)
She could not help laughing. (Better than help from laughing)
Keep the paper near the printer. (Better than near to)
My cousins office is opposite mine. (Better than opposite to or opposite of)
He met with the new manager at lunch. (Better than met up with)
Did I wake you? (Better than Did I wake you up?)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

In the past, language authorities warned against ending a sentence (or a clause) with a preposition. In
formal writing today some careful authors continue to avoid ending sentences with prepositions. In
conversation and informal writing, however, terminal prepositions are acceptable.
Informal: What organization is he a member of?
Formal: Of what organization is he a member?
Informal: What is this tool used for?
Formal: For what is this tool used?
Informal: We missed the television news program he appeared on.
Formal: We missed the television news program on which he appeared.
Informal: When you called, whom did you speak to?
Formal: When you called, to whom did you speak?

Typical Problems with Prepositions

In even the most casual speech or writing, the following misuses of prepositions should be avoided.
Of for have
The verb phrases should have, would have, and could have should never be written as should of,
would of, or could of. The word of is a preposition and cannot be used in verb phrases. The
contractions for should have, would have, and could have are shouldve, wouldve, and couldve.
Dont let the way these contractions sound trick you into saying should of, would of, or could of.
Investors should have done more research. (Not should of)
I would have covered for you if I had been available. (Not would of)
Alicia could have done better in the interview, but she wasnt prepared. (Not could of)
Off for from
The preposition from should never be replaced by off or off of.
Kevin borrowed a flash drive from Jeff. (Not off of)
Shannon said she got the information from you. (Not off or off of)

Idiomatic Use of Prepositions

The following list shows words that require specific prepositions to denote precise meanings. This group
is just a sampling of the large number of English idioms. Consult a dictionary when you are unsure of the
correct preposition to use with a particular word.
acquainted with Are you acquainted with the new CEO?
addicted to Cathy is addicted to chocolate.
adept in Are you adept in negotiation tactics?
adhere to All employees must adhere to certain Web-use policies.
agree on (or upon) Our team members agree on (or upon) nearly (mutual ideas) everything.
agree to (a proposal or Did they agree to reduced benefits?
to undertake an action) We agree to supporting our CEO.
agree with (a person or I agree with you on this issue.
his or her idea) We agree with her suggestion.
all of (when followed All of us contributed. (For efficiency omit of when all is followed
by a pronoun) by a noun, as All members contributed.)
angry about (a situation Employees are angry about the reduction
or condition) in benefits.
angry at (a thing) Troy is angry at his car for breaking down this morning.
angry with (a person) Are you angry with me for being late?
appreciation for She has an appreciation for organic products.
both of (when followed Both of them were hired. (For efficiency omit of when both is followed
by a pronoun) by a noun, as Both men were hired.)
buy from You may buy from any one of our approved vendors.
capable of She is capable of remarkable accomplishments.
comply with We must comply with governmental regulations.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

conform to Your products do not conform to our specifications.

contrast with The angles contrast with the curves in that logotype.
convenient to (a location) The office building is convenient to public transportation.
convenient for (a person) We make returns convenient for our customers.
correspond to (a thing) A companys success corresponds to its leadership.
correspond with (a person We correspond with our clients regularly.
in writing)
differ from (things) Debit cards differ from credit cards.
differ with (person) I differ with you in small points only.
different from (not than) This product is different from the one I ordered.
disagree with Do you disagree with him?
expert in Dr. Rand is an expert in electronics.
guard against We must guard against complacency.
identical with (not to) Our strategy is identical with our competitors.
independent of Living alone, the young man was independent of his parents.
infer from I infer from your remark that you are dissatisfied.
interest in Matt has a great interest in the bond market.
negligent of Pat was negligent of the important duties of his position.
oblivious of or to He is often oblivious of (or to) what goes on around him.
plan to (not on) We plan to expand our target market.
prefer to Do you prefer to work a four-day week?
reason with We tried to reason with the unhappy customer.
reconcile with (match) Checkbook figures must be reconciled with bank figures.
reconcile to (accept) He has never become reconciled to retirement.
respect for He has great respect for his hardworking colleagues.
responsible for William is responsible for locking the building.
retroactive to (not from) The salary increase is retroactive to last July 1.
sensitive to He is unusually sensitive to his employees needs.
similar to Your proposal topic is similar to mine.
standing in (not on) line How long have you been standing in line?
talk to (tell something) The speaker talked to the large group.
talk with (exchange Lets talk with Theresa about our mutual goals. remarks)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Conjunctions
So vs Therefore/Consequently
The word so is sometimes informally used as a coordinating conjunction. In more formal contexts, the
conjunctive adverbs therefore and consequently should be substituted for the conjunction so.
Informal: The plane leaves at 2:15, so you still have time to pack.
Improved: The plane leaves at 2:15; therefore, you still have time to pack.
To avoid using so as a conjunction, try starting your sentence with because or although.
Informal: Driving while talking on a cell phone can be dangerous, so some states have made this
practice illegal.
Improved: Because driving while talking on a cell phone can be dangerous, this practice is illegal
in some states.

