Grammar-O

Grammar-O Wednesdays
with Ocieanna

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. If you’re a regular visitor here, you know that Ocieanna, our good friend and fellow blog hostess, went into cardiac arrest early in January. She’s doing well, but needs further rest. In the meantime, Annette and I (Dawn) will carry on in Ocieanna’s place until she can return. Please continue praying for her. Thanks!

Ready to test your skills?

The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1) Have you ever choosen a large, beautiful orange, expecting it to be full of sweet juicy fruit? But, what you found beneath was dry and tasteless? What a disappointment after the taste buds were all primmed?

2) Books with beautiful covers intice me to open the pages and read them. But, its true. You can’t tell a book by it’s cover. A great illustration doesn’t insure great writing and story telling.

3) I own books which are between fifty and sixty-years old. Some covers’ are dull shades of red or green, but most are a shade brown. The covers aren't exciting, but, the stories they contain have taken me on wonderful adventures

4) We may see a house that’s falling apart in the exterior. The yard may be full of weeds and strewn pieces of junk. But for all we know the home could still be full with love.

5) What is it about us that we’re so quick to make judgments based on outward appearances. We’re humen. Terrible flaw, but it shouldn’t be used as an excuse. I’m sure glad God doesn’t focus on the same things we do.



Corrected sentences:

1) Have you ever chosen a large, beautiful orange, expecting it to be full of sweet, juicy fruit? But, what you found inside was dry and tasteless? What a disappointment after the taste buds were all primed.

2) Books with beautiful covers entice me to open the pages and read them. But, it’s true. You can’t tell a book by its cover. A great illustration can’t ensure great writing and storytelling.

3) I own books that are between fifty and sixty years old. Some covers are dull shades of red or green, but most are a shade of brown. The covers aren't exciting, but the stories they contain have taken me on wonderful adventures.

Note: There shouldn't be comma after the word "but" in the last sentence.
Note: Don’t forget the “period” after adventures.

4) We may see a house that’s falling apart on the exterior. The yard may be full of weeds and strewn pieces of junk. But for all we know, the home could still be full of love.

Note: Don’t forget the comma after “know.”
Note: The last sentence could also be written: But for all we know, the home could still be filled with love.

5) What is it about us that we’re so quick to make judgments based on outward appearances? We’re human. Terrible flaw, but it shouldn’t be used as an excuse. I’m sure glad God doesn’t focus on the same things we do.

Note: Don’t forget the question mark after “appearances.”
Note: We don’t need the word “not” in the last sentence.

How well did you do?

I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.