Calling all Demigods! discussion

I've noticed that some of you don't punctuate simply because you don't know how.

Here's a useful website you can use to check your punctuation.

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-in...

Spelling/Grammar Help

it's= it is
its= belonging to it
you're welcome- not 'your' welcome
there= location
they're= they are
their= belonging to them

Will add more, can't think of them all!

Just to add on:

it's VS. its
it's = it is
ie: It's very hot outside.

its = belonging to it
ie: The coat clung to its owner.

you're VS your
You're = you are.
ie: You're very pale.

Your = belonging to you.
ie: Your tie is crooked.

They're VS their VS there
They're = they are.
ie: They're very nice.

Their = belonging to them.
ie: Their dog barks obnoxiously.

There = location
ie: I'd much rather go there, rather than the beach.

Yours not your's
Your's isn't a word.
Yours = belonging to you.
ie: I'm yours (:D).

Then VS than
Then = time
ie: She went down the street corner then made left turn.

Than = comparison
ie: I like chocolate more than anything else.

Two VS too VS to
Two = number
ie: I have two cats.

Too = also
ie: I play an instrument, too.

To = preposition
ie: I gave the books to him.

Good VS well
No one really gets these right. Myself included.
Good = adjective
ie: She is a good swimmer

Well = adverb
ie: I think I did well on the test.

Character notes: considering A LOT OF PEOPLE don't know the difference, just say what you would normally say. "Oh, I think I did good on the test" is something you would say, right? Even though it's not technically correct.


But VS. Butt
But = however, thought, etc.
ie: "I'd love to, but I've got other plans tonight."

Butt = ... You're butt.
ie: "Ow, my butt hurts from barre yesterday."

Conscious vs. Conscience
Conscious: the state of one's awareness
ie: Edwin regained consciousness after ten months.

Conscience: That little voice in the back of your mind that tells you what right or wrong.
ie: A guilty conscience caused her to want to apologize to him for stealing his cookie.

Affect VS. Effect
it's so hard. I don't blame you if you screw this up. I won't confuse you with the whole part of speech thing.
Here's how Hank Green remembers it:
The Greenhouse Effect affects the climate.
So effect is when you're bringing about an effect by a cause. Also, it's used in science for a hypothesis, theory, etc: The Greenhouse Effect.
An affect is when you have an influence on something. Also, it's used in medical terms: The fever affects her hearing. Rheumatic fever can affect the heart.

I'm sorry if that's confusing, it just is.

It's okay.

More than one object: The puppies' plaything.
The kittens' bed. The ' goes after the "s"
One object: The puppy's plaything.
The kitten's bed. The ' goes before the "s".

" 's " is NOT, under ANY circumstances, to be used for making an object plural.

ie: "Can I have a couple bunches of bananas?"
"Can I have a couple bunch's of banana's?"

Dialogue help:

"Test," she said.

"Test." She walked away.

"Test!" she exclaimed.

"Test?" she asked.

"Test."

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Here's a wonderful guide to utilize; it is called the Common Errors in English Usage. I use it often!

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/err...

A very annoying think that has been bugging me for quite a while.
It is OK or okay.
NOT ok. or Ok.
If you have any sort of spell check on, it will tell you that those two are incorrectly spelled.
The abbreviation is as follows:
'kay.
With the apostrophe.

ellipsis
Or more commonly known as "...".
Uses:
Quoting: "I supposed my last name was Milgrom now ... I kept Misha" (Spinelli 104). Used to show where text should be, but is taken out because it isn't of relevance to the report/essay/etc.

Trailing off:
In dialogue: "I wasn't sure..." she trailed off, not knowing how to continue.
PLEASE, You're paragraph about what ever it might be about shouldn't over use ellipsis. They're very annoying if they're over used...
Like that. You're expecting it to be finished, but the thought is never continued.

Also, don't go ".................." because that's even more annoying.

Appostrophes VS Quotations:
' = used to show belonging, quoting while quoting.
ie: It was Jessica's, not yours.
ie: "He said to me, 'go away,'" she explained.

Quotatios:
" = diologue, quoting.
ie: "BLAHHH," she said.

Quoting:
"may i feel said he/ (i'll squeal sad she/ just once said he)/ it's fun said she" (Cummings 46).

comma use
It's a little hard to explain where commas are used.
Conjunctions:
I walked to the store, and bought an apple.
I wanted to go to the mall, but I couldn't.

Separating participles/participle phrases (unlined):
Sighing, she walked away.
The boy, looking around, walked around campus.

Separating absolutes (underlined):
Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the driver peered once more at the specimen.

Separating adjectives out of order (underlined):
My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was uncomfortable this morning at work.

Separating appositives (in bold):
The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh spray into the creek.

Listing:
I bought: a carton of milk, eggs, and fruit.
I ran towards the big, red farm house.

PLEASE NOTE: commas are NOT used to connect two independent clauses (ie: She smiled at him, she walked towards school). That's what a semicolon or period is for (She smiled at him; she walked towards school OR She smiled at him. She walked towards school).

ALSO: There is a space after any punctuation mark. If not, it is considered incorrect. Trust me,it's not helpful to read something like this.It's very annoying,and hard to read.

semicolons
Semicolons are used to connect two, relating independent clauses.
I waved hello; however, I said nothing.