(cont’d)

Real example:

“A Joint Venture Agreement is used when partnering with another business or entity to engage in a specific project, normally for a short term.”

Correct: “A joint venture agreement is used .

. .”

Even better (since it omits the passive voice): “Businesses sometimes use joint ventures when they partner with another

business . . . .”

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13. Missing Punctuation

Punctuation marks convey meaning. Even if the reader can somehow deduce your

meaning without them, their absence will distract your reader. Their absence can leave your meaning unclear. As the example in the introduction illustrates, ambiguous drafting may frustrate the very purpose of a document.

Include all necessary punctuation marks. Proofread your work to make sure they are all there.

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(cont’d)

Real example:

“Also you would like to sell the list of members for 20,000 to GCPR Pty Ltd”

Correct: “In addition, you would like to sell the list of members for $20,000 to GCPR Pty Ltd.”

Note: we have changed the “also” to “in addition” simply because it “sounded” better when reading the sentence.

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14. Missing spaces

Use standard spacing between words and numbers. Squishing words and numbers close together looks sloppy and can make the text difficult to read.

FYI: If we mark up your assignment, the standard editing symbol indicating “insert space” is “#” – the number sign.

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14. Missing Spaces

(cont’d)

Real example:

“We refer to our interview at our office of 20October2008.”

Where are the spaces?!?!? Why are they missing?!?!?

Correct: “We refer to our interview at our office of 20 October 2008.”

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14. Missing Spaces

(cont’d)

Real example (that is all too common):

“. . . pursuant to s231(a), and thus under s234(a) may apply for orders pursuant to s233.”

Correct: “. . . pursuant to s 231(a), and thus under s 234(a) may apply for orders pursuant to s 233.” [space between s and number]

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15. Write Complete

Sentences

Complete sentences comprise, at a minimum, a subject and a predicate, containing a verb and possibly additional information as well.

Correct: “We slept.”, although short, is a complete sentence.

Not correct: “We, along with many of our friends and several of their relatives who were visiting from out of town.” This example is not a sentence, despite its length, because it lacks a verb.

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15. Complete Sentences

(cont’d)

Sentences that do not contain a both a subject and a verb are called fragments. Fragments are generally a sign of poor writing, and we will point them out when we find them in your work!

Note: Skilled writers sometimes purposely use fragments for effect. You, however, should avoid fragments, at least until you are a skilled enough writer to know what you are doing.

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This concludes the grammar portion of our seminar.