Maintaining Parallelism while using Correlative Conjunctions

In using correlative conjunctions, place them so that the words, phrases, or clauses being joined are
parallel in construction.
Not Parallel: Either Michelle was flying into Oakland or to San Jose.
Parallel: Michelle was flying either into Oakland or into San Jose.
Not Parallel: I neither have the time nor the energy for this.
Parallel: I have neither the time nor the energy for this.
Not Parallel: He was not only talented, but he was also intelligent.
Parallel: He was not only talented but also intelligent.

Punctuation
Punctuation for clauses

Punctuating Around Quotation Marks

Periods and commas are always placed inside closing quotation marks, whether single or double.
Katie Wheeler said, Be sure to mark the envelope Confidential.
The article is titled Corporate Espionage, but I dont have a copy.
Semicolons and colons are, on the other hand, always placed outside closing quotation marks.
Our contract stipulated that both parties must accept arbitration as binding; therefore, the
decision reached by the arbitrators is final.
Three dates have been scheduled for the seminar called Successful E-Business: April 1, May 3,
and June 5.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Question marks and exclamation marks may go inside or outside closing quotation marks, as determined
by the form of the quotation.
Chris Stefanetti asked, How will you vote on this issue? (Quotation is a question.)
The next time your cell phone rings, fumed the CEO, we will ask you to leave! (Quotation is
an exclamation.)
Do you know who it was who said, Youve got to love what you do to really make things
happen? (Incorporating sentence asks question; quotation does not.)
I cant believe that the check was stamped Insufficient Funds! (Incorporating sentence is an
exclamation; quotation is not.)

That vs Which
The problem usually is the substitution of which for that. Whenever youre tempted to use which,
remember that it requires a comma. Think which plus comma. If the sentence doesnt sound right with a
comma, then you know you need that. Examples: The contract that we sent in June was just returned
(defines which one). The Wilson contract, which we sent in June, was just returned (adds a fact about
the only contract in question).

Uses for Italics

Italics (or underscore if italics are not accessible) are normally used for titles of books, magazines,
pamphlets, newspapers, movies, television shows, music albums, plays, musicals, and other complete
published or artistic works that contain subdivisions. In addition, words under discussion in the sentence
and used as nouns are italicized.
Bank on Yourself, a book by author Pamela G. Yellen, was favorably reviewed in The Wall Street
Journal.
Two of the most frequently misspelled words are definitely and separate. (Words used as nouns)

Uses for Brackets

Within quotations, brackets are used by writers to enclose their own inserted remarks. Such remarks
may be corrective, illustrative, or explanatory. Brackets are also used within quotations to enclose the
word sic, which means thus or so. This Latin form is used to emphasize the fact that an error obvious
to all actually appears thus in the quoted material.
A nautical mile, reported Chris Day, is equal to 6,080 feet [1,853,184 meters].
The companys reorganization program, wrote President Theodore Bailey, will have its
greatest affect [sic] on our immediate sales.

Words Following marked and stamped

Capitalize words that follow the words marked and stamped.
Although the package was stamped Fragile, the postal carrier threw it into the back of the
truck.
The check came back marked Insufficient Funds.

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

General Rules for Numbers

Writing Numbers in Word or Figure Form
The numbers one through ten are generally written as words. Numbers above ten are written as figures.
Our office building has nine private offices and two conference rooms.
Of the 32 IPOs backed by private-equity firms, only 13 resulted in a positive return to investors.

Numbers That Begin Sentences

Numbers that begin sentences are written as words. If a number involves more than two words,
however, the sentence should be rewritten so that the number no longer falls at the beginning.
Eighty-four homes in the city are listed at below-market prices.
A total of 320 distributors will market our product. (Not Three hundred twenty distributors will
market our product.)

Placing Commas in Numbers

When expressing numbers in figure form, separate groups of three digits by commas to improve clarity.
This rule does not apply, however, when writing some numbers, including years, house numbers,
telephone and fax numbers, zip codes, account numbers, and page numbers.
In 1987 American Airlines saved $40,000 by eliminating one olive from each salad served.
BusinessWeek asked 2,000 executives for their predictions about the workplace of the future.

Hyphenating Numbers
Compound numbers from 21 through 99 are hyphenated when they are written in word form.
Thirty-nine people applied for the forensic science technician position.
Fifty-six stocks performed below expectations last month.

