Prepositional Phrases Exercises
Option 1
Option 2

Parallel Structure Lesson

Be a Good Writer

Write short sentences and paragraphs; use active verbs; and write with authenticity, compression, clarity and immediacy (Hemingway).

Use Good Mechanics

Revise for Clarity. Look for:

Words out of order
Extra words
Incomplete sentences
Run-ons or redundant statements of 
Does not make sense

Connect with FANBOYS

Connect with FANBOYS
For. And. Nor. But. Or. Yet. So
Usage
An em-dash is used like a comma or parenthesis to separate phrases. For example:
  • I sense something--a presence I've not felt since that day—it was pulling me.
An en-dash is used to connect values in a range or that are related. For example:
  • In years 1969–1984
  • Pages 31–32 of the book
  • The Mavericks beat the Thunder 98–95
A hyphen is used with compound words or a hyphenated name. For example:
  • Cruelty-free eggs
  • Flip-flop wearing teacher
  • Olivia Newton-John

An ellipsis is a series of three "dots" that are used when there is an omission of a word or series of words that trails off. If there are four "dots," this means the sentence ends:
  • Ellipsis: Handbags and shoes and perfumes and clothes--you said okay, no problem...
  • Ellipsis with complete sentence: In later weeks, though, you wanted to write home because you had stories to tell...it wasn't just to your parents you wanted to write.

Remember CPOP

Commas Periods & Other Punctuation

Edit for Conventions

Capitalization
Usage
Punctuation
Spelling 

Show, Don't Tell

Don't tell me: There was fruit in the bowl.
Show me: There was mango, papaya and a banana in the large, round, wooden bowl that was aged by twenty-plus years of use.

Don't tell me: The dog ran across the street toward the bank robber.
Show me: Snarling, growling and salivating, the large dog charged across the busy expressway toward the bank robber.

Combine Sentences

Instead of: I was hungry. I ate some cereal.
Combine: I was hungry, so I ate some cereal.
                      
Instead of: My mother drove a convertible sports car. She did not trust me to drive.
Combine: My mother drove a convertible sports car, but she did not trust me to drive.