Time to Take Break

Wow! What an amazing feeling, visiting my favorite places, after a long time. I have so many thoughts in my mind. What all I am going to do in this short period. I am so excited to meet my relatives and friends.

After a hectic schedule, it is time to spend some quality time with my favorite people and refresh the old moments. Yes, it’s time to eat my mom’s special recipes and chatter with her all day and night. I don’t have time to relax. Why? How can I relax?  I have to meet everyone whom I am missing, since longtime. Expend my time with my kith and kin, and rejuvenate the time by revising good old days.

It is a long list from socializing to shopping, I will relish every second. Ofcourse, I will not carry any kind of burden in my mind to spoil this good time. This is an awesome feeling and want to hive this feeling for lifelong. This is making me more energetic and felicitous. 

Grammar Rules for Comma

We often get confused in placing comma in the sentence. In such situation, either we put so many comma, or we leave it. Instead of misusing comma, you can stick with the basic rules which are mentioned below to avoid the confusion.

Now, what is a comma and why it is needed? The answer is:
Comma is a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of sentence.
It indicates the pause which occurs while speaking. If a comma is omitted or misplaced, it can change the meaning of a sentence. 
Being a writer, I consider some basic rules to add comma in a right place. Those are:



Use comma with coordinate conjunction:

• Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect two independent clauses i.e (FANBOYS):
• for
• and
• nor
• but
• or
• yet
• so
• Comma is placed before coordinating conjunction between two independent clauses.
• We like to watch movies on the weekend, and we usually go for a walk in the park.
• Lily has quite less experience in writing, yet she is at senior designation in the company.

Note:

• Do not place comma before conjunction (and, but, or) if a sentence is formed of single subject  and two predicate unless the subject appears second time. 
• Do not place comma before conjunction (and) joining compound direct objects.

Use comma after introductory comment, word, clauses or phrase:

• Introductory clause/phrase comes before the main clause like-after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while
• To get first position in the class, you need to work hard in the exams.
• First, she should go for the blood tests.

Note: 

• Don't use comma after an independent clause when a dependent (subordinating) clause follows it.
• John came to know about his mistakes when he saw his test papers. (Correct)

Use comma when there is series of names, places, items etc:

• Mary, Lily and Ron are going to attend the party tonight.
• My favorite colors are red, lavender and blue.

Also, you can use comma-

1. To separate parenthetical expressions
• Expression that are not part of the main idea of the sentence (by the way, as a matter of fact, after all, well etc.)
• Elephant, as far as we know, is one of the most intelligent animal. 
2. In writing long numbers 
• John's current CTC is Rs. 4,00,000 p.a.
• If number is very long, then write it in words. For example- In 2010, ABC's turnover was US$ 5.5 billion. . 
3. When day and year come in a sentence 
• My date of birth is July 30, 1985. (Correct)
4. To separate city from state and state from the remaining sentence
• Cyrus lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra, since he got married. 

Rules for Using Period and Question Mark

Hey, I am here with some more rules which I always follow in writing documents. Without taking much time, I would highlight the rules. They are for using period/question mark:-

Use Period (.)

We all know, it is a punctuation mark. It is placed at the end of independent clause to mark its completeness. It also used after abbreviation.

• Use period at the end of independent clause: My name is Priyanka Singh. 
• Use period after an indirect question: John asked Mary where she was yesterday. 
• Use period with abbreviations: A.M. , P.M, Dr., i.e., e.g., Mr., Mrs., Ms.
• Do not use periods with abbreviation for organizations and associations: TCS  (Correct) conversely T.C.S (Incorrect)
• Do not use period for state abbreviations
• Texas (TX)- Correct
• Texas (TX.)- In correct

Use Question Mark (?)

It is a punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question. 

Yes, you all are right. It is very simple. Just use the question mark at the end of direct interrogative sentence, but not indirect question sentence. 

• Are you going to the office?
• Has she submitted her assignment? 
• How old are you? 

:) :)

Rule for Writing Numbers

In January 22 post, I have highlighted few points showing the differences between American and British writing. While working on a document, I was checking the rules for writing number. I got some useful information, which I would like to share with my writer friends. 

Although, you must be aware of these rules, but this will be helpful for some beginners.

Below are the rule for writing numbers-

1. Spell out the numbers 0-9 i.e. smaller than 10
2. Never start a sentence with a numeral. For e.g. - 
• Ten years ago, I was staying in hostel. (Correct)
• 10 years ago, I was staying in hostel. (Incorrect)
3. Spell out centuries and decades
4. Use digits for expressing percentage and recipe ingredient (measurement/quantity)
• She has achieved 84% in high school examination.
• Add 2 cup of water in the wok
5. Use numerals for expressing measurement or calculations
• 10 cm x 5 cm (Correct)
• Ten cm x Five cm (Incorrect)
6. Spell out ordinal numbers 
• First, Second, Third (Correct)
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd (Incorrect)
7. Make the sentence consistence when expressing numbers 
• John ranks second among eight students.  (Correct)
• John ranks second among 8 students. (Incorrect)
• Shopkeeper gave me 8 chocolates not 10. (Correct)
• Shopkeeper gave me eight chocolates not 10.  (Incorrect)
8. Spell out the numbers to express simple fraction and also use hyphen
• One-third of the land has been sold out.
9. Use numerals for mixed fraction
• Lolly got 9 1/2 marks in Mathematics.
• Note: If mixed fraction digit starts a sentence, it would be expressed in words.
• Nine and one-half marks is the highest in the maths class test.
10. Spell out the rounded numbers

Behind the smile

Being an aspirant helps to get over of the struggling thoughts;
Concurrently, need to borrow some more things from the daily life;
Put up a smile on the face and brighten up the surrounding with the lively conduct;
Will keep the displeasure away from the intellect.

