Correct Grammar in Writing

• Formal Definition

  • a precise and unambiguous description of a concept or term within a specific domain
  • aims to provide a clear understanding of the meaning of a word or concept by establishing its essential characteristics and distinguishing it from other related terms.
• Term (word of phrase)


  to be defined
• Class of object or concept


  which the term belongs
• distinguishing characteristics


  differentiates it from all others of its class
• Term 


  Specie
• class


  genus
• distinguishing characteristics


  differentia
• Specie


  refers to the word or phrase being defined.
• Genus


  This refers to the class or general category to which the word or phrase being defined belongs.
• Differentia 


  This refers to the characteristics that make the word or phrase being defined different from the other words or phrases of the same class.
• Full Form


  Term to be defined (specie) + verb to be + general class (genus) + relative pronoun + specific characteristics (differentia)

  
  

  ex. Submarine is a seagoing vessel that operates underwater.
• Reduced Form


  Term to be defined (specie) + verb to be + general class (genus) + specific characteristics (differentia)

  
  

  ex. A formicarium is an artificial nest designed primarily for the study of ant

  colonies and how ants behave.
• Nominal Form 


  General class (genus) + relative pronoun + specific characteristics (differentia) + verb to be + term to be defined (specie)

  ex. A highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract which occurs sporadically or in epidemics and that lasts up to a month is called Influenza.
• Expanded Form


  Definition + follow up sentence
• Grammar


  system or rules of a language governing the sounds, words, sentences, and other elements, as well as their combination and interpretation.
• SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

  Singular subject takes singular verb

  Plural subject takes plural verb
• Relative Pronouns


  Who, Whom, Which, Why, When, Where, Whose, That
• Guidelines


  • Use simple present tense of the verb after the term
  • The verb must agree in number with the subject (term defined)
  • The class or category and the term being defined must agree in number
  • Be specific about the class
  • Use the same part of speech for the class and the term being defined
  • Whenever possible, don't use the same wordings for the term and the class or distinguishing characteristics
  • There should be sufficient information in the adjective clause to distinguish the term from other members of the class
  • The distinguishing characteristics may be introduced in several ways: Relative Pronouns