Money
Sums of money $1 or greater are expressed as figures. If a sum is a whole dollar amount, most writers
omit the decimal and zeros (even if the amount appears with fractional dollar amounts). Always include
commas in monetary figures $1,000 or greater. Use the dollar sign ($) instead of the word dollars, and
do not add a space between the currency symbol and the figure.
The service charge for changing airline tickets has risen from $50 to $150 on most airlines.
This statement shows purchases of $7.13, $10, $43.50, $90, and $262.78.
A ticket for a first-class parlor suite on the Titanic cost $4,350 (about $69,600 today).
Sums less than $1 are written as figures that are followed by the word cents. If they are part of related
sums greater than $1, use a dollar sign and a decimal instead of the word cents. However, if a sentence
contains unrelated amount of money, treat each amount separately.
Jack needed 75 cents to buy the morning newspaper.
Our monthly petty cash statement showed purchases of $7.13, $.99, $2.80, $1, and $.40.
(Related numbers)
For every $10 you spend in our restaurant, we will donate 50 cents to Special Olympics.
(Unrelated numbers)

Related Numbers
Related numbers are those used similarly in the same document. They should be expressed as the
largest number is expressed. Thus, if the largest number is greater than ten, all the numbers should be
expressed as figures.
Only 2 orders out of 459 could not be filled on time.
Of the 98 e-mail documents Casey received today, 19 were marked Urgent and 7 were marked
Confidential.
We ordered 15 pizzas, 12 salads, and 4 cakes for the employee luncheon. (Note that items
appearing in a series are always considered to be related.)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

Round Numbers
Round numbers are approximations. They may be expressed in word or figure form, although figure
form is shorter and easier to comprehend.
Approximately 200 (or two hundred) people showed up for the grand opening.
We have received about 20 (or twenty) reservations for the wine tasting.
For ease of reading, round numbers in the millions or billions should be expressed with a combination of
figures and words. If one million is used as an approximation, use all word form; otherwise, write this
number using figures and words (1 million). Use a combination of figures and words for all other
numbers.
The U.S. national debt is about $11.3 trillion.
The world population is approximately 6.7 billion, and the U.S. Census Bureau expects this figure
to grow to around 9.2 billion by 2050.
U.S. cell phone users receive nearly 1.5 million spam text messages every year.

The Chicago Manual of Style vs The Modern Language Association Style

Manual vs The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual
The Chicago Manual of Style and The Modern Language Association Style Manual are traditionalists
and prefer adding an apostrophe and s to singular proper nouns that end in s sounds, such as Mr. Morris
(i.e., Mr. Morriss).

On the other hand, writers of more popular literature, as represented in The Associated Press Stylebook
and Libel Manual prefer the simpler style of adding just an apostrophe to singular proper names ending
in s sounds (e.g., Mr. Morris). You may apply either style, but be consistent. Please note that the style
choice applies only to singular proper names ending in s sounds. Plural names are always made
possessive with the addition of an apostrophe only (e.g., Morrises).

Other Questions/Topics
1. I respectfully call you and your clients attention to > I respectfully call your and your clients
attention to However, the best way to handle this awkward wording is to avoid using the
possessive form. Instead, use a preposition phrase (I respectfully call to the attention of you and
your client)

2. It feels unnatural to answer the telephone by answering This is she/he. How can you answer the
phone naturally but still sound professional? > To sound natural and professional, try saying This
is followed by your name.

3. Do you respond with me too when you agree or have taken part in a similar activity as someone
else? (e.g., I love that new sushi restaurant. Me too.) > Although you will hear this response
commonly used, grammatically it is incorrect. When you respond with these words, you are
really saying, Me love that new sushi restaurant too. However, responding with I too, which is
grammatically correct, would probably sound too stuffy. If you want to respond correctly but
naturally, try saying something like So do I or I do too.

4. When do you use may and when do you use can? > Traditionally, the verb may is used in asking
or granting permission (yes, you may use that desk). Can is used to suggest ability (you can
succeed in business). In informal writing, however, authorities today generally agree that can
may be substituted for may.

5. Should I use a comma after the year in this sentence? In 2010 we began operations. > No.
Commas are not required after short introductory prepositional phrases (fewer than four words)

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AC 521 Notes in Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation 2016

unless confusion might result without them. If two numbers, for example, appear consecutively,
a comma would be necessary to prevent confusion: In 2010, 156 companies used our services.

6. Where should the word sic be placed when it is used? > Sic means thus or so stated, and it is
properly placed immediately following the word or phrase to which it refers. For example, The
kidnappers placed a newspaper advertisement that read Call Monna [sic] Lisa. Sic is used
within a quotation to indicate that a quoted word or phrase, though inaccurately spelled or
used, appeared thus in the original. Sic is italicized and placed within brackets.

7. Is it necessary to hyphenate a 25 percent discount? > No. Percents are not treated in the same
way that numbers appearing in compound adjectives are treated. Thus, you would not
hyphenate a 15 percent loan, but you would hyphenate a 15-year loan.

25