eos-usage

Analyze the provided text for grammatical and mechanical errors. Flag specific violations with line numbers or quotes where possible.

Output Format

Text Under Review: [title or brief description]

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| # | Rule | Status | Issues Found |

|---|------|--------|--------------|

| 1 | Form possessive singular with 's | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 2 | Use serial comma | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 3 | Enclose parenthetic expressions in commas | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 4 | Comma before conjunction + independent clause | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 5 | No comma splice | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 6 | No sentence fragments | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 7 | Use colon to introduce lists/appositives | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 8 | Use dash for abrupt breaks | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 9 | Subject-verb agreement | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 10 | Proper pronoun case | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

| 11 | Dangling modifiers | Pass/Needs Work/N/A | [issues] |

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Rule 5: Comma Splices

| Location | Error | Correction |

|----------|-------|------------|

| [line/quote] | "It is cold, we should go inside" | "It is cold; we should go inside" OR "It is cold, so we should go inside" |

Rule 6: Sentence Fragments

| Location | Fragment | Suggested Fix |

|----------|----------|---------------|

| [line/quote] | [fragment] | [complete sentence] |

Rule 11: Dangling Modifiers

| Location | Error | Correction |

|----------|-------|------------|

| [line/quote] | "Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful" | "Walking down the street, I noticed the beautiful trees" |

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1. Form the possessive singular by adding 's — Charles's friend, Burns's poems, the witch's malice. Exceptions: ancient proper names ending in -es or -is (Jesus', Moses'), and common idioms (for conscience' sake).

1. In a series of three or more, use a comma after each term except the last — red, white, and blue. The serial comma prevents ambiguity.

1. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas — "The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is to travel on foot." If the interruption is slight, commas may be omitted.

1. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause — "The early records are obscure, but they suggest..." This rule applies when both clauses are independent (could stand alone).

1. Do not join independent clauses with a comma — This error is the "comma splice." Wrong: "It is cold, we should go inside." Right: "It is cold; we should go inside" or "It is cold. We should go inside."

1. Do not break sentences in two — Avoid sentence fragments. "I met them on a Cunard liner many years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York." The second part should not stand alone.

1. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list, appositive, amplification, or illustrative quotation — "The situation is perilous: our enemies are many, our supplies few."

1. Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or to announce a long appositive or summary — "His first thought on getting out of bed—if he had any thought at all—was to get back in again." Use sparingly; frequent dashes give writing a breathless quality.

1. The subject and verb must agree in number — "The bittersweet flavor of youth—its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges—are not soon forgotten" is wrong; use "is."

1. Use the proper case of pronoun — "between you and I" is wrong; use "between you and me." In compound constructions, test each pronoun alone.

1. A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject — "Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful" is wrong (trees weren't walking). Fix: "Walking down the street, I noticed the beautiful trees."

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Grammar Accuracy: [Clean/Minor Issues/Significant Errors]

Most Common Error Type: [error category]

Corrections Needed:

1. [Highest priority fix]
2. [Second priority]
3. [Third priority]

• Not all comma usage is covered by these rules—focus on the specific patterns described
• Rule 2 (serial comma) is a style choice in some guides; Strunk & White advocate for it
• Some fragments are intentional for effect in creative writing
• Technical writing may have different conventions for colons and lists

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