There are many common grammar questions that students have when they're learning how to write. It can be quite confusing, trying to remember all those rules about punctuation and sentence structure. Here are the answers to some common grammar questions you may have.
When should I use quotation marks?
Quotation marks are used to show that a person is speaking, or to show that a phrase or sentence is a direct quotation. For example:
Commas and periods always go inside of quotation marks. Exclamation points and question marks always go inside quotation marks when they're part of the quote.
Quotation marks are also used when writing titles of things such as poems, songs, articles and short stories. For example:
In rare cases, you might put a question mark or an exclamation point outside of the quotation marks, if you're quoting a title. For example:
When should I use apostrophes?
Apostrophes are used before the letter s to show possession. For example:
In the case of a plural noun already ending in s, the apostrophe is used without an additional s. For example:
Apostrophes are also used in contractions, such as can't, don't and isn't to replace the letters omitted to form the contraction.
Apostrophes are not to be used in place of quotation marks, except to show a quotation within a quotation. For example:
Is it really wrong to end a sentence in a preposition?
Conventional writing wisdom has always stated that we should never end a sentence in a preposition. Most of us learn this is school; however, there is no such hard and fast rule. It is a perfectly acceptable practice, and in many cases it's preferable when you want to avoid awkward sentence structure.
What's the difference between "that" and "which"?
Many writers struggle with whether to use the word "that" or "which" in their sentences. "That" is used for restrictive clauses, those that are essential to the sentence's meaning. "Which" is used for non-restrictive causes, to simply give more information about the subject. For example:
These are just some of the grammar basics essential to good writing. While it does seem there are lots of rules to remember, the more you write, the easier it gets.
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