The Harper Handbook of College Composition

adjective adverb auxiliary verb Avoid beginning business letters clear colloquial comma comma splice composition compound conjunctive adverb contains correct dash Dear dependent clause developed diction dictionary discussion effective elliptical clause English errors example exclamation point EXERCISES express faulty following sentences formal frequently future perfect tenses gerund give grammatical ideas important Incorrect indented indicate infinitive italicized John linking verb magazine main verb material meaning methods modifies mood never Non-finite Verb NOTE noun or pronoun object omitted outline paper paragraph passive voice past participle past tense perfect tense period phrase plural précis predicate preposition present punctuation purpose question mark quotation marks radio reader reference Section seen semicolon sentence elements simple singular specific speech spelling statement student subordinate tence theme thought tion tone topic sentence transitional transitive verb usually verb form words writing written