Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Guide Notes

Welcome to ‘Militaryopolis’.

A Place to Perfect your Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

In Words We Trust!

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Functional Skills

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Guide

Introduction Do you ever have problems spelling certain words, no matter how many

times you try to remember the letter order? Or wonder how to punctuate a sentence with commas, full stops or those

annoying semi-colons? Well don’t worry; you are not alone. Here at Militaryopolis you get the

chance to practice your spelling, punctuation and grammar; preparing you for your military training and exams.


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I can’t believe I went out with an apostrophe. He was so possessive!

Memory Tricks, Spelling Rules

and Strategies

If ever there were such a thing as ‘bad words’, the term ‘rules’ is definitely one of them. Nobody likes to abide by them and yet we find ways to enforce them. Play them at their own game, however, and you can rule the world; or, for the time being, spell any word to perfection.

You have probably heard the rhyme: ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’,

or when sounded as ‘A’, as in neighbour or weigh

This rule works for such words as believe, receive, deceive and receipt; however, there are certain exceptions: such as science. Weird, I know.

The main thing to remember with the ‘i before e’ rule is that it applies to words that make an ‘ee’ sound, which explains why the rule doesn’t apply to words like neighbour, freight and weigh.

Despite the exceptions, however, it is important to be aware of this rule.

Activity Make a list of words which you find difficult to

spell. Apply the ‘i before e’ rule where appropriate. Identify which words follow this rule and which

words don’t. Put the words into separate categories under

the headings Rule No Rule

Attempt to memorise each list; it may help you remember the letter order of those words in future.


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Spelling is easier if you break down the words into smaller chunks. Regular visitors to Militaryopolis will know that chunks of words can be called prefixes, roots and suffixes depending on where each chunk is situated in a word.

Don’t worry if this is your first time in Militaryopolis! Here is a breakdown of what prefixes, roots and suffixes mean:

Roots: The central part of a word. Such as: Appear Appoint Fraud Miss Even Form

Prefixes: combinations of letters which you can add to the beginning of root words, which can change the meaning of the word. Such as: Disappear Disappoint Defraud Dismiss Uneven Reform

Suffixes: Combinations of letters which can be added to the end of words. Such as: Disappearance Disappointment Defrauding Dismissal Reforming


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ActivityBy using the table below, make as many words as you can. The first one is done for you:


Prefix Root Suffixde cent ingpara pic urein oeu sive

re nat tionman chut edsig ive vre

ob act tedun cap standin der sene tru lyun expec

tity

be sive shpas gotia ablele cau ing

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1._manoeuvre_____________

2.______________________

3.______________________

4.______________________

5.______________________

6.______________________

7.______________________

8.______________________

9.______________________

10._____________________

11._____________________

12._____________________

13._____________________


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Here’s a helpful learning technique:

,Say,

Write , CheckIt’s simple; just follow the steps:

1. Choose a word which you find difficult to spell and write it clearly (make sure that it is spelt correctly by using a dictionary).

2. Look at the word carefully. Study the letter order.3. Say it out loud while thinking about the different syllables.4. Cover the word.5. Write the word without looking at the original.6. When you have finished, check the word with the original.


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Practice the ‘look, say, cover, write, check’ method on some of the 63 problem words listed below:

AbsenceAccommodateAchievedAcknowledgeAerialAnalysisAppropriateArgumentArrangementsAscendAthleticBenefitedBeneficialBudgetedClothesColleaguesCompetentConscientiousCourteousCourtesyCriticism

DecisionDisciplineEfficiencyEliminatedEnthusiasmEssentialExpensesExperienceFinancialForeignGovernmentGrievanceGuardHeroesHonoraryImmediatelyIndependentIntelligenceKnowledgeLegitimateLiaison

Livelihood LyingManoeuvreMaintenanceMinutesNecessaryNegotiateOccurredOccurrenceOpinionParliamentPerseverancePersonnelPhysicalPrecedingPrejudicePreliminaryPrestigeProcedureProfessionalPronunciation


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A note on the Spell Checker Don’t be fooled by this seemingly helpful device. It does not pick up certain grammatical errors and can make you think that your work is correct when it is riddled with errors. An example of this can be seen in the poem below:

Eye want to join the RAF,Too travel ware Aye can,Eye no it’s the write career for me,It’s always been my plan.

