Grammar Girl & Math Dude Part II

Grammar Girl: She is back and ready to help us with our writing. Her focus was on rules of the English language, as well as how to read over a work you just created.

“Top 10 Language Myths”

This episode deals with the most common grammatical errors. The first myth is that run on sentences are really long sentences. This is false, because a run on can be short! A run-on is when two independent clauses are put together with no punctuation or conjunction. The second myth is that you should not start a sentence with the word “however.” You can start a sentence with this word as long as you put a comma after it! The third myth says that “irregardless” is a not a word, when it reality it is a real word, but one that should not be used. Myth seven says there is only one way to write a possessive form of a word that ends in “s.” Wrong again, it depends on the author’s style of writing. The next myth says that using the passive voice is always wrong. You should use the passive voice when you don’t name the person who has already done the action. This myth says that “i.e.” and “e.g” mean the same thing. “E.g” means “for example, and “i.e” means “in other words.” Myth four says you use “a” before words that start with consonants and “an” before words that start with vowels. This is wrong because you use an “a” before words that start with consonant sounds, and you use “an” when words start with vowel sounds. This was interesting to me, so here is a link where you can learn more about this! The next myth deals with linking verbs and modifiers and how they are used together correctly. Myth two says you should not split infinitives. An infinitive is a two-word form of a verb, and it is okay to split them. The last myth says you should not end a sentence with a preposition. This is not true because there are many sentences where you use the final preposition as a part of the verb and you need it to finish your thought.

“Ending a Sentence With a Preposition”

This episode defines a preposition as a word that creates a relationship between other words and usually deals with space and time. A sentence can end in a preposition when it is considered part of the verb and extends the thought. You cannot end a sentence with a preposition if removing the preposition would keep the original meaning of the sentence. People use unnecessary prepositions in the middle and at the end of sentences. English uses a verb called a phrasal verb and that is when verbs are made up of multiple words. Learn more about phrasal verbs here! Even though you can end a sentence in a preposition, you should try and avoiding doing it.

“Which Versus That”

The episode talks about when you should use the word “which,” and when you should use the word “that.” She says to use “that” before a restrictive clause, and “which” before everything else. A restrictive clause is a particular part of a sentence that you cannot get rid of because it restricts another part of the sentence. Read more about restrictive clauses here! A nonrestrictive clause can be left out of a sentence because they do not change the meaning and are considered additional information. When making sentences you can eliminate “which” by taking out the nonrestrictive clauses from the sentence.

“Proofreading Tips”

This episode deals with how to avoid typos. The best thing to do is have someone else proofread your paper. She tells the audience about four proofreading tips: read your work backwards, read your work out loud, always proofread a printed version of your work, and give yourself some time. Reading your work backwards allows the brain to process the errors previously skipped over, reading aloud allows you to hear errors in the paper, having a printed version is good because you can mark them, and give yourself time to read and catch the errors. This article from the New York Times will provide you with more great tips!

Math Dude: Math Dude is here, and he is ready to help us with work with decimals, percentages, and fractions to make sure we understand each of them and how they are all related!

“What are Decimals”

This episode says there are 10 integers in the decimal system, 0-9. By having this system we use positional notation, which is where the number of ones is represented by the first, number right of the decimal point. The number of tens is to the right of that, the hundreds next, then the thousands and so on. Decimal fractions are similar to normal fractions except their denominator is always 10. There are practice problems at the end for students to do to check their knowledge. This video will help the students review and check their answers!

“How to Use Percentages to Easily Calculate Tips”

Before watching this episode make sure you brush up on your fractions! The episode began by describing what percentages actually are. They are fractions were the denominator is 100 (never changes), and this is why it only has one number and not two. Percent is a number taken and put over 100 (1% is 1/100). To find 10% of nay number, you simply divide by 10, or move the decimal point one place to the left. A good tip is usually about 20%, so you would simply double the 10% you already found. Episode includes some practice problems to see if you understand the material.

“How to Convert Decimals to Fractions”

This episode describes the two types of decimals, terminating and repeating. A repeating decimal is where the number has a repeating pattern, and a terminating decimal is when the numbers stop, or go on with no pattern. He then goes on to explain how to reduce fractions to their lowest terms by dividing the numerator and denominator by the greatest common multiple. To convert to a fraction, you simple divide the number by 10! This link will take you to a worksheet where you convert fractions to decimals!

How to Convert Repeating Decimals to Fractions”

This episode goes through the process of turning a repeating decimal into a fraction. To do this you must remember and apply the concept of decimal notation, which is remembering place value. Any decimal with a single repeating number that begins right after the decimal point is equal to the fraction that has the repeating digit in its numerator, and 9 in its denominator (ex. 0.11111 = 1/9). This worksheet will provide you with example problems where you can see how decimals, fractions, and percents are intertweined.