Grammar and Sentence Structure Notes

Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun:
- Example: a one-way street, chocolate-covered peanuts, well-known author
However, when compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated:
- Example: The peanuts were chocolate covered. The author was well known.
Use a hyphen with spelled out fractions and compound numbers.
Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-; with the suffix -elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and with figures or letters.
Hyphens are often used to tell the ages of people and things. Only use if age isnt plural. Ex. The child is two years old
Never hesitate to add a hyphen if it solves a possible problem.
- Confusing: Springfield has little town charm.
- With hyphen: Springfield has little-town charm.

A sentence containing two or more clauses not connected by the correct conjunction or punctuation is a run-on sentence.
- Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.
Correcting run-on sentences:
1. Use a period to separate the clauses into two sentences.
2. Use a semicolon to join the clauses.
3. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
4. Use a subordinating conjunction (because, although, unless).
Sentence fragment: a string of words that does not form a complete sentence; a necessary component of a complete sentence is missing.
- Example of a fragment: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs

Subject pronouns: I, You, he, it, she, we, they, who
Object pronouns: Me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom
Possessive pronouns: my(mine), your(yours), his, her(hers), it(its), our(ours), their(theirs), whose