Language Usage: Fundamental Rules of English and Grammar

By Craig Mackellar

This manual has been designed to assist applicants in preparing for the literacy component associated with most general ability tests used by organisations such as the:
– State Police Services
– Australian Federal Police
– St John Ambulance
– Ministry of Justice (Prisons)
– Fire and Rescue Service
– Australian Defence Forces.

Organisations seeking the most competitive applicants use a variety of testing to select the most suitable people for the job; part of that testing typically involves aptitude testing relating to, among other things, literacy and vocabulary skills.

The English language topics presented in this book are by no means an exhaustive list, but they will help you get through most general aptitude tests.

. . . . . . . . .

Paragon Corporate Training's Emergency Services' Preparatory Course has been developed to help you become super competitive in all aspects of general ability testing relating to the various emergency services throughout Australia.
This program will:
– Bridge the gap between your existing knowledge and skills; and the skills and knowledge required to meet the selection criteria for the police, ambulance, prison and fire and rescue services.
– Allow graduates to perform to their full potential and therefore reflect a sound and competitive aptitude for learning.
– Focus on long term retention and competent application of knowledge and skills in a workplace context.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781922788245

Book preview

Preface

A note from the author.

The specific industry skills identified as essential for entry into the Police Service and Fire and Rescue Service can be elusive for many people. Yet, as I have found through my own experiences from having taught at the police academy and now training members of the community, the skills required to demonstrate a sound aptitude for learning are inherent in all of us. What often remains dormant is the commitment to take on a challenge; it is the challenge and commitment that inspires people to do great things.

The special skills required for the emergency services are readily achievable to the individual who is committed to developing themselves. In most cases where an applicant has failed a general ability test or physical assessment, they were unprepared.

People’s literacy and numeracy skills, test taking skills, behavioural skills as well as fitness level all diminish through lack of use or practice. Many adults, especially adults of indigenous and non-English speaking background, have not had the opportunity to gain the skills set down by industry as pre-requísíte for employment, such as numerical problem solving and work place English. This phenomenon places many people, who would otherwise be highly appropriate as emergency service officers, at a disadvantage.

The opportunity to compete on a level playing field in general ability testing with mainstream applicants exists through this self-teaching guide.

Craig Mackellar

This manual has been designed to assist applicants in preparing for the literacy component associated with most general ability tests used by organisations such as the:

•State Police Services

•Australian Federal Police

•St John Ambulance

•Ministry of Justice (Prisons)

•Fire and Rescue Service

•Australian Defence Forces.

Organisations seeking the most competitive applicants use a variety of testing to select the most suitable people for the job; part of that testing typically involves aptitude testing relating to, among other things, literacy and vocabulary skills.

The English language topics presented in this book are by no means an exhaustive list, but they will help you get through most general aptitude tests.

The competitiveness factor

Selection for the police pool, from which police recruits are selected, is partly based on the highest scores over the entire selection process. It may not be good enough to pass in each area; you need to be competitive with the front-runners in all areas.

Paragon Corporate Training’s Emergency Services’ Preparatory Course has been developed to help you become super competitive in all aspects of general ability testing relating to the various emergency services throughout Australia.

This program will:

•Bridge the gap between your existing knowledge and skills; and the skills and knowledge required to meet the selection criteria for the police, ambulance, prison and fire and rescue services.

•Allow graduates to perform to their full potential and therefore reflect a sound and competitive aptitude for learning.

•Focus on long term retention and competent application of knowledge and skills in a workplace context.

1 Capital letters

It is difficult to state all the rules for employing capital letters in English. Usage is not fixed, and there are exceptions to the rule in almost every situation. The basic principles, however, are fairly straightforward.

The following rules are designed to guide you in almost every conceivable situation involving capital letters. By applying the broad principles involved, and by a certain amount of common sense and judicious analogy, you can usually decide whether to capitalise or not, even when the situation facing you is not covered specifically. You should always resort to your dictionary for specific guidance.

1.1 First words

Capitalise the first word of every sentence. This is one rule which all of us should know.

The cat jumped over the neighbour’s fence. Unfortunately for the cat, the dog was home and hadn’t been fed.

1.2 Calendar divisions

Capitalise names of days