Guide to spelling, punctuation and grammar

P
RACTICE
(
ANSWERS ON PAGE
158–159)
1. The following passage consists of several sentences without full
stops and capital letters where appropriate. Rewrite it inserting full
stops and capital letters where required.
Smoking in public places is an emotive issue opponents of a ban
talk of infringements of civil liberties supporters of an outright ban
emphasise the health issues involved and the rights of workers
employed in the catering and bar trade the majority of the adult
population are now non-smokers this fact allows the government to
take what formerly could have been a hugely unpopular measure
2. The following passage uses several interjections. Insert commas
where you think they are appropriate.
Firstly there is no proof to back up this thesis. Supporters of the
theory however argue that the onus is on its opponents to disprove it.
On the contrary the opponents cry, the burden of proof is always on
those making the claims. Although the arguments for and against are
fairly strident nevertheless it is mainly good-humoured on all sides.
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RAMMAR AND ACCURACY

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3. The writer of the following passage has been struck with ‘comma-
itis’. Rewrite the passage deleting all unnecessary and incorrect uses
of commas.
Fashion models are often accused, of being stupid and vain. These
accusations are usually, without foundation. Models, in fact, have to
work hard for their money. It is true, that, many are vastly overpaid
for what they do. Nevertheless, they have become, targets for
unjustified criticism and sheer, envy.
4. The following passage has numerous incorrect uses of it’s and its.
Rewrite the passage using it’s and its appropriately.
Its a problem that can cause stress to it’s owner when a pet behaves
badly. Its not only an embarrassment, but its not fair on the animal.
It’s behaviour reflects its state of overall well-being and cannot help
but be a reflection on it’s owner’s handling of the animal.
5. The following passage has numerous examples of missing
apostrophes or apostrophes inserted inappropriately. Rewrite the
passage with these apostrophe errors corrected.
This is where our neighbours garden ends and our’s begins. Their’s
stretch back to those tree’s and ours to those bushe’s. Our gardeners
lawn mower broke down the other day, so we had to borrow my
friends mower. Look at those plants’. They’ve grown a lot in a year.
We cant claim the credit, we just don’t have green finger’s at all. 
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H
OW TO WRITE ESSAYS

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