Grammar and Style

Buy THE EVERYTHING GRAMMAR AND STYLE BOOK

Checkpoint Answers

Here is the answer key to the various "checkpoints" located at the end of each section.

Section 1: What's in a Word?

wizards
pennies
wives
oxen
deer
abundance
believe
defendant
environment
February
grammar
knowledge
rhythm
separate
villain

Section 2: Cracking the Code of Punctuation

Section 3: More Fun with Punctuation

Using Guideline #3:

Chris's computer
Lois's chair
Mrs. Williams's hairstyle
Mr. Harris's house
Katherine Mears's cards.

Using Guideline #4:

Chris' computer
Lois' chair
Mrs. Williams' hairstyle
Mr. Harris' house
Katherine Mears' cards

Section 4: Punctuation Pairs

One way to correctly punctuate the story starter is this:

It all started because I was so tired. I had my chapter notes in front of me, and what I had written said, “Test Monday on chapters 3–6 (pages 48–194).” I opened my history book to page 48, where I saw a picture of Robert Fulton (1765–1815).

I certainly learned quite a number of interesting facts. Among them (this was on page 57) was this:

“It [the Clermont, Fulton's first boat] sped along at the amazing rate of five miles an our. [sic]”

Section 5: Wrapping It All Up

One way to correctly punctuate the story starter is this:

Janet kept trying to get to the right Internet site. The URL that she had written down was <http://www.help-me-out.edu/hrcc/macleroy/>, but she was unsuccessful every time she tried that site. She just knew that if she went to that site, she'd find the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and she needed those words in order to get extra credit in her music class.

She began humming to herself, “Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,/…O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Section 6: Parts of Speech: the Big Eight

Tom Swifties

darkly
wholeheartedly
icily
speedily
lackadaisically
finally
hotly
movingly
gamely
bravely

Section 7: More Pieces of the Puzzle

Subject: Gail, Leo; Predicate: seemed = (linking) verb; Complement: nervous = predicate adjective
Subject: they; Predicate: were = (linking) verb; Complement: candidates = predicate nominative; Subject: they; Predicate: felt = (linking) verb
Subject: Gail; Predicate: called = verb; Complement: Leo = direct object
Subject: Gail; Predicate: is = (linking) verb
Subject: I; Predicate: will give = verb; Complement: you = indirect object; ride = direct object
Subject: need; Predicate: is = (linking) verb
Subject: I; Predicate: do have = verb; Complement: news = direct object

Section 8: Let's Have a Few Words

Section 9: Pertinent Points about Pesky Pronouns

Problems with Pronouns

Here's one way that the story could be corrected:

Kerri received two letters today, one from Theresa and one from Vera. Kerri was happy to read that Vera would be coming for a visit soon. Vera's letter also mentioned that she [it's okay to use this pronoun since she has already been identified] would be bringing Andrea, somebody whom Kerri had never met. Kerri thought that the three of them could expect to have some fun-filled times because they [it's okay to use this pronoun since there's a clear reference whom they refers to] were all people who were always up for some kind of adventure.

More Problems with Pronouns

Here's one way the story could be corrected:

Looking out over the lake, Sarah was amazed to find that she and her sister seemed to be alone.

“It looks as if we two are the only ones still out. I saw Jody and Juan out in their boat just a few minutes ago. In fact, it was she who was rowing. Now I wonder what's happened to Jody and him.” Sarah mused. “Oh, I wouldn't worry about them. He and she both said they were getting hungry and would probably head for shore. But if you want to try to beat them, I know you can row faster than she.”

Who? Whom?

Whom
whom
Who
whom
Who
Who
Who
Whom
whom
Who

Section 10: Figuring Out Some Finicky Forms

The reporter had just bursted burst on the scene, but already he could tell that the atmosphere was more edgier edgier than he had anticipated. He stopped some of the neighbors who were standing around and sayed said, “Is this the most excitingest exciting thing that's ever happened here on Elm Street?”

Mrs. Atcheson, one of the women in the group, turned to the reporter and said, “This ain't is nothing! You should have been here last week when two burglars was were holed up in my chimney. The fattest fatter one kept screaming for help, and the skinniest skinnier one kept whispering to him that he should be quiet.”

Section 11: Keeping It Coherent

Here is one of several ways to make the sentences parallel:

Studying long hours, giving up fun-filled time with friends, and drinking lots of coffee were my habits when I was in school. My favorite classes were ancient Greek, quantum physics, advanced chemistry, and microbiology. At that time in my life, reading compelling subject matter was more important to me than playing cards with the rest of the gang. I wanted to get good grades, to retain my scholarship, and to work part-time at a job that would help my future career. I wanted not only to impress my instructors, but also to impress my boss. Because of this, I worked and studied industriously. I was constantly worried that my scholarship money would evaporate, that I'd lose my job, and that one of my coworkers would hamper my future career.

Section 12: Shaping Strong Sentences

I used to be better at saying no. I was supposed to be writing a report, but two friends called and asked if I wanted to go spelunking, which they had to explain meant exploring in caves.

Agreeing to go along with my friends, who were not experienced spelunkers, was my first mistake. When we got to the cave, there was a huge rock blocking the entrance. At first the rock seemed to be stationary, but using all the strength we had we were finally able to move it slowly and get inside. It was then that I should have left and gone home, but I didn't know whether my friends would be disappointed in me if I left them. My sole reason for staying was to keep face with them, and so the three of us formed a little spelunking troop and set off to explore.

Staying in the cave was my second mistake. When we were fairly deep inside, I became fascinated with a stalagmite that was shaped like a throne and decided to take a break and sit on it for a while. At that point, I realized I was hungry and decided to try to convince my friends that we should stop and eat the lunches we had brought.

Section 13: In Plain English, Please

Sports Clichés