Spelling
*A contraction is a word made by combining 2 existing words and putting an apostrophe (') where letters have been removed. A good way to remember how to use them is by saying the two words they're made of and seeing if it makes sense.
Its/It's
"Its" is used to show possession.
Incorrect: It's tail thumped on the ground.
Correct: Its tail thumped on the ground.
"It's" is a contraction* of "it" and "is".
Incorrect: Its cold outside.
Correct: It's cold outside.
Your/You're
"Your" is possessive.
Incorrect: Your not one of us.
Correct: That's not yours.
"You're" is a contraction* of "you" and "are".
Incorrect: That's not you'res.
Correct: You're not one of us.
Their/They're/There
"Their" is possessive.
Incorrect: She was over their.
Correct: The territory was theirs.
"They're" is a contraction* of "they" and "are".
Incorrect: The territory was they'res.
Correct: They're pretty rude.
"There" describes a location.
Incorrect: The territory was there's.
Correct: She was over there.
Effect/Affect
"Effect" is the noun version.
Incorrect: It did not effect him.
Correct: It had no effect.
"Affect" is the verb version.
Incorrect: It had no affect.
Correct: It did not affect him.
Rogue/Rouge
"Rouge" means "red" in French, so...
A rogue (in animal terms) is a normally social animal that is living apart from a group, often having destructive and aggressive tendencies, like prideless male lions.
Incorrect: The rouge stalked in claimed territory.
Correct: The rogue stalked in claimed territory.
Guardian/Gardian/Gaurdian
a "guardian" is a protector. The other two are common misspellings.
Incorrect: She was his gaurdian.
Correct: She was his guardian.
(Not a word, but still.) A Lot/Alot
"Alot" is not a word.
"A lot" is... Well, a lot of something.
Incorrect: She had alot of food.
Correct: She had a lot of food.
Comma Rules
Use a comma before an independent clause. Similarly, do not put a comma before a dependent clause. Remember, an independent clause can stand alone and make sense, while a dependent clause cannot.
Trust me, it will eventually just come naturally.
Incorrect: She liked to take her time, so walked slowly.
Correct: She liked to take her time, so she walked slowly.
OR
She liked to take her time and so walked slowly.
Incorrect: Her fur was dense, and curly.
Correct: Her fur was dense and curly.
Incorrect: As time seemed to stop her eyes widened.
Correct: As time seemed to stop, her eyes widened.
If following dialogue with something along the lines of "they said", put a comma instead of a period inside of the quotation. This only applies if there would be a period.
Incorrect: "I didn't know." He said.
Correct: "I didn't know," He said.
But, if you're putting the "they said" part before the dialogue and the following words don't relate to the dialogue, just end in a period.
Incorrect: He said, "I didn't know," He seemed concerned.
Correct: He said, "I didn't know." He seemed concerned.
Other Quotation Rules
Punctuation goes inside of dialogue.
Incorrect: "What"?
Correct: "What?"
In the case of referring to a proper noun, punctuation goes outside of the quotations, as it belongs to the entire sentence and not the proper noun.
Incorrect: Do you like "Warriors?"
Correct: Do you like "Warriors"?
If putting quotations within quotations, use single quotation marks.
Incorrect: "He told me to "back off"."
Correct: "He told me to 'back off'."
Quotation marks can be used to put emphasis, normally meaning the opposite of what is said.
Ex: She was "singing". He was super "funny". He was "great" at video games.
Always begin a new paragraph when there is a new speaker.
Incorrect: "What is that?" She asked. "I don't know," He replied.
Correct: "What is that?" She asked.
"I don't know," He replied.
Other Rules
If a word/name ends in an "s" but you're trying to say that it possesses something (Ex: It is Sparx's thread), the apostrophe goes after the "s".
Incorrect: It was Corvus's territory.
Correct: It was Corvus' territory.
The same applies if you're talking about more than one of something.
Incorrect: It was many lion's kill.
Correct: It was many lions' kill.