Improve Your Writing

Table of Contents

1. Why improve your understanding of grammar and punctuation?
2. Punctuation Marks
3. Common Confusions
4. Using quoted material.
5. Other pitfalls and problems
6. Style
7. Exercises
   1. Using the Colon to Improve Style
   2. Using the colon.
   3. Using the semi-colon.
   4. Using the comma 1.
   5. Using the comma 2.
   6. The comma splice.
   7. Separating Clauses
   8. Exercise about conjunctions.
   9. Exercise using the hyphen.
   10. Contracted words
   11. Using the apostrophe 1.
   12. Using the apostrophe 2.
   13. Lists.
   14. Punctuation marks exercise.
   15. Dangling participles exercise.
   16. Who's or Whose?
   17. It's or Its?
   18. There or Their or They're?
   19. To or Too or Two?
   20. Who or Whom?
   21. I or me?
   22. Less or Fewer?
   23. Like of As?
   24. Split Infinitives.
   25. Verb/Subject Agreement.
   26. Using the subjunctive.
   27. Using Numbers.
   28. Punctuation of embedded quotations 1.
   29. Punctuation of embedded quotations. 2
   30. Correcting quotes.
   31. Confusable words 1.
   32. Confusable Words 2.
   33. Confusable words 3.
   34. Consistency of tense.
   35. Common Mistakes.
   36. Run-on Sentences Exercise.
   37. Pleonasm Exercise.
   38. Straying Off The Point Exercise.

Dangling participles exercise.

In this exercise you will be presented with a number of sentences, some of which contain dangling participles. Put a tick by the sentences that do contain dangling participles.

1	a) Stuck in the mud, Tim could see a man waving. b) Stuck in the mud, the man tried to free himself. c) Stuck in the mud, the man called for help. d) Stuck in the mud, the rescue services rushed to the man's assistance. Well done. Think about who is stuck in the mud.

2

a) Breathing his last, the man passed away. b) Breathing his last, we saw the man pass away. c) Breathing his last, the old man shut his eyes. d) Breathing his last, the man's dog jumped up and gave a howl. Well done. You don't seem to have any problem with dangling participles.Think about who is breathing his last.

3

a) Soaring high above the fields, the eagle is a majestic bird. b) Soaring high above the fields, we could see the eagle clearly. c) Soaring high above the fields, the eagle can spot its prey easily. d) Soaring high above the fields, we watched the eagles for hours. Great!!!Think about who/what is soaring high above the fields.

4

a) Rushing to catch the bus, the old man slipped and fell. b) Rushing to catch the bus, the old man's wallet fell out of his pocket. c) Rushing to catch the bus, the old man's face was covered in sweat. d) Rushing to catch the bus, the old man cursed his advancing years. No problems!!Think about who is running to catch the bus.

5

a) Having finished my homework, dad said I could go out. b) Having finished my homework, my sister wanted me to play football with her. c) Having finished my homework, I could relax and watch the television. d) Having finished my homework, mum was very pleased with me. Fantastic.Think about who finished the homework.

6

a) Sizzling on the barbecue, I waited to eat the sausages. b) Sizzling on the barbecue, the sausages looked delicious. c) Sizzling on the barbecue, we watched the sausages cooking. d) Sizzling on the barbecue, my uncle smelled the delicious sausages. Well done. Think about what (not who!!!) is sizzling on the barbecue.

7

a) Giving an important speech, the chairman made a number of grammatical errors. b) Giving an important speech, we couldn't help laughing at the chairman's grammatical errors. c) Giving an important speech, the building was full of the chairman's supporters. d) Giving an important speech, the chairman began to shake uncontrollably. Fantastic!!!Think about who is giving the speech.

8

a) Exploding in bright colours, the crowd loved the fireworks. b) Exploding in bright colours, the rockets looked beautiful. c) Exploding in bright colours, eveyone cheered as the fireworks went off. d) Exploding in bright colours, the fireworks lit up the night. Well done.Think about what (not who!!) is/are exploding in bright colours.

9	a) Fumbling over his words, we laughed at Tim's mistakes. b) Fumbling over his words, Tim looked riduculous. c) Fumbling over his words, Tim's supporters both looked shocked. d) Fumbling over his words, Tim's speech was a disaster. Well done. Have a think about who is fumbling over their words.

10

a) With every limb aching, the runner crossed the line. b) With every limb aching, he finished the race just ahead of his rival. c) With every limb aching, the crowd roared him towards the finish line. d) With every limb aching, the spectators cheered as he crossed the line. Great. You have really got the hang of dangling participles. Have a think about whose limbs are aching.

Read about dangling participles.

See a list of other grammar exercises.