MISPLACED CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Correlative conjucntions, (such as not only - but also and either - or) are often misplaced. Their correct position is just ahead of the words or groups of words they connect. Consider the following examples:

Misplaced: The Navy letter form not only omits the salutation but also the complimentary close. (The words that should be connected are "salutation" and "complimentary close":)

Correct: The Navy letter form omits not only the salutation but also the complimentary close.

Misplaced: Either secure lines to the arresting hook or the hoisting sling. (As this sentence stands, the words that should be connected are "arresting hook" and "hoisting sling." The sentence will be better, however, if two complete prepositional phrases are used instead.)

Correct: Secure lines either to the arresting hook or to the hoisting sling.

Other frequently used correlative conjunctions are "both - and," "neither - nor" and "whether - or."

SPLIT INFINITIVES

Splitting an infinitive means placing one or more modifiers between the "to" and the verb form. You will hear people say that a split infinitive is no longer regarded as incorrect, but that is only a partial truth. Some writers consider that splitting an infinitive is desirable at times for the sake of emphasis; for example, "To deliberately disobey an order is a serious offense." Even this sentence will grate on some ears, and generally, it is better for you to keep the adverb outside the infinitive construction. That is especially true when you have more than one adverb or a phrase.

Awkward Split: The only way for a person to win against afire is to regularly and thoroughly practice the rules of fire prevention.

Better: The only way to win against a fire is to practice rules of fire prevention regularly and thoroughly.

ERRORS IN AGREEMENT

You probably have no trouble, most of the time, with agreement of verb and subject. You are not tempted to write: "The propellers was damaged." But how about, "The propeller and shaft was damaged"? Wrong, to be sure, but it is an easy mistake to make when you are thinking of the two parts of a compound subject as belonging together. It should, of course, read "The propeller and shaft were damaged."

In a compound subject with "or" or "nor" as a connective, the verb should agree in number with the last noun in the subject.

Incorrect: Neither the propellers nor the rudder are damaged.

Correct: Neither the propellers nor the rudder is damaged.

When a parenthetical expression beginning with words such as "together with," "with" or "including" comes between the subject and the verb, there is a temptation to make the verb plural as if the subject were compound. Consider the following example:

Incorrect: One mast, together with a spar running athwartship, are used for flags.

correct: One mast, together with a spar running athwartship, is used for flags.

Disagreement between subject and verb sometimes occurs because, in a complicated sentence, a nearby noun is mistaken for the subject. This is the case in the following example, in which the plural nouns "officers" and "commands" seem to have confused the writer. The subject of the sentence, however, is "duty."

Incorrect: The primary duty of such staff dental officers serving in these commands are very similar to those of a district dental officer.

Correct: The primary duty of such staff dental officers serving in these commands is very similar to that of a district dental officer.

Correct: The primary duties of such staff dental officers serving in these commands are very similar to those of a district dental officer.

GERUNDS

A gerund is a verb (verb form) used like a noun. For example: Running is good exercise. A gerund retains some of its verb qualities, however, such as taking a subject or object, or being modified by adverbs. Only one of these verb qualities - taking a subject - differs from what would be used with the same verb if complete. The subject of a gerund is in the possessive case instead of the nominative. For example: Had you heard about his passing the test? "Passing" is a gerund with "his" as the subject and "test" as the object. The complete phrase is used here as the object of the preposition "about."

ERROR IN NOUN CLAUSES

The pronoun that introduces a noun clause is sometimes given the wrong case because of the writer's failure to recognize the structure of the sentence. The case of any pronoun is determined by its use in the clause of which it is apart. Note the following examples:

Incorrect: The award will go to whomever submits the best entry.

Correct: The award will go to whoever submits the best entry.

"Whoever submits the best entry" is a noun clause.

The whole clause is used as the object of the preposition "to." "Whoever" is the subject of the clause and therefore nominative.