Butt perhaps an Army Kernel,Is a better weigh two go,Oar a Navel Officer,Yet see sickness affects me sow.

Eye would like to get sum meddles,And bee won of the troupes,Two where my blues with pride,Aye no I’d jump threw hoops.

Sow now Aye must concentrate,On the skills Eye have to hone,Butt first Aye must get to grips with my homophones!

As you can see, there are a number of grammatical errors within this poem. Yet the spell checker did not identify that anything was wrong. That is because the poem is full of homophones. What are homophones I hear you ask? Don’t worry; they are not as complicated as they sound.

Homophones are words which are said the same but can be spelt differently and may mean something else.

For example, ‘night’ and ‘knight’ mean completely different things but are pronounced the same.

‘there’, ‘their’, and ‘they’re’ are words which many people get confused when they use them in a sentence.

Do not worry; here follows a guide to help you combat your homophones.


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There/ Their/ They’re

There: is linked with place. It simply means ‘in that place’. For example: ‘I put my P.E kit over there’; the function of this sentence is to locate where you have placed your P.E kit. The word ‘there’ also shows that something exists. For example: ‘There are three children in my family’.

Their: is used when something belongs to someone: their lunch, their homework, their mum.

They’re: is an abbreviation of ‘they are’. The apostrophe is used to show that the ‘a’ of ‘are’ is missing. Examples of this word are: they’re (they are) going to the zoo, they’re (they are) my parents, they’re (they are) going through basic training.

Wear/ Where/ Were

Wear: is what you do with clothes. It is also to do with things that age, general wear and tear. E.g. I would love to wear that outfit. I’m going to wear that uniform. It will wear out if you use it too much.

Where: is to do with finding a place, object, or direction. E.g. I don’t know where I am. Where is the swimming pool? I can’t think where I put my car keys.

Were: is the past tense for ‘are’. If you are at the shops, and then you go home, you would say you were at the shops. Were often gets confused with where. Here are a few examples of when to use were correctly: Today we are going to the beach, but yesterday we were at school. At the moment they are four eggs in the egg box, but yesterday there were six.

To/ Too/ Two

To: is to show that you are moving towards something; it is also used with verbs (to do something); e.g. we are going to drive to Exeter; we are going to school; to play cricket; to stand in the rain.

Too: simply means ‘more than enough’; additionally, too can mean ‘also’ and ‘as well’. Examples of this are as follows: I am too hot; he is too busy; can I go to the party too?

Two: is the written version of the number 2; e.g. two ducks; two children; two helmets.


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By/Buy/ByeBy: means at the side of or near something. It can also mean ‘as means of’ or

a person has written something; e.g. park in the car park by the pub; I would like to sit by the fire; he travelled to the festival by bus; she is going to get to Edinburgh by train.

Buy: means to pay for; e.g. I want to buy a new pair of shoes; I went to the shop to buy some milk.

Bye: is the expression you use when you leave someone; such as ‘goodbye’ or ‘bye bye’.

ActivityUsing the homophones above, fill the gaps with the correct word.

1. I wish we never had to say good _____. 2. I put my bag over _____.3. I am _____ busy to see you today.4. _____ mum is called Katrina.5. _____ you supposed to say that?6. _____ going to Singapore next week. 7. The book was written _____ Arthur Hamilton. 8. It is _____hot _____ go running today.9. Do you know _____ my boots are?10. I only have room for _____ more passengers.11. I think _____ coming with us on Saturday.12. Would you like _____ go _____ the cinema?13. I was going to _____ my jeans, but then I decided against it.14. I never got a chance to say good _____ to her.15. _____ was a storm last night.16. Don’t _____ chocolate just because it is on offer.17. The books _____ kept on the shelf _____ we could see them.18. The cyclist was taken to hospital _____ ambulance.19. The lining of this jacket is beginning to _____ away.20. Do you know the way _____ the shops?


