Exclamation Mark

An exclamation mark (!) is used to denote emphasis or a strong feeling of anger, excitement, surprise, joy, etc.

Ex.: “That monument is stupendous!”

        “Hold on!” Tom shouted. “We will get you out soon.”         

         “We are just a bunch of fools!” the cop yelled. “That crook escaped!”

                 “Good grief!” the Manager said. “How did the factory catch fire?”

Ellipsis

Ellipsis (…) is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a pause/break in the thought process. In dialogues, it also implies that the thought continues indefinitely.

Ex.: He kept on thinking about the missing link in the case . . . and, finally it dawned upon him.

        Harry said, “I want to stay, but . . .”

Ellipsis

Ellipsis (…) is used when we need to omit some words/phrases/paragraphs from a quoted text.

Ex.:

Original Sentence: “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” (Plato)

After Using Ellipsis: “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly….” (Plato)

Rules for Using Colon

A colon (:) is used to introduce a quotation. The sentence at the end of which the colon is placed, should be a complete sentence.

Ex.: After suffering a huge loss in business, Tom remembered Shakespeare’s famous saying: “All that glitters is not gold.”

Rules for Using Colon

A colon (:) is used to introduce an idea.

Ex.: The murder accused had only one option: confess or face the consequences.

        The audience knew who was going to perform next on stage: Michael Jackson.

Rules for Using Colon

A colon (:) is used to introduce a list.

Ex.: He liked all types of junk foods: fries, pizzas, and burgers.

       The zoo had many wild animals: tigers, lions, and panthers. 

       The restaurant offered various cuisines: Thai, Continental, Chinese, and Indian.

Rules for Using Semicolon

A semicolon (;) is used to distinguish items in a series when those items already contain other punctuation marks.

Ex.: They had planned to visit New York, Las Vegas, and San Francisco in USA; Paris, Switzerland, and Rome in Europe; and Sydney and Tasmania in Australia.

Rules for Using Semicolon

A semicolon (;) is used to link two independent clauses with closely related themes.

Ex.: John graduated in 2011; his brother graduated last year.

       Train is the most preferred public transport; it is cheap and time-saving.

Rules for Using Comma

A comma is used to distinguish direct quotations.

Ex.: Samuel Butler said, “God cannot alter the past, but historians can.”

        “Get out of your car,” the cop ordered. “I need to talk to you.”

Rules for Using Comma

A comma is used after the phrase, which precedes the subject of the sentence.

Ex.: When you reach the station, please call me.

        If you don’t work hard, you can’t succeed in life.

Rules for Using Comma

A comma is used to separate three or more phrases/words/clauses that are written in a series.

Ex.: The government promised to take prompt measures to bring down corruption, inflation, unemployment,    and crime rates.

       The victim was strangled to death, bundled into a sack, and thrown off a bridge.

Rules for Using Comma

A comma together with a conjunction connects two independent clauses.

Ex.: His leg was injured, so he couldn’t run fast.

        He had many cars, yet he chose to travel by bus.

Rules for Using Full Stop

A full stop is used to denote the end of a sentence whose meaning is complete; also, the sentence is not a question or exclamation.

Ex.: Man is a rationale animal.

        Sun rises in the east.

        Birds can fly.

Rules for Using Full Stop

A full stop is used to denote abbreviation. Generally, it is used if a word doesn’t have its last letter.

Ex.: Professor – Prof.

        Mister – Mr (No full stop is used here as the first and last letters are there)

        Doctor – Dr

      

Exception: The above is followed as per UK English. As per US English, it is written as Mr. and Dr.

Rules for Using Full Stop

A full stop should not be used when the sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation mark.

Incorrect Usage: When will you return home?.

                             What a spectacular display of fireworks!.

Correct Usage: When will you return home?

                           What a spectacular display of fireworks! 

Use of Hyphens

A hyphen (-) is used to link compound adjectives to indicate that they are a part of the same adjective.

Ex.: ten-storey, two-seater, first-rate worker, left-handed, good-hearted, etc. 

Use of Hyphens

A hyphen (-) is used to indicate some kind of break in word/text, especially at the end of a line. The syllable breaking conventions should be as per the dictionary.

Ex.: discussion (dis·cus·sion); proper (prop·er); accident (ac·ci·dent), etc.

Use of Apostrophes

An apostrophe should not be used with possessive pronouns, which already indicate possession.

Ex.: theirs, hers, ours, yours, whose, etc.

Incorrect: That car is her’s.

Correct: That car is hers.

Use of Apostrophes

An apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of letter(s)/numbers.

Ex.: You’re (You are).

        She’s (She is/She has).

        I’ll (I will/I shall).

                ’84 (1984).

Use of Apostrophes

An apostrophe is to be used to show possession, i.e., when we need to denote that a person/thing belongs to someone/something.

Ex.: Tom’s shirt (Tom’s shirt was neatly ironed).

        Dog’s paw (That dog’s paw was bleeding).

                Book’s cover (That kid tore my favorite book’s cover).

