In the wonderful realm of fiction writing, mastering grammar and punctuation is paramount to creating polished and professional prose. From the correct use of commas to the nuances of subject-verb agreement, understanding these fundamentals enhances clarity, coherence, and readability in your storytelling. In this post, we'll delve into 5 essential grammar and punctuation rules for writers, accompanied by examples from renowned literature to illustrate their application. Or so I think.
Subject-Verb Agreement:
One of the fundamental rules of grammar is ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. Consider this example from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby":
Incorrect: "Daisy and Tom was not at home."
Correct: "Daisy and Tom were not at home."
Was vs. Were. This one is pretty simple, so simple that one usually does it without thinking. Occasionally, it can be something we miss while pounding out a draft. Or if you did not pay attention in English class...yeah, that is me.
Proper Use of Commas:
Commas serve multiple purposes in writing, including separating items in a list, joining independent clauses, and setting off introductory elements. In J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," we find an example of a comma used to set off an introductory phrase:
Incorrect: "In New York City Holden Caulfield went to many different places."
Correct: "In New York City, Holden Caulfield went to many different places."
There are so many rules to comma usage, this is just one of them. I am still not sure that I am using them right all of the time. Another example could be:
"Did he kill Sarah?" vs. "Did he kill, Sarah?" Depending on the situation the speaker could be asking if he killed Sarah or if carried out the act of killing.
Avoiding Sentence Fragments:
Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences that lack either a subject, a verb, or both. They can disrupt the flow of your writing and confuse readers. In Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," we find an example of a sentence fragment used for stylistic effect:
Incorrect: "Atticus Finch. Lawyer. Father."
Correct: "Atticus Finch was a lawyer and a father."
This is only a correction if the author was not purposefully using a fragment this way. You will find that authors can and do get away with not following the strict rules of grammar.
Correct Usage of Apostrophes:
Apostrophes are commonly misused, particularly in forming possessives and contractions. In George Orwell's "1984," we encounter an example of a possessive apostrophe:
Incorrect: "Winston Smiths diary."
Correct: "Winston Smith's diary."
Apostrophes also appear in conjunctions such as didn't, rather than did'nt. Note that it is = it's, while the possessive would be "its".
Eliminating Dangling Modifiers:
Dangling modifiers occur when a descriptive phrase in a sentence does not clearly modify the intended subject. They can lead to confusion and ambiguity in your writing. In Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," we find an example of a dangling modifier:
Incorrect: "Riding through the forest, the trees were thick and dense."
Correct: "Riding through the forest, we encountered thick and dense trees."
I am not sure about this one...gall darn A.I. article...
By mastering grammar and punctuation rules and applying them effectively in your fiction writing, you can enhance the clarity, coherence, and impact of your prose. Drawing inspiration from classic literature, you can observe these rules in practice and strive to incorporate them into your own storytelling. With diligence and practice, you'll develop a keen eye for detail and elevate the quality of your writing to captivate and enchant your readers.
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