How To Write Correctly By Meg Bostick

In order to write correctly, many things must be taken into consideration including aspects such as grammar, punctuation, style, and choice of words.

Grammar is important in writing correctly because it is the relation of words, which form a sentence. There are four divisions of grammar:

Ø Orthography- The formation of letters to words.
Ø Etymology- How a word came to be; its derivation.
Ø Syntax- The arrangement of words in sentences.
Ø Prosody- The way of speaking and reading a sentence.

Important parts of grammar are:
§ Letters
§ Syllables and words
§ Parts of speech:
Article Verb Mood Preposition
Adjective Noun Conjugation Interjection
Conjunction Pronoun Adverb

Without grammar, we would not be able to write!

Punctuation is used to mark connections between words and phrases within a sentence. There are different reasons for each punctuation mark including:

Ø Comma- Used for slight separation between words and phrases.
Ø Semicolon- Separates parts of a compound sentence.
Ø Period- Completes a sentence.
Ø Question mark- Used at the end of an interrogative sentence.
Ø Dash- Used to break a run on passage.
Ø Parenthesis- Separates expressions in a sentence, and is very seldom used.
Ø Quotation marks- Used when borrowing phrases, words, etc.
Ø Apostrophe- Omits letters in a word(s).

Style is the writer’s thoughts and ideas portrayed in his/her writing. Parts of style include:

Ø Diction- Choice of words.
Ø Purity- Words used at the present time.
Ø Propriety- Proper use of words.
Ø Simplicity- The use of simple words that are easy to understand. (Quite simple! =) )
Ø Unity- Part of style which keeps all parts connected.
Ø Harmony- Gives fluency to a sentence, and makes everything flow


· Choice of words is important in a writer’s piece, because it brings the publication together and determines whether or not the piece of writing flows. Using the correct choice of words also makes for writing that the reader will understand and therefore enjoy reading.


When correctly using these four aspects in writing, a writer can ensure that they are effectively writing. However, it is important to take into consideration all the rules that come along with each aspect, especially punctuation!