Unnecessary articles

Using the after whose

Note: The definite article should not be used after the relative determiner whose.

Incorrect Usage: The lady, whose the purse was stolen, has gone to the police station.

                                           

Correct Usage: The lady, whose purse was stolen, has gone to the police station.

Wrong Placement of Adverbs

Rule: Adverbs of definite time should generally be placed at the end of a sentence.

Incorrect Usage: I today morning returned from New York.

                                           

Correct Usage: I returned from New York today morning.

Note: In case, the time factor has to be emphasized, the adverb is put in the beginning (Yesterday, I went to watch a movie).

Wrong Placement of Adverbs

Rule: When both adverb of time and adverb of place are to be used in a sentence, adverb of place should come first.

Incorrect Usage: We had a meeting with the client yesterday here.

                                           

Correct Usage: We had a meeting with the client here yesterday.

Wrong Placement of Adverbs

Rule: The adverb enough should be placed after its qualifying word, not before.

Incorrect Usage: The hall was enough big to accommodate 100 persons.

                                           

Correct Usage: The hall was big enough to accommodate 100 persons.

Confused Prepositions

To and At

Rule: to is used to express motion; at is used to denote a position.

Incorrect Usage: (a) We go at church every Sunday.

  (b) The guard was positioned to the gate.                                         

Correct Usage: (a) We go to church every Sunday.

                             (b) The guard was positioned at the gate.

Confused Prepositions

In and At

Rule: in is used to describe the physical location of something; at is used when we refer to an address, place, building, etc. It is also used in cases where the location is not an issue; rather, what we do there is important (school, park, mall, hospital, etc.).

Incorrect Usage: (a) Henry owns a mansion at New York.

  (b) The British Prime Minister stays in 10 Downing Street.                                          

Correct Usage: (a) Henry owns a mansion in New York.

                             (b) The British Prime Minister stays at 10 Downing Street.

Confused Prepositions

On, At, and In (time factor)

Rule: on is used with the days of the week or month (on Sunday, on February 15, etc.); at is used to denote the exact time (at dawn, at 10 o’clock, etc.); and in is used with a period of time (in spring, in the evening, etc.).

Incorrect Usage: (a) The delegates will arrive at Monday.

  (b) He goes to bed on 11 o’clock.

  (c) My mother goes for a walk at the evening.                                

Correct Usage:    (a) The delegates will arrive on Monday.

                                (b) He goes to bed at 11 o’clock.

                                (c) My mother goes for a walk in the evening.

Confused Prepositions

Between and Among

Rule: between is used only for two; among is used for more than two.

Incorrect Usage: (a) A scuffle started among the two gangs.

  (b) The team members started quarrelling between themselves.

                                               

Correct Usage:    (a) A scuffle started between the two gangs.

                                (b) The team members started quarrelling among themselves.

Confused Prepositions

Using by for with

Rule: with is used when we want to indicate the means/mechanism with which an action is done; by implies the doer of the action.

Incorrect Usage: He stabbed his friend by a knife.

Correct Usage: He stabbed his friend with a knife.    

Confused Prepositions

Using for for about

Incorrect Usage: The Minister spoke for corruption.

Correct Usage: The Minister spoke about corruption.

Note: Here, for implies ‘being in favor of’. If we use for, it will denote that, the Minister spoke in favor of corruption.

Confused Prepositions

Using from for since

Rule: proposition since is placed before words denoting a point in time.

Incorrect Usage: Tom’s been absent from last Monday.

Correct Usage: Tom’s been absent since last Monday.

Confused Adverbs

Very and Too

Rule: Very places more emphasis on the adjective or adverb; Too means more than enough, which results in something.

Incorrect Usage: (a) It is too cold in New Delhi in the winter.

                                (b) It is very hot to play outdoors now.

Correct Usage: (a) It is very cold in New Delhi in the winter.

                              (b) It is too hot to play outdoors now.

Confused Adverbs

Very much and Too much

Rule: Very much is used for emphasizing; Too much implies excessive quantity or extent.

Incorrect Usage: (a) The audience liked the play too much.

                                (b) Tom eats very much.

Correct Usage: (a) The audience liked the play very much.

                              (b) Tom eats too much.

Confused Adverbs

Hardly and Hard

Rule: Hardly means scarcely; Hard implies vigorously.

Incorrect Usage: (a) They tried hardly to locate the missing file.

                                (b) He hard ate anything.

Correct Usage: (a) They tried hard to locate the missing file.

                              (b) He hardly ate anything.

Confused Adverbs

Just now and Presently

Rule: Just now refers to past or present time, not future; Presently is used to denote near and immediate future time.

Incorrect Usage: (a) The Chief Guest will arrive just now.

                                (b) He left for office presently.

Correct Usage: (a) The Chief Guest will arrive presently.

                              (b) He left for office just now.

Confused Adverbs

Scarcely and Rarely

Rule: Scarcely implies not quite, hardly; Rarely implies seldom, not often.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Derek scarcely attends parties.

                                (b) I had rarely finished packing when the cab came.