As you go closer, you will find some despair;
Oh! That fake grin will not make it clear.
Disclosing the tormented thoughts makes the time hard;
With intense grief, rolling the eyeballs.

Amazed! Abruptly changing the mind and brightening the eyes;
Spread the lips up to the corners of the mouth;
Again there, with some sort of disguise.

The level of patience is so high,
Jeepers creepers! how could you find?

Difference between American English Writing and British English Writing

Grammar:

This topic includes the grammatical difference in British and American writing. We need to consider these grammar points while making document for the audience based in US or UK.

Use of Tense:

For an action started and finished at a specific time in the past-

British English	American English
Use Present perfect tense (have/has + past participle)	Simple past tense OR Present perfect tense
I have eaten my apple.	I ate my apple
I haven't see Jenny in the party.  Have you seen her?	I didn't see Jenny in the party. Did you see her?
Jenny has gone home.	Jenny went home.

In British/American English, people also use the words like- already, just and yet to talk about an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. For example:-

1.  Jenny has just gone home.
2.  I have already seen the movie.
3.   Jenny didn’t come yet.

Use of Verbs:

If you check the forms of verbs, you will find few differences between simple past and past participle forms in American and British English. Irregular forms of verbs are rarely used in American English whereas irregular and regular both the forms can be used in British English. Exceptional case in American English for irregular past forms of verbs are burnt, dreamt and spoilt.  

For example:

British English	American English
Infinite Simple Past Past Participle Get Got Got Bust Bust Bust Burn Burned/Burnt Burned/Burnt Learn Learned/Learnt Learned/Learnt Dream Dreamed/Dreamt Dreamed/Dreamt Saw Sawed Sawn Wake Woke Woken	Infinite Simple Past Past Participle Get Got Gotten Bust Busted Busted Burn Burned/Burnt Burned/Burnt Learn Learned/Learnt Learned/Learnt Dream Dreamed/Dreamt Dreamed/Dreamt Saw Sawed Sawn/Sawed Wake Woke/Waked Woken

Prepositions:

In both the writing, prepositions are used differently. One of my friends told me few tips to recognize the writing by checking the use of preposition. I would also like to share it with my writer friends. Here are few examples:

1.    For the word “Talk”- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “to” whereas in American writing they prefer using “with”. 
2.    For Time span- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “to” whereas in American writing they prefer using “through”.
3.  For time expressions (weekends) - In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “at” whereas in American writing they prefer using “on”.
4.   For universities or other institutions- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “at” whereas in American writing they prefer using “in”.

S. No.	British English	American English
1	I will talk to John	I will talk with John
2	January to December	January through December
3	We like to party at weekends.	We like to party on weekends.
4	I have done technical writing course at System Domain.	I have studied English Literature in Bangur University.

Note: In American English, avoid using preposition after few verbs. For example:-

1. US Writing: John claimed the insurance.
2. UK Writing: John claimed for his insurance.

My job involves writing. I always get confused while writing for UK/US based audience. I keep browsing on search engines to make my concept clearer. In these posts, I am making effort to put light on few differences between UK and US English writing.  

For more detail, my writer friends can view the link-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_and_British_English#Grammar

UK and US Writing

      The writers need to be vigilant about the region for which they are writing for. English is used all over the world. But, writers need to be aware of the variations between UK and US English in a document. British English is used in the United Kingdom while American English is used in the United States. In this article, I am trying to highlight few differences.

      
      Spelling:

      Major difference that writers can find in both the writing is SPELLING. There are so many words in English which are spelt differently in both the regions. 

•       Words that end with “our” in UK writing, end with “or” in US writing
•        Words that end with “re” in UK writing, end with “er” in US (In British English, only some of them ends with “er” like- September, October, November, December, enter, parameter, tender, chapter, powder, proper etc.)

British English (UK)	American English (US)
Colour	Color
Harbour	Harbor
Humour	Humor
Labour	Labor
Neighbour	Neighbor
Centre	Center
Fibre	Fiber
Goitre	Goiter
Metre	Meter
Theatre	Theater

    

•     In American writing, spellings like Organize, Realize, Recognize, Minimize end with “ize” whereas in British writing it can be written in both the ways by using “ise/ize” i.e. Organise/Organize, Recognise/Recognize.
•       There are many words in British writing that includes “ae” and “oe” are changed to “e” in    American writing. 

British English (UK)	American English (US)
Diarrhoea	Diarrhea
Foetus	Fetus
Anaemia	Anemia
Paediatric	Pediatric

•        Some other examples of spellings are-

o   “ogue” changes to “og”

o   “ll” changes to “l”

o   “ce” changes to “se”

o   “yse” changes to “yze”

British English (UK)	American English (US)
Dialogue	Dialog
Prologue	Prolog
Catalogue	Catalog
Fuelling	Fueling
Cancelled	Canceled
Jewellry	Jewelry
Woollen	Woolen
Defence	Defense
Offence	Offense
Analyse	Analyze
Paralyse	Paralyze

      These were some spelling differences. In the next topic, I would discuss some grammar differences in both the writing.