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I don't mean to be a grammar Nazi but here are some rules about grammar that we all easily forget when writing articles. You don't need to care about these if you're writing a comment, forum post, blog, etc. but if you're writing or adding something to an article, please remember these. It can help a lot.
Note: An independent clause is a single sentence or a complete thought. For example, "This is an independent clause." is an example of an independent clause. "Is an independent clause." is not because it is not a complete thought - those are dependent clauses.
It's and Its
- It's (with the apostrophe) is used as a contraction for "it is", so it always means "it is". I could say, "It's a mouse" because "It is a mouse" also makes sense.
- Its (without the apostrophe) is used when referring to possession. For example, I would say "That's its feather" because "That is it is feather" does not make sense.
- An easy way to remember the difference is remembering that the one with the apostrophe is always the one with a contraction, which always means "it is". If the words "it is" also make sense, then It's should be used. If it does not, then Its should be used.
Examples:
- It's not right.
- Maybe it's unreleased.
- She took its picture.
- He took away its rights.
Non-examples:
- Its supposed to go left.
- Its not time yet.
- You touched it's fur.
- A heart is on it's branch.
Parentheses
When using parentheses, there may be several ways people use them, but here is the most basic way:
- Always put a space between the first parentheses and the sentence before it.
- If there is punctuation at the end of the preceding sentence, the punctuation goes directly after the second parentheses.
- Make sure the sentence makes sense if the entire parenthetical statement is not there.
Examples:
- Zephyrim loves working on the Animal Jam Wiki as an admin (but they also enjoy doing many other things).
- I saw you walking around like it's a funeral (not to mention your feet are cold).
- If an admin sees an unneeded page, they will warn the creator (and maybe even block them).
- Sometimes I feel like I don't belong here (and I even consider leaving), but that might just be me.
Non-examples:
- LightningBluetooth helps lots of (people on this wiki) and stuff.
- We are(all under)the same sun.
- My sister was underage so (she got blocked) by an admin.
- My favorite den is the Friendship Cottage (it's so cool and huge and it) has lots of cool things.
Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences
A comma splice is when two independent clauses are joined together with a comma and nothing else. This type of sentence is grammatically incorrect, and so is a run-on sentence (when two independent clauses are joined together without any punctuation or conjunction). While they are different, they are very similar and may be difficult to catch.
Examples of comma splices:
- I hope Alvaro Soler's new album comes out soon, I'm really excited!
- All I want is to forget the past, I need a picture to remember.
- Yumms567 edits a lot, he must have a lot of spare time.
- Mooziq couldn't pick up another treasure chest, their inventory was full.
Examples of run-ons:
- I'm going to be late tonight be sure you make my edits for me.
- The Tiger's Roar made an RfR she didn't know if it would pass.
- That person can speak seven languages he must be really smart!
- I don't know how to write music I can't even play an instrument.
There are ways to fix them:
- Use a semicolon (I hope Alvaro Soler's new album comes out soon; I'm really excited!)
- Break it into two sentences (All I want is to forget the past. I need a picture to remember.)
- Use a conjunction (Yumms567 edits a lot, so he must have a lot of spare time.)
- Use a conjunction (Mooziq couldn't pick up another treasure chest because their inventory was full.)
How to Write Dates Correctly
When writing a date, you need to make sure you use commas correctly.
- Put a comma after the day.
- If another word follows the date, put a comma after the year.
- Although this can vary, the day is generally written as only the number (for example, it is generally "3", not "3rd").
- If you are only stating the month and year, you would say "in (Month) (Year)". There is not a comma between the month and the year and you cannot use "on" - you need to use "in" since you are unsure of/not saying the exact date. I'm not sure if you can use "during".
- ex. I graduated on (Month) (Day), (Year), and I celebrated with my friends.
Examples:
- Alvaro Soler was born on January 9, 1991.
- Michael Landon died on July 1, 1991, and he was remembered by his friends, family, and fans.
- It was first released during December 2012.
- He joined the wiki sometime in June 2016.
Non-examples:
- Laura Ingalls Wilder was born on February 7 1867.
- The RfR will end on February 10, 2018 and then we'll see if it passed.
- Alvaro Soler's new single will come out sometime in March, 2018.
- He liked my Instagram post on November, 18, 2017.
THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. If you are saying something such as "On the January 31, 2018 update, this happened", then a comma does not follow the year.