Correct Usage: (a) Derek rarely attends parties.

                              (b) I had scarcely finished packing when the cab came.

Confused Adjectives

Many and Much

Rule: Many is used with plural nouns; Much is used with uncountable nouns.

Incorrect Usage: (a) That poor girl doesn’t have much dresses.

                                (b) There is many corruption in the system.

Correct Usage: (a) That poor girl doesn’t have many dresses.

                              (b) There is much corruption in the system.

Confused Adjectives

Each and Every

Rule: Each is used to denote two or more things or people, regarded separately or one by one; Every is used for two or more things or people, regarded as a group.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Every child was given a prize.

                                (b) There is a bus each twenty minutes.

Correct Usage: (a) Each child was given a prize.

                             (b) There is a bus every twenty minutes.

Confused Adjectives

A and An

Rule: An should be used instead of a before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o, u) or in case of words with silent h (hour, honest, honor).

Incorrect Usage: (a) That is a apple tree.

                                (b) He is a honest man.

Correct Usage: (a) That is an apple tree.

                             (b) He is an honest man.

Confused Adjectives

Farther and Further

Rule: Further denotes both greater distance and to a greater degree; Farther is used only for distances.

Incorrect Usage: (a) We are not going to tolerate his behavior farther.

                                (b) They could not walk further.

Correct Usage: (a) We are not going to tolerate his behavior further.

                             (b) They could not walk farther.

Confused Adjectives

Less and Fewer

Rule: Less denotes a smaller amount/quantity; Fewer denotes a small number (it emphasizes how small a number of things or people).

Incorrect Usage: (a) She drinks fewer water.

                                (b) There were less customers at the shop today.

Correct Usage: (a) She drinks less water.

                             (b) There were fewer customers at the shop today.

Confused Adjectives

Later and Latter

Rule: Later indicates a subsequent time or stage; Latter indicates the physical order (it denotes the second of two things).

Incorrect Usage: (a) I will come latter.

                                (b) Both, France and Europe are great tourist places; but, the later is more popular.

Correct Usage: (a) I will come later.

                             (b) Both, France and Europe are great tourist places; but, the latter is more popular.

Confused Adjectives

Last and Latest

Rule: Last denotes the final one in a sequence; Latest means the most recent.

Incorrect Usage: (a) They caught the latest train to London.

                                (b) What’s the last news in sports?

Correct Usage: (a) They caught the last train to London.

                             (b) What’s the latest news in sports?

Filler Words

Filler words refer to words/phrases/sounds that bring about a pause or hesitation in speech.

Ex.: er, eh, um, uh, ah, okay, well, but, so, you know, etc.

Homoioteleuton

Homoioteleuton refers to a figure of speech in the endings of words/phrases have similar sounds.

Ex.: She was sweeping while the baby was wailing.

                As the bridge swayed slightly, they ran through it hurriedly.

Confused Adjectives

High and Tall

Rule: High is used for things like buildings, trees, hills, etc.; Tall is commonly used when referring to people.

Incorrect Usage: (a) That building is very tall.

                                (b) She is just four feet high.

Correct Usage: (a) That building is very high.

                             (b) She is just four feet tall.

Confused Adjectives

Clear and Clean

Rule: Clear means bright, transparent; Clean means free from dirt or stains.

Incorrect Usage: (a) The sky is very clean.

                                (b) We should keep ourselves clear.

Correct Usage: (a) The sky is very clear.

                             (b) We should keep ourselves clean.

Confused Nouns

House and Home

Rule: House can mean any residential building; Home is used when referring to someone’s house in particular.

Incorrect Usage: (a) That home is very beautiful.

                                (b) We should go to our house now.

Correct Usage: (a) That house is very beautiful.

                             (b) We should go home now.

Asyndeton

Asyndeton refers to a writing style in which conjunctions between words/phrases are omitted.

Ex.: “I came, I saw, I conquered” (from Julius Caesar).

          She plays, cricket, basketball, hockey.

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton refers to a writing style in which a conjunction is repeatedly used in between words/phrases to emphasize each one of them.

Ex.: The candidate had good academic background and great communication skills and excellent writing skills.

When they won the war, people jumped and laughed and cried with joy.

Apostrophe

Apostrophe refers to a figure of speech in someone/something (who is absent/dead) is addressed directly as if they are present/alive.

Ex:

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee”

(John Donne, "Death be not proud") 

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”

(Jane Taylor, "The Star", 1806).

Hypallage

Hypallage refers to a figure of speech in which an epithet (adjective or participle) grammatically refers to the less appropriate of two nouns.

Ex:

Sleepy town: The town cannot be sleepy, but the people living in it can be.

Happy mornings: Mornings cannot be happy, but the people getting up can be.

Terrible day: Day itself is not terrible, but it can turn out as a terrible experience for the people.

Syllepsis

Syllepsis refers to usage of a word in such a way that it is related to two or more words in the same sentence, but has a different meaning with respect to each of those words.

He lost his job and his self-confidence.

They sought peace and answers to their inner questions.