Nuances of Written English Not Taught in School

By Lucy Adams*

Undoubtedly, the English language is one of the most powerful business tools. The international language significantly expands your opportunities. The better you English, the more credible you are in the business world.

Well, all starts from school. Regardless of you are Englishmen, American or non-native, you've studied English under a standard program. Alas, but it sometimes misses the important things like specific grammatical constructions, the arrangement of commas, etc.

Let's have a look at the nuances of written English not taught in school. Looking ahead, I must say that in case of significant problems with English, you may always order an essay help at special services like Undoubtedly, the English language is one of the most powerful business tools. The international language significantly expands your opportunities. The better you English, the more credible you are in the business world.

Well, all starts from school. Regardless of you are Englishmen, American or non-native, you’ve studied English under a standard program. Alas, but it sometimes misses the important things like specific grammatical constructions, the arrangement of commas, etc. Let’s have a look at the nuances of written English not taught in school. Looking ahead, I must say that in case of significant problems with English, you may always order an essay help at special services like bestessay4you

#1 Inversion

The translators of fiction say that to provide an accurate translation, they almost every time have to restructure English sentences and then build a new one in the target language not to lose the meaning. That's why because English grammar has a very strict word order. However, the inversion is quite typical:

• There is a cake on the table (there is/there are).
• "This is your pill," – said the doctor (after the direct speech).
• "Here is your money, please" (in sentences that begin with "here").
• Had I played better, I would win the competition (in conditional sentences with the verbs was/were/could/should).
• Never had I had such a terrible support (in complex sentences that begin with the words no sooner/not only/scarcely/hardly/nothing/never).
• It was me who won the fight against corruption (as part of a turn it is / was… that / who / whom).

#2 Comma Before "Which/That"

Among the types of subordinate clauses in English, there are ones that begin with recognizable relative pronouns who/whom/that/which/whose/when/where. The attributive clause can be restrictive and nonrestrictive. The first reduces all possible characteristics of a noun to a single and the most important one while the second simply states one of the many properties of an object or subject:

• 1. I met with a girl who was smoking a long cigarette. It was Mary (restrictive clause).
• 2. I met with a girl who was smoking a long cigarette, which looked expensive (nonrestrictive clause).

Why know all this? Just because nonrestrictive clause requires comma while restrictive doesn't.

Most often, "which" indicates nonrestrictive clause while "that" – restrictive one. The latter often requires a comma.

#3 Absolute Phrase

One of the mistakes that can be made in the process of learning English is trying to understand the English grammar on the base of the grammar of the native language. Although almost every language has logics, these logics are often very different.

To sound authentic, you need to get used to using English grammatical forms like Absolute Phrase. (by the way, "phrase" is called a structure in which there's no subject and predicate; "clause" is a subordinated sentence; "sentence" is a separate simple or complex sentence).

Absolute Phrase can't be translated literally! Let's take an example:

• With his hand on the table, Jane waited for the beginning of the lesson.

Absolute turnover must contain at least a noun and a participle. It can be constructed on the basis of one Present Participle (-ing) or Past Participle (-ed). Absolute turnover is particularly useful when the author describes an object or situation that he's watching closely.

#4 Verb as a Subject

A verb can be a subject not just in the gerund form (signing), but also in the form of the infinitive (to sing). In contrary to the school instincts that may prompt us to always use the gerund, it is worth remembering that the English grammar allows the second option:

• To sing this song has always been Lucy’s dream, although she has been born in a city where there are no great vocal tutors.

#5 Semicolon

Semicolon plays a major role in English punctuation. Not by chance, this sign is put on one of the most convenient places on the keyboard. To understand whether you can use a semicolon, it is often enough to ask yourself whether you can put a point instead, thereby dividing the sentence into two separate fragments.

• I saw a pigeon flying in the sky; it was Harry, my favorite bird.

#6 Direct Speech and Punctuation

Unlike other languages, English doesn't require a colon or a dash in front of or after the direct speech.

• "It was fantastic."

The final punctuation mark in a replica – regardless it is an interrogation point, an exclamation point or a dot – is put before the quotation marks.

#7 Oxford Comma

Oxford comma (Harvard comma) is a comma that can be placed right before the third item in the enumeration.

• I went down the street, bought a ticket, and returned home, but still was disappointed.

Despite its name, Oxford comma is more typical for the American English.

Being a non-native speaker among natives is sometimes challenging. The fewer mistakes you make, the more credible you look in the eyes of English pen wizards. Feel free to share your tips for learning English in comments.

(*) Lucy is a professional writer from http://www.edublogawards.org. The blogger is always in touch with her readers and ready to answer any of your questions. Moreover, Lucy writes blogs for free! Thus, you have a unique chance to add some value to your website without investing a single penny. Contact the blogger and get a fast response.