Grammar & Punctuation – capital letters – English editing.
Capital letters are used for the following purposes:  For the first letter of a sentence: Expenditure rises to meet income.  For the first letters of the names of…
Grammar & Punctuation – can/may – English editing.
Traditionally can is used to show:  Ability: An English person who can speak even one other language fluently is rare.  Possibility: Relapse can occur at any time. May…
Grammar & Punctuation – can – English editing.
A MODAL AUXILIARY VERB. It has two meanings:  That someone or something has the ability to do something: Those who can swim, swim.  That something is possible: I…
Grammar & Punctuation – but – English editing.
A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION used to link together:  Two ADJECTIVES: Tired but happy.  Two PHRASES: Nice to look at but difficult to describe.  Two CLAUSES: You begin by…
Grammar & Punctuation – before – English editing.
A word with two main uses:  SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION. It introduces CLAUSES OF TIME. For example: He wanted to see her before it was too late.  PREPOSITION: I hardly…
Grammar & Punctuation – base – English editing.
The word or part of a word to which PREFIXES and SUFFIXES are attached to form new words. In the words that follow, the base is printed in bold type.…
Grammar & Punctuation – as – English editing.
A word that can be used in three main ways: Subordinating conjunction: It can introduce a number of different types of ADVERBIAL CLAUSE:  Time: As the train drew into…
Grammar & Punctuation – article – English editing.
A term used in traditional grammar. It consists of these words: a, an indefinite article the definite article Article form part of a larger group of words known as DETERMINERS.…