5 Grammar Rules You Absolutely Should Know if You’re Taking a 300-Level English Course

Avoid Dangling Modifiers RULE #1

Wrong After finishing her homework, the TV was free to use.

Wrong After finishing her homework, the TV was free to use.

Wrong After finishing her homework, the TV was free to use. Right After finishing her homework, she turned her attention to the TV.

Avoid Vague Antecedents RULE #2

Wrong Lord Mormont was unable to convince the Hand of the King that the Wall needed more men. This was the subject of a bitter debate in the Small Council.

Wrong Lord Mormont was unable to convince the Hand of the King that the Wall needed more men. This was the subject of a bitter debate in the Small Council.

Wrong Lord Mormont was unable to convince the Hand of the King that the Wall needed more men. This was the subject of a bitter debate in the Small Council. Right Lord Mormont was unable to convince the Hand of the King that the Wall needed more men. This failure was the subject of a bitter debate in the Small Council.

Wrong Boeing’s 737 Max has been grounded since two deadly crashes killed 346 people. It has disrupted the global aviation industry and plunged the company into the biggest crisis the aerospace giant has ever faced.

Wrong Boeing’s 737 Max has been grounded since two deadly crashes killed 346 people. It has disrupted the global aviation industry and plunged the company into the biggest crisis the aerospace giant has ever faced.

Wrong Boeing’s 737 Max has been grounded since two deadly crashes killed 346 people. It has disrupted the global aviation industry and plunged the company into the biggest crisis the aerospace giant has ever faced. Right Boeing’s 737 Max has been grounded since two deadly crashes killed 346 people. These events have disrupted the global aviation industry and plunged the company into the biggest crisis the aero- space giant has ever faced.

Avoid Comma Splices RULE #3

Wrong Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials. Right Koala bears are not actually bears. They are marsupials.

Wrong This is an update to a story published earlier this year, here’s the original. Right This is an update to a story published earlier this year; here’s the original.

Know When to Use ‘Single’ Quotation Marks and When to Use “Double” Quotation Marks RULE #4

Wrong I hate getting emails from a ‘no-reply’ address. Right I hate getting emails from a “no-reply” address.

Wrong Claire says, “The most common reaction I get from clients is, “If the candidate can’t follow simple application instructions, how will she perform on the job?”” Right Claire says, “The most common reaction I get from clients is, ‘If the candidate can’t follow simple application instructions, how will she perform on the job?’”

Know When to Use a “Hyphen,” an “En Dash,” and an “Em Dash” RULE #5

Wrong Claire says, “The most common reaction I get from clients is, “If the candidate can’t follow simple application instructions, how will she perform on the job?”” Right Claire says, “The most common reaction I get from clients is, ‘If the candidate can’t follow simple application instructions, how will she perform on the job?’” Mark What It Looks Like When to Use It Hyphen - A well-known author. En Dash – July 7 – July 8. Em Dash — To be or not to be — that is the question.