Commas
- "I like cooking my family and my pets."
- "I like cooking, my family, and my pets."
- "Let's eat grandma!"
- "Let's eat, grandma!"
Simply put, commas save lives and prevent you from sounding like a pshyco or idiot. Commas are used when:
- you list three or more things (ex. Alvaro Soler is amazing, handsome, and awesome.)
- you join a dependent clause with a independent clause and the dependent one comes first (ex. If this is released, it would cause chaos.) A comma is NOT used if the independent clause comes before the dependent one.
Conjunctions and Unnecessary Commas
When using conjuctions, there should be a comma, right? Not always. Sometimes, commas are grammatically incorrect. Look at the different types of conjunctions:
- Coordinating conjunctions: These (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) simply join two independent clauses and while they are not supposed to be preceeded by a comma, some people still use a comma in front of but, yet, so, and for.
It is not grammatically correct to start sentences with these. - Subordinating conjunctions: These (ex. because, although, than, that, though, as, as if, as long as, while, whenever, until, unless, now that, provided, even if, even though, how, if, after, etc.) are used to join a dependent clause and an independent clause (try thinking of it as "cause and effect" or subordinate causes) and are not preceeded by a comma.
You may be able to start sentences with these. Correlative conjuntions: These (ex. both...and, either...or, neither...nor, no sooner...than, whether...or, so...as, as much...as, etc.) are used like templates.
Examples:
- They were a vandal so they got blocked.
- Yumms567's RfR passed and he became an admin.
- I lost my rights even though I didn't do anything wrong.
- Unless new laws are passed, violence will continue to rage.
Non-examples:
- There was a storm, and it was big.
- Mooziq started more category discussions, although the community was going to die because of it.
- If this is so difficult how can it be done?
- Do you prefer chocolate, or vanilla?
Indefinite Articles a and an
You all know that the indefinite article is a (as in "a potato"). Since English was kind enough to not have grammatical noun gender, there's only one, right? No; there's two. They mean the same thing but are not interchangeable.
- a is used almost all the time when the word following the indefinite article begins with a consonant (any letter that is not a vowel). an ''cannot be used when this is the case.
- an is used when the word following the indefinite article begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u). a cannot be used when this is the case.
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE:
- If the word following the indefinite article is something like "hour" (where the word is pronounced with a starting vowel sound; the h is silent), an would be used instead.
- If the "word" following the indefinite article is a letter/abbreviation/etc. that is pronounced with a starting vowel sound (i.e. "RfR" is pronounced "ar-ef-ar", "FBI" is pronounced "ef-be-eye", "N" is pronounced "en"), an would be used instead.
Examples:
- Alvaro Soler is an amazing singer.
- I don't have a wife.
- This is an unreleased item.
- My name starts with an N.
Non-examples:
- He is not an normal person.
- I tried to create a RfR but it would not load.
- Last night, I ate an burrito.
- La Cintura is a awesome song.
Commonly Confused Words
Here is a list of words that are commonly confused with another and how to use each one correctly.
Less vs Fewer
- Less is used when the noun (that there is "less of") is uncountable, is uncountable, or when you cannot use "There are" when referring to the noun (you can say "There are items" but not "There are water", for example).
- Fewer is used when the noun (that there is "fewer of") can be counted or when you can use "There are" when referring to the noun.
- For example, you would say "There are fewer items", not "There are less items" because items can be counted. You would say "There is less water" not "There are fewer water" because water cannot be counted as in its own.
- "Countable" nouns - If the amount of the noun changes constantly or is impossible to put a definite set value of, "less" would be used instead. You wouldn't say "There are fewer kelp" because even if you are referring to a small definite group, the amount of kelp in a kelp forest is impossible to set a 100% exact number of - you can't "count" kelp.
Dialog vs Dialogue
- Dialog refers to a "window" or "tab" on a computer or device. For example, when you leave the Art Studio on Animal Jam, a message will come up asking if you want to save your work first. The tab/window that the message is displayed on is a dialog.
- Dialogue refers to the words spoken when people are talking. For example, during the adventures when the Alphas are talking to you or other Alphas/characters saying things like "yOu MuSt FiNd GrEeLy", the words they are saying is dialogue.
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(Will be updated soon)
If anyone needs more help, feel free to leave a reply here.