Every rule, and how hard it binds

103 rules match. Showing 1–25. Clear filters

1. GRM-001 Subject–verb number agreement IF a finite clause has an expressed subject AND neither quoted dialect nor an agreement exception applies, THEN align the finite verb with the subject in number ELSE retain. Hard constraint
2. GRM-002 Compound subject agreement IF two or more singular subject heads are coordinated by AND, THEN use plural agreement ELSE evaluate the coordinator. Hard constraint
3. GRM-004 Pronoun–antecedent agreement IF a pronoun refers to an antecedent AND the antecedent is known, THEN align person and number while respecting singular THEY ELSE request the missing referent. Hard constraint
4. GRM-005 Unambiguous pronoun reference IF a pronoun has two or more plausible antecedents OR none, THEN replace it with the intended noun phrase ELSE retain. Hard constraint
5. GRM-008 Sequence of tenses IF a dependent clause is temporally related to a governing clause, THEN select tense and aspect that express the intended ordering ELSE do not normalize automatically. Hard constraint
6. GRM-009 Complete comparative relation IF a comparison can attach to more than one comparison set, THEN state the full set or rewrite ELSE retain. Hard constraint
7. GRM-011 Article required for singular count noun IF a singular count noun is used referentially AND lacks a determiner, THEN add the contextually correct determiner ELSE retain. Hard constraint
8. GRM-012 A/an follows sound IF an indefinite article precedes a singular noun phrase, THEN choose A before a consonant sound OR AN before a vowel sound ELSE retain. Hard constraint
9. GRM-013 Countability-compatible quantifier IF a quantifier conflicts with the noun’s countability, THEN replace the quantifier or recast the noun ELSE retain. Hard constraint
10. GRM-014 Case for coordinated pronouns IF a pronoun appears in coordination, THEN assign the case required by its syntactic role, tested without the other conjunct ELSE retain. Hard constraint
11. GRM-015 Reflexive pronoun requires local antecedent IF a reflexive pronoun lacks a compatible local antecedent, THEN replace it with the correct personal pronoun or supply the antecedent ELSE retain. Hard constraint
12. GRM-017 Modifier beside its target IF a modifier can attach to the wrong head, THEN move it beside the intended target or expand the phrase ELSE retain. Hard constraint
13. GRM-018 Repair dangling introductory modifier IF an introductory modifier’s implied actor is not the following subject, THEN make the actor the subject OR expand the modifier into a clause ELSE retain. Hard constraint
14. GRM-019 Logical negation IF two negatives unintentionally cancel into a positive, THEN replace them with the intended positive or single negative ELSE retain deliberate litotes or dialect. Hard constraint
15. GRM-020 Avoid fused participle logic IF an -ing construction implies a cause, sequence, or actor that the sentence does not support, THEN state the relation in a finite clause ELSE retain. Hard constraint
16. PUN-001 Terminate complete sentences IF a prose sentence is complete, THEN end it with a mark matching statement, direct question, or strong exclamation ELSE keep it joined to its governing structure. Hard constraint
17. PUN-002 No comma splice IF two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, THEN add a coordinator, use a semicolon, or make two sentences ELSE retain. Hard constraint
18. PUN-005 Set off nonrestrictive material IF a modifier adds nonessential information rather than identifying the referent, THEN set it off with paired punctuation ELSE do not set it off. Hard constraint
19. PUN-006 Do not isolate restrictive material IF a modifier identifies which person or thing is meant, THEN remove punctuation that falsely marks it as optional ELSE evaluate as nonrestrictive. Hard constraint
20. PUN-010 Colon follows a complete setup IF a colon introduces an explanation, list, example, or amplification, THEN ensure the material before it can stand as a complete clause ELSE remove or recast. Hard constraint
21. PUN-011 Apostrophe marks possession or omission IF an apostrophe is present, THEN verify that it marks possession, contracted omission, or a declared special style ELSE remove it. Hard constraint
22. PUN-016 Question mark only for direct questions IF the sentence directly asks a question, THEN use a question mark; IF it reports a question, use statement punctuation ELSE retain. Hard constraint
23. PUN-017 Quotation marks require a quotation function IF quotation marks appear, THEN verify direct quotation, title convention, coined term, or explicit distancing; otherwise remove scare quotes. Hard constraint
24. PUN-020 Punctuation preserves hierarchy IF nested structures use indistinguishable boundaries, THEN assign stronger marks to higher-level divisions OR split the sentence ELSE retain. Hard constraint
25. SYN-001 Complete clause for formal prose IF a unit is presented as a formal prose sentence AND lacks an independent clause, THEN attach it, complete it, or label it as a fragment ELSE retain. Hard constraint