Our starting point will be use of “There are” or “There is” to begin sentences. Consider this; word “there” indicates “not here” (in other words, some other place). Now look at sentence below and think about what meaning is and what might be intended.

There are four dogs playing with a ball.

If writer meant that four dogs are over there and they are playing with a ball, then this would be technically correct. If intention was merely that four dogs are playing with a ball, here, there, or anywhere, then sentence could be worded better. The following sentence would show better wording on writer’s part.

Four dogs are playing with a ball.

The next two words that writers often confuse are “which” and “that.” If goal of your writing is to describe something and you have used commas to separate phrase from rest of sentence you want to use “which.” When a writer wants a word to define and reference is restricted then you want to use “that.” The first sentence below shows correct use of “that” and second sentence shows correct use of “which.”

The Yodo is river that runs through Osaka. The Yodo, which is a major waterway, runs though Osaka.

Use of Apostrophe - Use an apostrophe to show possession, but never put apostrophe in case of possessive pronouns. Always remember that when word "it's" is used, it is actually for contraction for two words: "it has" or "it is". On other hand, "its" is a possessive pronoun, and word being already possessive should not contain an apostrophe in it.

Example

It's same thing happening over and over again. (Contraction of It and is: It is same thing happening over and over again).

Wrong: That car is your's.

Right: That car is yours.

Note: Rewriting is sometimes solution for an awkward possessive.

Awkward: A friend of mine's cap.

Better: A friend's cap (or cap of a friend of mine).

To show possession in case of singular nouns, add 's, and for plural words that end in s, add only an apostrophe. Don't forget to put 's with plural words not ending in s.

Example Singular: nurse's uniform

Plural: nurses' uniforms (plural word ending in s)

Plural: children's uniforms (plural word not ending in s)

Use of Comma - Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Though journalists most of times omit final comma before word "and", but retaining final comma avoids confusion.

Example

Poor: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, woman who daily eats 45 eggs and Tom Cruise.

Better: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, woman who daily eats 45 eggs, and Tom Cruise.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions.

Example

Wrong: I am not good in writing but I love writing.

Wrong: I am not good in writing, but, I love writing.