Introduction 1(4)
About This Book
1(1)
Foolish Assumptions
2(1)
Icons Used in This Book
2(1)
Where to Go from Here
3(2)
Chapter 1 Grappling with Grammar
5(12)
Grasping Grammar: Good and Proper
6(1)
Using Aussie English
7(1)
Having a Quick Squiz at Aussie Words
8(2)
Choosing Levels of English
10(2)
Impressing with formal English
10(1)
Chatting in informal English
11(1)
Labelling Words
12(5)
Nouns
12(1)
Pronouns
12(1)
Verbs
13(1)
Adjectives
13(1)
Adverbs
14(1)
Verbals
14(1)
Determiners
14(1)
Prepositions
15(1)
Conjunctions
15(2)
Chapter 2 Controlling Verbs
17(14)
Verifying Verbs
17(5)
Happening with action verbs
18(1)
Being with linking verbs
18(2)
Helping out in verb groups
20(1)
Finding the whole verb
21(1)
Simplifying Subjects
22(2)
Locating the subject
22(1)
Baring the complete subject
22(1)
Uncovering a hidden subject
23(1)
Commanding an implied subject
23(1)
Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
24(4)
Separating singles from plurals
24(1)
Adjusting verbs to match subjects
25(2)
Matching two subjects
27(1)
Looking like Verbs: Verbals
28(3)
Participating with participles
28(1)
Naming gerunds
28(2)
Defining infinitives
30(1)
Chapter 3 Completing Sentences
31(14)
Having Subject-Verb Pairs
31(1)
Expressing Complete Thoughts
32(1)
Creating Completeness with Clauses
33(3)
Understanding clauses
33(1)
Telling main from dependent clauses
34(2)
Considering Fragments
36(2)
Fragmented subject-verb pair
36(1)
Fragmented ideas
37(1)
Contemplating Complements
38(5)
Receiving direct objects
39(1)
Baring complete objects
40(1)
Identifying the direct object or complement
41(1)
Recognising indirect objects
42(1)
Completing Linking Verbs
43(1)
Complementing the Object
44(1)
Chapter 4 Peaking with Pronouns
45(10)
Matching Pronouns with Nouns
46(1)
Avoiding Vague Pronoun Use
46(1)
Choosing Singular and Plural Pronouns
47(1)
Pairing Pronouns with Collective Nouns
48(1)
Selecting Pronouns as Subjects
49(2)
Matching more than one subject
50(1)
Selecting pronouns as objects
51(1)
Knowing Who or Whom
51(1)
Comparing with Pronouns
52(1)
Owning Possessive Pronouns
52(1)
Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns
53(2)
Chapter 5 Modifying with Descriptions
55(12)
Adding Meaning with Adjectives
55(1)
Describing with Adjectives
56(4)
Locating adjectives
57(1)
Adding adjectives to nouns
57(2)
Adding adjectives to pronouns
59(1)
Using adjectives with linking verbs
59(1)
Describing with Adverbs
60(3)
Finding adverbs
60(1)
Using adverbs to describe other describing words
61(1)
Using adverbs to modify a complete statement
62(1)
Misplacing Descriptions
63(1)
Dangling a Description in Space
64(2)
Squinting Descriptions
66(1)
Chapter 6 Punctuating for Meaning
67(20)
Conquering Commas
67(7)
Using commas in lists
68(2)
Addressing people directly
70(1)
Noting introductory and concluding words
71(1)
Adding extra detail with pairs of commas
72(1)
Connecting commas with conjunctions
73(1)
Airing All about Apostrophes
74(5)
Using apostrophes in contractions
74(1)
Owning apostrophes of possession
75(4)
Simplifying Semicolons
79(1)
Hinging complete thoughts
79(1)
Joining with conjuncts
79(1)
Separating in lists
80(1)
Clarifying Colons
80(2)
Setting up long lists
81(1)
Setting up extracts
81(1)
Expanding on an idea
81(1)
Dealing with Dashes
82(2)
Using the humble hyphen with words
