This is one of the sessions I deliver on the postgraduate module on academic writing at Maynooth University

1. Academic
Writing:
Grammar &
Punctuation
Helen Fallon, Deputy
Librarian, Maynooth
University,
helen.b.fallon@nuim.ie

2. Grammar & Punctuation
• What are your Challenges?
• What do you want to take
away with you today?
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

3. Voice
Active Voice
– Subject + verb + object or just subject + verb
– The Supervisor approved the project
proposal
Passive Voice
– Object + verb + subject or object + verb e.g.
mistakes were made
– The project was approved by the supervisor
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

4. Passive Verb
Passive verb is a form of the verb
“to be” and the past participle of
the main verb. The main verb
must be a transitive verb (take an
object)
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

5. Passive to Active
– A recommendation was made by the
Students’ Union that a survey be carried out
– The Students’ Union recommended that a
survey be carried out
– The student’s jumper was found by the
lecturer
– The lecturer found the student’s jumper
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

6. Discipline Style and Voice
You must follow the style of your discipline
in relation to voice in your thesis. Some
disciplines – particularly the sciences -
predominantly use the passive voice
Follow the style guidelines given by the
journal, when writing a journal article
Helen Fallon, Deputy university Librarian

7. Tense
• Forceful writing results from writing
concisely, actively and positively. The
present tense is usually more active and
therefore more forceful than the past
tense.” (Henson, K. Writing for Publication: Road to
Academic Advancement, 2005, Boston: Pearson, p. 48)
• Discipline style and tense
• Different tenses
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

8. American Psychological Association (APA)
APA suggest using past tense to describe results
and action or a condition that occurred at a
specific, definite time in the past;the present
tense to discuss implications of results, to
present conclusions and to express a past
action or condition that did not occur at a
specific, definite time or to describe an action
beginning in the past and continuing to the
present
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

9. Sentences
Unity of thought
subject + verb + object
Keep sentences short
Position the subject and main verb (predicate)
close together at the start of the sentence
One main clause (a group of words containing a
subject, verb and object)
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

10. Comma
A Comma (,) is the punctuation mark used
for indicating a division in a sentence; it is
also used to separate items in a list
(except the penultimate one)
She ordered three books, a journal, a thesis and an article
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

11. Comma
• Where you have inserted a clause to provide
extra information
– She liked the University, where she had worked for
some time, but left to take up a post in a different
town
• Introductory phrases
– However, increased hours of opening meant a decline
in borrowing.
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

12. Noun and Pronoun
• Noun - The name of a person place or thing
• Pronouns - used in place of a noun that has already been
mentioned or that is already known, often to avoid
repeating the noun. For example:
– Michael needed a book so he went to the library
– The lecturer took the class notes with him
– Kieran’s car was close to mine
– That is a good idea
– Anything might happen
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

13. Colon
A colon is the punctuation mark ( : ) used in sentences to
introduce a quotation, an explanation, a list, an
example or a series.
This was first said by Shakespeare: “To thine own self be
true.”
The Library policy states: “Journals may not be borrowed by
undergraduates.”
These are my favourite datatabases: Academic Search
Premier, JSTOR and Lexis
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

14. Semicolon
A semicolon (;) separates two closely related or similarly
independent clauses
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times
She knew a lot about the University; she had studied there
for twenty years
Those drinking more than six cups of coffee a day were at
40 percent lower risk for diabetes than nondrinkers; the
figure for those who drank less than a cup per day was
just 4 percent. [New York Times]
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

15. Semicolon
• The semicolon is also used to separate
items in lists that have internal
punctuation
– The number of books issued has reduced
dramatically: in 2008 25,000 books were borrowed;
in 2009, 19,000; by 2010, when the new library was
built, only 15,000 items were issued
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

16. Verbs
• Think about the verbs you use
– addresses, asks, argues, concludes, covers, critiques,
demonstrates, describes, discusses, elucidates, examines,
evaluates, expands, explains, explores, identifies, maps,
outlines, presents, proposes, promotes, reports, reveals,
reviews, shows, suggests, summarises.
• Use verbs rather than their noun equivalent
– The author makes the suggestion that...
– The author suggests that...
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

17. Adverb
• Describes or modifies a verb
• Expresses manner or quality
– Very
– Easily
– Terribly
– Slowly
– Quickly
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

18. Adjective
• Describes or modifies a noun
long/new/old/difficult/late/terrible
• Compound adjective
When you join two or more words to describe
an object e.g. An up-to-date collection
(hyphenate because up-to-date is an adjective)
The collection is up to date
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

19. Apostrophe
• Use for a missing letter in a word
– The Library isn’t open today
– Where’s the journal kept?
• Use to denote possessive
– The student’s books
– The Students’ Union (meaning more than one student)
You don’t need to add the possessive “s”
when the name ends in “s” – unless it is common usage: Mary
Jones’ book/St. James’s hospital
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

20. Apostrophe
• Use for time phrases when the time modifies a noun
– The Library will open in one day’s time
– Six months’ ban on borrowing
• Don’t use apostrophe for possessive pronouns or for
dates
– The book isn’t hers; 1970s
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

21. Prepositions
• shows a relationship between a noun (or
pronoun) and other words in a sentence –
to/on/over/up/through/among/between/with/for/in/
over/besides
• Omit needless prepositions
“that” and “on” are often superfluous
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

22. Commonly Confused Words
• Affect and effect
• Affect = Verb; effect = noun
Will the financial cuts affect service?
What was the effect of the financial cuts on
service?
• Practice (noun) practise (verb)
• Precede (go before), proceed (continue)
• Stationary (adjective – still), Stationery (noun)
• Dependent (adjective) She is dependent..., dependant
(noun)
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

23. Singular versus plural
• Probably the most common grammatical error
• A singular subject (she, the student, the car)
takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a
plural subject takes a plural verb.
• Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will
choose is for the verb.
Neither Helen or Alison is available
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

24. Singular
• Two singular subject connected by or, either/or,
or neither/nor require a singular verb.
• Neither Helen or Alison is available
• “of”
• Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour
and fragrance to the room.
• Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . .
(bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

25. Plural Verb
• Use when the subject is plural
Example: The students are attending the
workshop
• As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or
more subjects when they are connected by and.
• Example: A car and a bike are my means of
transportation.
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

26. Collective Nouns – Singular or Plural
Group / staff / team / audience / collection / band
According to accepted grammar rules, collective
nouns should be treated as singular:
Example: The group is attending the workshop
Sometimes the plural seems more natural; In most
cases, it’s fine to follow common usage
“Data” is plural – the data are analysed using…
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian

27. Sentence Check
• To check that a sentence is clear, correct and
unambiguous:
• Identify each verb (action word)
• Identify the subject (the person or thing ‘doing’
the action)
•Check the subject and verb agree (singular vs.
plural) and will that each one will make sense to
readers
Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian