Exploring Grammar in Writing

Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 Writing for different readers 1 Everyday notes Shortening the message by using ellipsis Common abbreviations and when to use them 2 Greetings Cards Conventional expressions used for different occasions Varying the warmth and formality of the message 3 Formal letters and e-mails Expressing requests for action and making suggestions Combining modals and conditionals to make requests 4 Policies and agreements Modals and semi-modals of obligation Formal versus informal language choices Part 2 Building noun phrases 5 Business letters Patterns of noun phrases Writing opening statements 6 Hobby books Using articles with countable and uncountable nouns Degree adverbs 7 Informal letters and e-mails Using articles to show shared knowledge Handling vague language. 8 Catalogues Building noun phrases using for and with Adjectives which take prepositions 9 Technical manuals Nouns pre-modified by other nouns Prepositions used to express precise actions Part 3 Adding more information to the sentence 10 Encyclopaedias Defining and non-defining relative clauses Starting a relative clause with a preposition 11 Blurbs Adding information at the start of a clause Variations in noun pre-modification 12 Holiday brochures Expanding the sentence using co-ordination Handling adjective choices 13 Travel guides Adding information to the noun by apposition Varying the style by moving appositional phrases 14 Direct mail Adding comparative and superlative structures to the sentence Adjectives that do not normally take comparative or superlative forms Part 4 Sequencing and focusing 15 Everyday instruction booklets Non-finite clauses: -ing and to ... Prepositions introducing -ing clauses 16 Newspaper stories Handling and combining adverbs of time and place Adverb phrases starting with prepositions 17 Packaging Various styles of instructions Reduced imperatives 18 Advertisements Using adverbs for emphasis Using only for focus 19 Essays Comparing approaches Making your own point and supporting it with references 20 Feature articles Interesting the reader and changing the focus using it Adjectives and verbs commonly used in it clauses Key Glossary Index