Rule 1: Although and though are followed yet or comma (,).
Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she went on working.
Correct- Although she was tired, she went on working.
Rule 2: ‘Both’ should be followed by ‘and’. It should be used in the positive sense. In the negative sense, ‘neither’….. .’nor should be used in place of ‘both’.
Incorrect – Both Ravi as well as Raja were present there.
Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.
Rule 3: ‘Either … or’, ‘neither …. nor: ‘both and’, ‘not only but also’ should be followed by the same parts of speech.
Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.
Rule 4: ‘Neither’ should be followed, by ‘nor’, ‘either’ should be followed by ‘or’. Both these should not be confused.
Incorrect- He washed neither his hands nor his face.
Correct- He washed neither his hands nor his face.
Rule 5: ‘No sooner’ should be followed by ‘than’, not by ‘but’ or ‘then’.
Incorrect- No sooner did I enter the room then the students stood up.
Correct- No sooner did I enter the room, than the students stood up.
Rule 6: ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’, but not by ‘than’ or ‘that’.
Incorrect-I had scarcely entered the room then the phone rang.
Correct-I had scarcely entered the room when the phone rang.