Author: Warren Wong

When speaking or writing English, it is important to make the subjects and the verb agree. Let’s go over some rules using basic sentences. These rules will help you choose the correct verb based on the subject.

Rule #1: Subject usually left of verb

Before you know which verb to use, first you need to know what the subject is! As a general rule, the subject is usually immediately to the left of the verb.

Example: That tree grows fast.

Here, the subject is immediately to the left of the verb. The verb is “grows”, making the subject “tree”.

Example: Sometimes dogs bark for fun.

The verb here is “bark”. As you can see, the subject, “dogs”, is immediately to the left.

There are exceptions to this rule. One big signal of a sentence where the verb comes before the subject is when the sentence starts with “There”.

Example: There are apples everywhere.

“Apples” is the subject. The verb, “are”, comes before the subject.

Rule #2: “Or” use singular, “and” use plural

This is for sentences with two or more subjects. If the subjects are connected with the word “or”, you want to use a singular verb. If they are connected with the word “and”, use a plural verb.

Example: Tom or Sally is picking it up at noon.

Our two subjects, “Tom” and “Sally”, are connected by the word “or”. Because of this, our verb needs to be singular (is)

Example: Tom and Sally are picking it up at noon.

By connecting our two subjects with “and”, we now use a plural verb (are).

In these examples, the subjects were singular. What happens if one of the subjects is plural?

Rule #3: When in doubt, verb agrees with nearest subject

When a singular and a plural noun are connected by the word “or”, the verb should agree with the nearest subject. Remember, “are” is used with plural while “is” is used with singular.

Example: The players or the coach is in the gym.

Example: The coach or the players are in the gym.

Let’s look at two examples that use verbs different than “is” and “are”.

Example: Tom or the cats run for dear life.

Example: The cats or Tom runs for dear life.

Rule #4: Don’t become confused of the subject

This can be a tricky thing to remember. Some sentences have a phrase after the subject but before the verb. These phrases can make identifying the subject an adventure. In the below examples, the subject and the verb are in italics. Notice how the words in between could change the verb usage if they were falsely identified as the subject.

Example: The quarterback, not to mention the rest of his teammates, is worried about tonight’s game.

Example: My neighbor with all the birds is running for Sheriff.

Example: The dogs who watch the cat are getting tired.

Example: That girl who likes the flowers jogs twice per day.

Example: One of the trees is dying.

Rule #5: Everybody is singular

Although they sound plural, subjects such as everybody, anybody, no one, somebody, nobody, each, either, and neither are singular and use singular verbs.

Example: Everybody who came tonight is to be commended.

Example: Anybody is welcome to attend.

Example: Nobody I love came to my party.

Example: Either will do.

Example: Each of these cars is a fine choice.

As you work towards mastering English, there will be times of frustration. But don’t give up! Just remember, practice makes perfect.

About the Author

Warren Wong writes for 1-language.com, a website dedicated to helping people Learn English.

Article Source: Articles Engine

Author: Brian Scott

If you have specialized knowledge other than how to be a great writer, then technical writing may be for you.

Technical writing combines your writing talent with a specific area of expertise, such as IT, graphic design, education, engineering, the automotive industry, etc. You could be writing for others who are already familiar with the field, or you could be writing to teach others.

How much does technical writing pay?

Technical writing freelancers often get paid very well, anywhere from $40 to $100 per hour or more. Technical writers command a higher rate of pay because it takes much more than polished writing skills to do the job.

Where can I find technical writing jobs?

The Internet is the ideal resource, especially if you’re just getting started. Check out websites like computerjobs.com, IFreelance.com, or rentacoder.com. These sites offer many postings by companies seeking freelance technical writers in a variety of industries.

I also recommend you post your resume on an employment site like CareerBuilder.com or Workopolis.com. Because you have a specialized skill set, know that there will be people actively looking for you. Having your resume on this type of website will greatly increase your chances of getting a well-paid technical writing gig.

Another technique is to do some brainstorming. Ask yourself if you have a specialized skill set or knowledge base. If so, what companies are in your area that could use a writer with skills like yours? Contact those businesses directly with your resume and a letter explaining how difficult it can be to find a good technical writer and that you’re available to help with any upcoming projects they may have.

What type of work will I be doing?

In IT, technical writers are often creating software or hardware manuals from scratch, or writing about coding. In the education field, you may be writing textbooks or creating PowerPoint slides for online learning programs. You could also be writing assembly manuals for machines, preparing reports for a pharmaceutical company, or creating do-it-yourself manuals for home repairs, etc.

In any technical writing job, you’ll need to have good writing and communication skills on top of your area of expertise. Technical writing projects are often collaborative, meaning you’ll have to deal with other people and complete the project as a team. Even if you’re working alone, your client will want to know how you’re progressing and whether you’re on track with what he or she is looking for. Expect lots of communication, either over the Internet or by phone.

How do I properly respond to an ad for a technical writer?

To maximize your chances of success, your response should include:

• A note about how valuable you feel the company is
• A summary of your qualifications in the field of expertise
• An overview of your superior writing ability
• Any related experience you may have

This response could be in a cover letter accompanying your resume or in your bid on a freelancing website. Read the sample ad below to see if you could make a compelling candidate:

We are an online learning company specializing in business skills. We teach administrators, HR people, etc. to effectively coach employees and streamline day-to-day business. We design online courses and downloadable presentations. We need a writer to help us with our upcoming courses for next year.

In order to make maximum impact, your response needs to hit each of the four points above. For example, you might respond like so:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’ve taken a look at your website and I must say that your material is very impressive! It’s clear that you provide a lot of value to the businesses that use your services, and I would welcome the opportunity to join your team.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce with a Human Resources designation. Throughout my education I designed various studies of employee behavior. Recently, I’ve been working as a consultant helping companies optimize employee productivity. I believe my skills may be of benefit to your company.

In addition, I am an accomplished writer. I have written articles, reports, and web content. My clients are always pleased with my work because it is grammatically flawless, concise, and easily accessible to readers.

Thank you for considering me for this position.

Sincerely, (name)

That’s it! Just remember that you have a unique combination of highly sought-after skills, and you’ll have your first technical writing job in no time.

About the Author:
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance technical writing jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – All About Freelance Technical Writing Jobs

My name still is Craig. How did that question become a part of the English language? I can’t think of a single instance where a living person’s name exists in the past.

I fully understand that English doesn’t make any sense. Our grammar, spelling and usage evolve and have evolved from multiple other languages, but how did that evolution include something so contradictory?

Sure, maybe I provided my name previously and someone has forgotten it, but the question then becomes, “What is your name, again?” I suppose it’s possible that my name has actually changed, in which case someone may need to the name I formerly had. But I don’t think that evolution applies to this phrase.

There is a similar situation in a restaurant: “Were you finished with your plate?” “Why, yes, I was, but now I’m not.”

If anyone has answers, or more examples, let me know!