Grammar:  It Can Be Soooo Confusing

by Laurie Cooper

After working for hours to get a passage to be deliberate, for my words to say exactly what I wanted them to, only to have someone point out a misplaced modifier, I could have cried. Sound familiar? Frustrated, I began to search for answers that would deliver me from the grammar abyss. I have discovered that grammar is the backbone of writing, a means through which to express an individual's ideas correctly and make them instantly clear to the reader. That's not to say grammar rules can't be broken, but one should do so with care. As Dwight Swain, author of Techniques Of The Selling Writer, puts it, "Deviate if you must. But do it with malice and by intent, not accident." Still, grammar alone won't make one a novelist; especially, if numerous other essential components such as plot, conflict, character development, are overlooked. However, poor grammar may kill any chance of getting an editor to take more than a perfunctory glance at one's story.

Now, for some reason this wasn't crystal clear to me when I set out to write some four years ago. In the beginning, I focused on the creative process, getting and refining ideas, layering emotions, involving the senses, understanding point-of-view, and developing motivation and conflict--all of which are integral parts of a story. I must have driven my critique partners to drink; my manuscripts looked like they had been bled on in the early days, for it wasn't until I received several judged contest entries back that I turned serious about grammar. Actually, I won awards for three entries; and, they were returned touting how interesting the story was, but - each suggested I work to improve my grammar, in particular, comma usage. Of course, I was outraged.

Though grammar wasn't new to me, it had been years, more years than I want to admit, since I had been required to adhere to "the rules." It took me a while to grasp how rusty my grammar skills had become. Eventually, I pondered a which came first, the chicken or the egg sort of question; that is, which came first, building a story or knowing the mechanics of writing. If it was the latter, I knew I was in big trouble.
Keenly aware of my shortcomings and disgusted with my attempts at self-help grammar books, I finally enrolled in a class at a community college. It was one of the best things I ever did, ranking right up there with attending the national romance-writing conferences. At last, I was forced to learn the missing links. I highly recommend using such a program as a writing resource.

I've come to the conclusion that both creating the story and writing mechanics are equally necessary, yet each requires a different kind of focusing and thinking. I've found writing works best done in steps. First, write from the heart. Next, revise to make it clearer, stronger, and more convincing, fixing idea-level issues. Finally, edit to correct problems with grammar, style, usage, and punctuation. Take note, revising and editing are two different processes and are usually done last. For example, revising might entail cutting, adding, or changing whole sentences or paragraphs, while editing commonly deals with making changes to words or phrases.

I'm reminded of a saying -- in knowledge there is power. Without a doubt, I feel more confident, more effective with new awareness. Still, I can't help but think that I've taken the long road to reach this destination in my writer's quest. Had I thought to take such a grammar course sooner, would I now be published? At the same time, I'm a fatalist; I believe things happen when they are meant to happen.

Below I've listed the four most serious grammar infractions according to the text, Real Writing, by Susan Anker.

• Fragments
• Run-ons
• Problems with subject-verb agreement
• Problems with verb form and tense

These are followed by:

• Pronoun usage, agreement
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
• Coordination and Subordination
• Parallelism
• Sentence Variety

Though the above words seem familiar, does anyone need a refresher? If so, there is an excellent website, that gives definitions, practice examples and even a grammar question site available to answer a specific problem: http://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/definitions.htm.

As for commas, here are some tips:

1. Commas with coordinate conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, (the "fan boys")
   • To join two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, use a COMMA BEFORE the conjunction.
     Example: Sam ran as fast as he could, but he came in last.
   • However, if the coordinate conjunction IS NOT followed by an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE, i.e., a clause with a subject AND a verb, use NO COMMA.
     Example: Sam ran his best but didn't make it to the finish.
2. Commas with conjunctive adverbs: then, now, next, thus, likewise, on the other hand, in addition, also, furthermore, therefore, consequently, however, later, moreover, for example.
   • When a conjunctive adverb is used to join two independent clauses, use a semi-colon at the end of the first independent clause and a comma after the conjunctive adverb.
     Example: Sam ran as fast as he could; however, he came in last.
   • However, if the conjunctive adverb is NOT followed by an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE, use ONLY COMMAS TO SEPARATE THE CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB from the rest of the sentence.
     Example: Sam, however, ran as fast as he could.
3. Commas with subordinate conjunctions: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even though, if, since, so that, unless, until, when, where, while.
   Formula for comma use: DC,IC or IC DC
   • When the dependent clause comes BEFORE the independent clause, use a COMMA after the dependent clause.
     Example: DC,IC Although Sam came close, he wasn't fast enough.
     Example: IC DC Sam was disappointed when he didn't place.
4. Commas with relative pronouns: who, where, whom, whose, which, that. These words begin adjective clauses.
   • If a PROPER NOUN comes before the adjective clause, use commas.
     Example: Sam, who came in last, at least finished the race.
     If a COMMON NOUN comes before the adjective clause, USE NO COMMAS.
     Example: The boy who came in last at least finished the race.
5. Commas between items in a series:
   • Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. This includes the last item in the series, which usually has AND before it.
     Example: I had hot dogs, potato chips, and baked beans for lunch.
     Example: We can take in a movie, grab a bite to eat, or go for a drive.
6. Commas after introductory word groups:
   • Use a comma after an introductory word group.
     Example: By the way, I haven't finished the chapter yet.
7. Commas around appositives and interrupters:
   • Use commas around extra information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
     Example: My sister, for example, has been divorced twice.
8. Other Comma usage:
   • To clarify meaning in a sentence in order to prevent misreadings
   • Parts of an address
   • Parts of a date
   • Set off the name of a person being addressed
   • With yes or no
   • Use commas to set off a quotation from its source

Laurie Cooper is the President of the SpacecoasT Authors of Romance (STAR), Chapter 187 of the Romance Writers of America and writes historical romance.