13 Grammar Rules

Ms. Dalton’s
13 sexy rules
for college
Writing

Sexy Rule # 1
No Room for Slang!
Don’t Do not use contractions ! Write everything out .
Don’t =do not can’t = cannot I’m = I am

Do not end sentences with any prepositions.

alot = a lot
(2 words , but you’d you would be surprised how often I see
this…)

Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD)
brentdaigle.lsu@gmail.com

Sexy Rule # 2
No room for prejudiced language!

I will not eat gumbo made by a Yankee from New York
City.

(My lame attempt at an example of prejudiced language)


Sexy Rule # 3
No room for fragments!

A simple grammar check (Microsoft Word) often locates
fragments – but need to be aware that they have no place
in a formal writing context.
Example: Fragment

Louisiana State University offers multiple degrees in
Education. Special Education, Educational Technology,
and Elementary Education.

Sexy Rule # 4
No room for feeling!

Feel vs. Believe:
You Experience FEEL Though TOUCH.
BELIEVE = Accept as TRUE
Example:

I feel believe that quality writing begins with a mastery of
grammar.


Sexy Rule # 5
No room to make since!
Since vs. Because
since=time because= a reason
Example:

LSU has struggled to stay number one since their loss
to Kentucky State University in October.

Les Miles may leave LSU because he prefers to coach in
Michigan.

Sexy Rule # 6
No room to disrespect yo mama !
Formality should be used when referring to family members.

Example:
My Dad daddy pop old man father insisted that
I attend Louisiana State University.

My mom mommie mama mother suggested that
I attend the University of Missouri- St. Louis.

Sexy Rule # 7
No room for run-on sentences!

This is an ever-present challenge to college writers.
BREAK UP YOUR SENTENCES!

Example
My favorite Cajun dish is gumbo it is very spicy.

Instead:
My favorite Cajun dish is gumbo. It is very spicy.


Sexy Rule # 8
No room for that!

That= inanimate object (desk, car, house)
who= animate [living] (person, cat, dog, friend)

Example

I had a student that who brought donuts to
each class.


Sexy Rule # 9
No room for verb nontense!

Verb tense
If you begin in the present = stay in the present.
If you begin in the past = stay in the past
Example:
My friends were going to spring break in Florida, but my
fraternity brother says he is going to Denver, Colorado.
Instead:

My friends are going to spring break in Florida, but my
fraternity brother says he is going to Denver, Colorado.

Sexy Rule # 10
No room to count!
Type out numbers when possible , especially
numbers 1-9:

Example:

nine friends, four schools, eleven singers; first
place, fifth time to teach this class.

See: http://xrl.us/whentowritenumbers

Sexy Rule # 11
No, room, for too many, commas!
Be careful with comma overuse Overuse of the comma : be
careful:
Observe the following rules from Purdue English online writing lab
• Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by
any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or,
nor, so, yet.
• Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words
that come before the main clause.
• Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off
clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of
the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the
pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.
• Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence,
such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses
after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb
expressing mental action are always essential.

Purdue English online writing lab (continued)

• Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate
contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct
pause or shift.
• Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence
that refer back to the beginning or middle of the sentence.
Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere
in the sentence without causing confusion. (If the placement
of the modifier causes confusion, then it is not quot;freequot; and
must remain quot;boundquot; to the word it modifies.)
• Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates
(except the month and day), addresses (except the street
number and name), and titles in names.
• Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a
quotation.
• Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion
or misreading.

Sexy Rule # 12
No for poor writing; An occasional
semicolon, however, is acceptable!
A semicolon is an Independent clause=
The sentence can stand alone !!!
Example:

This could be a complete sentence; this could be
another one.


Sexy Rule # 13
Elements of formal writing: Nouns,
adjectives, and correct use of the colon.
A colon is a dependent clause=
The sentence cannot stand alone !!!
Example:

Applications should be submitted to this address: Post
Office Box 322, Hartwell, FL 98204.


Essential Websites for every college writer

150 Resources to help you write better:
http://oedb.org/library/features/150-writing-resources
30+ Tools for the amateur writer: http://mashable.com/2007/10/25/30-
tools-amateur-writer/
50 things you can do to improve your writing:
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/07/50-tools-that-can-improve-your-
writing.html
A guide to writing well :
http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2007/01/08/a-guide-to-writing-
well/
57 tips for writing your term paper:
http://www.degreetutor.com/library/online-assignments/termpaper-writing
How to use English punctuation correctly: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-
English-Punctuation-Correctly
Grammar Girl Blog: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
Ideas on how to write better: http://www.digital-
web.com/news/2007/02/top_five_articles_for_presenters/
How to write a good research paper:
http://research.microsoft.com/~simonpj/Papers/giving-a-talk/giving-a-
talk.htm brentdaigle.lsu@gmail.com

THE

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13 Grammar Rules

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