82(1)
Using the humble hyphen with numbers
83(1)
Embracing Em and En Dashes
84(3)
Chapter 7 Choosing Capital Letters and Numerals
87(8)
Covering the Basics of Capitalisation
87(6)
Speaking officially
88(1)
Addressing family
88(1)
Capitalising directions
89(1)
Understanding geographical capital letters
89(1)
Talking about history
90(1)
Referring to times and times of year
91(1)
Looking at titles
91(2)
Deciding When to Use Numerals
93(2)
Chapter 8 Avoiding Tricky Situations
95(20)
Eliminating Sexist Pronouns
96(1)
Choosing Between Adjectives and Adverbs
97(2)
Choosing between good and well
98(1)
Choosing between real and really
98(1)
Being Clear with Even, Almost and Only
99(2)
Understanding the Connection Between Which, That and the Comma
101(1)
Creating Clear Comparisons
102(3)
Controlling regular comparisons
102(2)
Mastering irregular comparisons
104(1)
Eradicating illogical comparisons
104(1)
Storytelling in Past or Present Tense
105(4)
Choosing past or present tense
105(1)
Mixing tenses
106(1)
Choosing between done and did
107(1)
Using lie, lay, laid, lain
108(1)
Matching Up Two-Part Conjunctions
109(1)
Ending the Problem with I or Me
110(2)
Editing Out Empty Subjects: Its, Here and There
112(1)
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition
113(2)
Chapter 9 Reporting Speech and Quoting Others
115(18)
Quoting Someone Else
115(1)
Punctuating Block Quotations
116(2)
Joining the Dots with Ellipses
118(1)
Putting Brackets within Quotations
119(2)
Recording Titles
121(1)
Writing Conversation: Quotation Marks
122(10)
Indicating indirect speech
122(1)
Dealing with direct speech
123(6)
Showing a change of speaker
129(2)
Writing someone's thought
131(1)
Creating Scare Quotes: Aerial Quotation Marks
132(1)
Chapter 10 Writing with Style
133(18)
Building Better Sentences
133(6)
Pairing equal ideas: Coordination
133(2)
Demoting lesser ideas: Subordination
135(2)
Creating logic with coordination and subordination
137(1)
Varying sentence patterns
138(1)
Finding the Right Voice: Active and Passive
139(4)
Creating Writing That Flows: Cohesion
143(3)
Putting ideas in order: Sequencing
144(1)
Connecting ideas with transition words
145(1)
Being Absolutely Clear: Plain English
146(5)
Avoiding word-wasting
147(1)
Selecting the best words
148(1)
Staying positive
149(2)
Chapter 11 Creating More Accurate Documents
151(16)
Summarising with Bullet Point Lists
151(2)
Handling Addresses and Dates
153(2)
Adding addresses
154(1)
Dealing with the date
154(1)
Filling in the Rules for Abbreviations
155(2)
Stretching out acronyms
156(1)
Clearing up initialisms
157(1)
Ensuring Effective Emails
157(3)
Establishing who, why and what
158(1)
Averting potential disaster
159(1)
Focussing on Visual Presentations
160(2)
Presenting Perfect Bibliographies
162(5)
Understanding author-date system versus documentary-note system
162(1)
Defining a reference list
163(4)
Chapter 12 Ten Solutions to the Most Common Grammar Errors
167(6)
Adding Apostrophes (Or Not)
167(1)
Reaching Agreement
168(1)
Staying in the Right Tense
169(1)
Splicing Sentences with a Comma
169(1)
Running Sentences On
170(1)
Fragmenting Sentences
170(1)
Misplacing Modifiers
170(1)
Knowing When to Use Subject and Object Pronouns
171(1)
Selecting Prepositions
171(1)
Confusing `Of with `Have'
172(1)
Index 173