Part Two: Logic, Clarity, and Precision
Learn to avoid constructions that undermine the strength of your message. Be logical, clear, precise, and convincing.
Course Curriculum
Welcome and Overview
Welcome and Overview
Course Workbook
Supplemental Lessons
(For Those Who Need a Refresher)
Supplemental Lesson: Phrases and Clauses
Supplemental Lesson: Verbals
Supplemental Lesson: Prepositional Phrases
Modification Issues
Misplaced One-Word Modifiers and Participial Phrases
Review of Exercise on Misplaced One-Word Modifiers and Participial Phrases
Other Misplaced Elements
Review of Exercise on Other Misplaced Elements
Dangling and Squinting Modifiers
Review of Exercise on Dangling and Squinting Modifiers
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Modification Issues
Vague Constructions
The Broad "Which"
Review of Exercise on the Broad "Which"
The Broad "This" and "That"
Review of Exercise on the Broad "This" and "That"
A Note about "That"
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Vague Constructions
Illogical Constructions
The Possessive Case before a Gerund
QUIZ: Possessives before Gerunds
Review of Exercise on the Possessive Case before a Gerund
Faulty Comparisons
QUIZ: Faulty Comparisons
Common Redundancies and Absolutes
Begging the Question
QUIZ: Redundancies, Absolutes, and Begging the Question
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Illogical Constructions
Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure with Conjunctions
QUIZ: Parallel Structure with Conjunctions
Review of Exercise on Parallel Structure with Coordinating and Correlative Conjunctions
Parallel Structure with Lists
QUIZ: Parallel Structure with Lists
Review of Exercise on Parallel Structure
Punctuation and Clarity
Logic and Clarity with the Oxford Comma
QUIZ: Logic and Clarity with the Oxford Comma
Logic and Clarity with Restrictive (Essential) and Nonrestrictive (Nonessential) Clauses
QUIZ: Logic and Clarity with Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Information
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Punctuation and Clarity
Course Review Exercise
Review of Cumulative Course Exercise
Course Curriculum
Welcome and Overview
Welcome and Overview
Course Workbook
Supplemental Lessons
(For Those Who Need a Refresher)
Supplemental Lesson: Phrases and Clauses
Supplemental Lesson: Verbals
Supplemental Lesson: Prepositional Phrases
Modification Issues
Misplaced One-Word Modifiers and Participial Phrases
Review of Exercise on Misplaced One-Word Modifiers and Participial Phrases
Other Misplaced Elements
Review of Exercise on Other Misplaced Elements
Dangling and Squinting Modifiers
Review of Exercise on Dangling and Squinting Modifiers
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Modification Issues
Vague Constructions
The Broad "Which"
Review of Exercise on the Broad "Which"
The Broad "This" and "That"
Review of Exercise on the Broad "This" and "That"
A Note about "That"
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Vague Constructions
Illogical Constructions
The Possessive Case before a Gerund
QUIZ: Possessives before Gerunds
Review of Exercise on the Possessive Case before a Gerund
Faulty Comparisons
QUIZ: Faulty Comparisons
Common Redundancies and Absolutes
Begging the Question
QUIZ: Redundancies, Absolutes, and Begging the Question
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Illogical Constructions
Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure with Conjunctions
QUIZ: Parallel Structure with Conjunctions
Review of Exercise on Parallel Structure with Coordinating and Correlative Conjunctions
Parallel Structure with Lists
QUIZ: Parallel Structure with Lists
Review of Exercise on Parallel Structure
Punctuation and Clarity
Logic and Clarity with the Oxford Comma
QUIZ: Logic and Clarity with the Oxford Comma
Logic and Clarity with Restrictive (Essential) and Nonrestrictive (Nonessential) Clauses
QUIZ: Logic and Clarity with Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Information
Review of Cumulative Exercise on Punctuation and Clarity
Course Review Exercise
Review of Cumulative Course Exercise
Dr. Nancy L. Tuten
Founder, Owner, and Instructor
Nancy has taught hundreds of seminars on writing-related issues to professionals in the workforce, including employees of state and local government, judges and staff members of state and federal court systems, bankers, and attorneys.
She served as a tenured professor of English at Columbia College, where she was dean of the Division of communication, Languages, and Literature for eight years and director of the writing-across-the-curriculum program for fifteen years.
I make the grammar of sentence structure easy to understand and teach you the rules you need to know to be an effective and efficient proofreader and editor of yourown work.
If your writing looks professional, so do you.
Dr. Nancy L. Tuten
Founder, Owner, and Instructor
Nancy has taught hundreds of seminars on writing-related issues to professionals in the workforce, including employees of state and local government, judges and staff members of state and federal court systems, bankers, and attorneys.