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More Homophones

advise/adviceallowed/aloudawe/oar/or/ore bare/bearbeach/beechbight, bite, byteblew/blueboard/boredbought/broughtcellar/sellercheck/chequecoarse/coursecurrant/currentfair/farefeat/feetflour/flowergreat/grategroan/grownhair/harehear/hereheard/herdhole/wholeits/it’sloan/lonelose/loosemaid/mademail/male

meat/meetmore/moornew/knewno/knownot/knotof/offour/hourpain/panepeace/piecepair, pare, pear plain/planepoor/ pour/ paw/ porepractise/practicequite/quietrain/reign/reinread/reedright, rite, wright, writescene/seensee/seasight/sitetheirs/there’sthrew/throughwhether/weatherwhich/witchwhose/who’swood/wouldyour/you’re


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The Comma a punctuation mark which shows a pause between parts of a sentence, or dividing items in a list.

Examples As I marched across the camp, I saw Ma’am Cooper, the

Flight Lieutenant, coming towards me, so I saluted. I have to go to the shops to get milk, bread, cheese and

toothpaste.

The Semicolon a punctuation mark which is a longer pause than a comma but is not as definite as a full stop. The semicolon can link two statements together successfully; it can also be used as a separator when clusters of items are listed.

Examples He enlisted for the RAF; basic training was soon to

follow. When he arrived at RAF Halton he was issued with 3

short sleeved blue shirts; 3 pairs of trousers; 2 pairs of shoes; a beret and a tie.

The Colon ` is used at the start of a list or after a phrase or word which is then explained.

Examples To take part in the field trip exercise you will need:

coveralls, a thermal fleece, a field jacket and a roll matt.


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The Apostrophe is a punctuation mark which has two uses. The first is to show possession; however, the question which always causes problems is does the apostrophe come before or after the s?

It all depends on owners: how many owners are there? For example: if there is one dog living in a house you would say ‘the house is the dog’s home’. There is only one dog so you would add an apostrophe and an s to the word dog. However, if there was more than one dog you would say ‘the house is the dogs’ home’. The word dog in this instance already has an s on the end to show that there is more than one; an apostrophe is needed after the s to show possession.

A good way to remember the rule with apostrophes is to think of ‘Battersea Dogs’ Home’. Battersea is home to more than one dog; therefore, the apostrophe goes after the s.

Apostrophes are also used to replace letters in words to form an abbreviation. E.g. do not becomes don’t, cannot becomes can’t, did not becomes didn’t, there is becomes there’s.

The apostrophe can replace more than one letter: of the clock become o’clock.

Additionally, apostrophes are also used to abbreviate it is or it has and forms it’s.


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The Full Stop is a punctuation mark which shows the end of a sentence.

The Question Mark is placed after a direct question: Would you like to go to the cinema?

The Exclamation Mark is used to show emotion. Yes!

Capital Letters

Capital letters are used for a variety of reasons: After a full stop, question mark or an exclamation mark For the first letter, of the first word of each sentence For the first personal pronoun ‘I’ For the first letter of the main words in titles of books,

plays, films, reports For the first letter of proper nouns (names): Nina,

Sunday, Liverpool, January For the first letter of an organisation or people’s titles


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Here at Militaryopolis we pay a lot of attention to sentence structure. It is extremely important that your sentences make perfect sense to the reader. Mixing up your word order can cause confusion and result in your work being misunderstood.

Here are examples of sentence structure gone wrong: The rifle was cleaned by the boy which was tarnished and rusty. The kit was tidied up by the boy in the cupboard. The command was given by the Drill Sergeant on the parade square

marching.

