- Place a comma following the final coordinating conjunction (fanboys: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) in lists of items, objects, or phrases.
- After an introductory clause or phrase, place a comma.
- When writing -ing words, you should be sure to have a subject actually doing the action. Otherwise, you will have a dangling modifier.
- Two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction should have a comma before the coordinating conjunction. "I like Rush, but he likes Zeppelin (he's wrong)." However, a single independent clause containing a coordinating conjunction should not have a comma placed before it. "I like Cake and Pink Floyd."
- Singular subjects are neither "he" nor "she" nor "players." They are always "he or she" or "the player." Using "she" instead of "he" to sound politically correct is equally as wrong as using only "he." Because "he or she" is awkward and clunky, I would highly recommend staying in the plural. Use words like "they" and"players."
- The most recent revision of the MLA format dictates that all titles of movies, books, plays, articles, etc. should be italicized. Games are no different.
- You do not "only play video games, you "play only video games." Misplaced modifiers are commonplace in oral dialogue; try to avoid them in your writing.
- Contrary to fact statements should include not "was," but "were." "If I were a rich man (were, because you're not)."
- Keep your "me's" and your "I's" proper. This is incorrect: "He is better than me." What this says is: "He is better than [he is] me." The correct way to say it is: "He is better than I," which is to say, "He is better than I [am]."
- Farther means physical distance. Further means conceptual distance.
True Story: The final bonus question for my Modern English Grammar mid-term asked me to "properly use the word 'though' in the middle of a sentence." Though I got the question right (the answer had to do with comma placement), I also happened to use the word "grammer" in my sentence. When I got the exam back, a note from my professor read: "no points awarded for the misspelling of the word "grammar."
For more tips, read this article.
(5)
