Mechanics Introduction // Purdue Writing Lab

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• Mechanics
• Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs)
• Improving Sentence Clarity
• Parts of Speech Overview
• Sentence Clarity Presentation
• Sentence Fragments
• Transitions and Transitional Devices
  • Writing Transitions
  • Transitional Devices
• Dangling Modifiers and How To Correct Them
• Parallel Structure
• Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms)
  • Overview of Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms)
  • Separable Phrasal Verbs
  • Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
  • Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
• A Little Help with Capitals
• Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
  • Gerunds
  • Participles
  • Infinitives
  • Comparing Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

Suggested Resources

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• Purdue OWL
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• Mechanics

Mechanics Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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These OWL resources will help you with sentence level organization and style. This area includes resources on writing issues, such as active and passive voice, parallel sentence structure, parts of speech, and transitions.

Exercises relating to spelling can be found here.

Exercises relating to numbering can be found here.

Exercises relating to sentence structure can be found here.

Exercises relating to sentence style can be found here.

In this section

• Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs)

  This handout discusses the common Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs) in writing.

• Improving Sentence Clarity

  If you're having sentence clarity problems in your papers, this handout might be just what you need.

• Parts of Speech Overview

  This handout defines the basic parts of speech and provides examples of their uses in sentences. Links to more handouts and exercises on particular parts of speech are also provided. If you are learning English as a Second Language (ESL), you may also want to browse through a complete listing of our ESL resources.

• Sentence Clarity Presentation

• Sentence Fragments

  This handout provides an overview and examples of sentence fragments.

• Dangling Modifiers and How To Correct Them

  This resource explains what a dangling modifier is and how to correct the problem. Contributors: Chris Berry, Karl Stolley Last Edited: 2013-01-07 12:05:23

• Parallel Structure

  This handout describes and provides examples of parallel structure (similar patterns of words).

• A Little Help with Capitals

  This resource details standard capitalization rules.

Subsections

• Transitions and Transitional Devices

  A discussion of transition strategies and specific transitional devices.

• Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms)

  Provides an overview and lists of phrasal/two part verbs.

• Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

  This handout provides a detailed overview (including descriptions and examples) of gerunds, participles, and infinitives.