Let’s break sentences down:1. Firstly there are simple sentences, which are made up of one

clause. Example: We went to a core values lecture. We went to the drill revision session. (both of these sentences are main clauses)

2. Secondly there are compound sentences, which are made up of two or more main clauses that are linked by a joining word, such as ‘and’. These joining words can also be called conjunction words. Example: We went to a core values lecture and we went to the drill revision session.

3. Finally there are complex sentences which include subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses are phrases/word combinations which are not as important as the main clauses in the sentence, but would not make sense on their own. Example: We went to a core values lecture, as it was written on our timetable, and then we went to the drill revision session.

ParagraphsOrganisation is very important when you are writing a piece of work. Paragraphs help you to organise your work effectively. Essentially a paragraph is a group of related sentences which are grouped together to help the reader make a logical progression from one point to another.

When looking at a large piece of writing you should be able to identify the paragraphs. A line is normally left between each paragraph or the first line of a new paragraph is indented. Just remember when you move on to a new point in a piece of writing, start a new paragraph!


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Now for a quick bit of Revision… Do you ever get confused when it comes to pronouns, nouns or adjective? Lots of people do. Here is the official Militaryopolis refresher guide:

Word Cluster Description ExampleAdjective A word which describes.

It is normally linked to a noun or pronoun.

big, small, brunette, pretty

Adverb Another word which describes, but an adverb is linked to a verb rather than a noun or pronoun.

quietly, rapidly

Common nouns A naming word. Week, month, cat, bus

Conjunction A word which links two clauses together.

But, and, or

Nouns (Common and Proper)

The name of a place, person, object or animal

Max, cat, London, bus

Preposition Expresses/ shows the relation between one thing and another.

With, for, against

Pronoun A word that replaces a noun

She, he, it

Proper nouns The name of a place, person, organisation, title, months of the year, days of the week.

They always start with a capital letter.

Katherine, Bristol, Tuesday, January

Verb A ‘doing’ or action word Walking, dancing, sleeping


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Writing a Formal LetterWriting a formal letter can seem like a daunting experience and ratherunnecessary when we think of emails. However, formal letters are still constantly used in the working world, therefore, it is important to know how to write one.


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1 Halton AvenueWendover

BucksHP22 7HH

Mr B. Perkins10 Chatterley CrescentCheltenhamGlosGL3 5JA

12th May 2010

Dear Mr. Perkins,

I am writing to you to practice my letter writing skills. I need to be able to write a formal letter effectively to help me when I enter into a profession. I trust you find my letter satisfactory.

Yours sincerely,

Janette Lane

Then you write the address of the person to whom you are writing your letter on the left.

You place the date underneath.

Then you write the name of the person you are writing the letter to. If you don’t know their name simply put: Dear Sir/ Madam.

After you have finished the main body of your letter you have many different ways of signing it.

If, as in this instance, you have the name of the person you are writing to: Mr B. Perkins, you write ‘yours sincerely’ followed by your name.

If you are addressing your letter to ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’, however, you would write ‘yours faithfully’.

If you are writing a formal letter to someone you know but you still need to show them respect (e.g. a work colleague or supervisor) you would write ‘best regards’.

Firstly, your address needs to go in the top right hand corner of the page.

Finally, a quick word on:

Don’t be put off by the word terminology. Terminology just means the words used in a question. Many people lose marks by trying to answer a question straight away, without really considering what the words in the question are asking them to do. If you break down a question into smaller chunks, however, it can be easier to answer.

Example: Using the information from documents 1 and 2, list the advantages and disadvantages of joining the RAF. Outline the arguments for and against and examine how the image in each document supports the arguments.

Key words/ phrases Explanation Connected toUsing the information Working with knowledge Taken from documents 1

and 2List To give an item by item

account of names or things

Advantages and disadvantages of joining the RAF

Outline To give the essential features or general principles of

The arguments for and against

Examine To inspect or investigate in detail

The image in each document


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Documents

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Guide Notes