She served as a tenured professor of English at Columbia College, where she was dean of the Division of communication, Languages, and Literature for eight years and director of the writing-across-the-curriculum program for fifteen years.
I make the grammar of sentence structure easy to understand and teach you the rules you need to know to be an effective and efficient proofreader and editor of yourown work.
If your writing looks professional, so do you.
FAQ
Who is this course for?
Anyone wanting to produce more polished and professional writing. Some of our students include judges, attorneys, bankers, federal and state employees, court reporters/recorders.
What if I know absolutely nothing about grammar and usage?
The instruction assumes that students know very little grammar and includes definitions of terms and explanations to simplify complex topics.
Is there a specific start date, or can I enroll at any time?
You may enroll at any time and work at your own pace.
How much time will it take to work through this course?
The entire course will take approximately 10 hours to work through, and you can work at your own pace. The lessons are bite sized and you can easily fit them into your schedule.
Will I have access to the instructor or a community?
Yes! First, you are welcomed to email Nancy any time with your questions. She typically responds within hours and certainly within a day. You also have exclusive access to our Facebook community for learners and newsletter subscribers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2206128462765225
Do you offer discounts on your courses?
Yes! I offer discount codes regularly for my email subscribers (go to the website to subscribe), and I offer deep per-course discounts to businessesWhat if I start the course and don't like it?
What if I start the course and don't like it?
You can get a full refund for the first 14 day or until you have completed two lessons.
What Others Are Saying
"Nancy (Tuten) makes what could be a dry subject very interesting. She works to make the content relevant. The course was excellent."
–Samantha Williams, Director of Training and Development, S.C. Department of Public Safety
"A gifted lecturer who delivers content in an interactive and comprehensive fashion, Nancy has mastered the art of engaged presentations designed to enhance the writing skills of her audience."
–The Hon. Justice Gillian Lucky, High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, Chair, Judicial Education Institute
"As a freelancer I have often consulted books and websites for grammatical advice. Dr. Tuten is the best I've found. She is the only one who anticipated my questions with straightforward answers and clear examples. I look forward to consulting Get It Write Online every time I am confronted by a grammatical quandary."
–Walter N., Freelance Writer
"The program is outstanding. Nancy makes complex topics accessible with her clear explanations and helpful materials. Her interactive program and lively presentation style (and sense of humor) make learning easy and enjoyable."
–Margaret Perry, Senior State and Federal Appellate Attorney
"This course was precisely what I needed. I cannot recall a single issue we covered that will not be extremely helpful. I now realize how much help I need to be effective in my written communication."
- Fred Lancaster, National Account Manager, United Parcel Service
"My entire office should enroll in this workshop. I wish I had taken it sooner. In the past, some of this information was difficult for me to understand, but not today."
–Bonnie Ziegler, Personnel Services, S.C. Budget and Control Board Internal Operations
What Others Are Saying
"Nancy (Tuten) makes what could be a dry subject very interesting. She works to make the content relevant. The course was excellent."
–Samantha Williams, Director of Training and Development, S.C. Department of Public Safety
"A gifted lecturer who delivers content in an interactive and comprehensive fashion, Nancy has mastered the art of engaged presentations designed to enhance the writing skills of her audience."
–The Hon. Justice Gillian Lucky, High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, Chair, Judicial Education Institute
"As a freelancer I have often consulted books and websites for grammatical advice. Dr. Tuten is the best I've found. She is the only one who anticipated my questions with straightforward answers and clear examples. I look forward to consulting Get It Write Online every time I am confronted by a grammatical quandary."
–Walter N., Freelance Writer
"The program is outstanding. Nancy makes complex topics accessible with her clear explanations and helpful materials. Her interactive program and lively presentation style (and sense of humor) make learning easy and enjoyable."
–Margaret Perry, Senior State and Federal Appellate Attorney
"This course was precisely what I needed. I cannot recall a single issue we covered that will not be extremely helpful. I now realize how much help I need to be effective in my written communication."
- Fred Lancaster, National Account Manager, United Parcel Service
"My entire office should enroll in this workshop. I wish I had taken it sooner. In the past, some of this information was difficult for me to understand, but not today."
–Bonnie Ziegler, Personnel Services, S.C. Budget and Control Board Internal Operations
This course is approved for continuing education credit:
Don’t let your professionalism be called into question.
Register for $197.
Sign up risk-free: For the first 14 days after purchase or until two chapters have been completed—whichever comes first—you may receive a full refund if the course does not meet your expectations.
2025