Writing Disasters and Pet Peeves
Don’t let these happen to you!
Communication includes the written word. There are many common errors that I see, quarter after quarter, that interfere with communication. Below is my collection of writing errors that make me crazy. This means that you should avoid them at all costs!
If you would like more information, I suggest Raimes’ “Keys for Writers” or Truss’ “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.”
I. Punctuation
A. Comma? No comma?
1. Do use a comma after an introductory word group. For example:
When Miguel was ready to eat, his cat jumped onto the table.
After talking with the man, Amanda was clearly angry.
2. If you begin a sentence with “although,” “while,” or “since,” it is extremely unlikely that it is followed by a comma. Do not use a comma here!
3. There are many times when commas are not necessary. Here are a few examples (the red commas are not necessary and should not be included):
After a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor): Occasionally soap operas are performed live, but, more often they are taped.
After such or like: Many shade-loving plants, such as, begonias, impatiens, and coleus, can add color to a shady garden.
After the first in a list of two: Her friends Bill, and Mary helped her.
B. Apostrophes
1. Do not use an apostrophe in the following situations:
With plural nouns:
Some outpatients are given special parking permits.
In the possessive pronouns its, whose, his, hers, ours, yours, and theirs.
2. Do use an apostrophe to indicate a noun that is possessive:
Tim’s hat
The lawyer’s desk
3. Do use an apostrophe in forming a plural noun.
If the noun does not end in s, add ’s: Thank you for refunding the children’s money.
If the noun is singular and ends in s, add ’s: Lois’s sister spent last year in India .
C. Contractions
In formal writing (such as for classes), and to follow APA guidelines, do not use contractions. A contraction is the use of an apostrophe (’) to stand for letters in a word. For example, the contraction of the phrase “do not” is “don’t,” and the contraction of the phrase “will not” is “won’t.” In formal writing, spell out each word individually, and do not use the contraction.
D. Quotations
Punctuating quotations can be confusing.
Always place periods and commas inside quotation marks:
“So long,” sang the dolphins, “and thanks for all the fish!”
Put question marks and exclamation points inside the quotation marks, unless they belong to the whole sentence:
The television show I watched was “The Family.”
II. Word Usage
A. “E very day” and “everyday”
“Every day,” two words, means “each and every day.”
“Everyday,” one word, means “typical.”
When using these terms, try substituting either “each and every day” or “typical” to determine which use is appropriate.
B. “ There, ” “ t hey’re, ” and “ t heir ”
There is an adverb specifying place: There are two plums left.
They’re is a contraction of they are: They’re my friends.
Their is a possessive pronoun: Lauren and Lyle finally washed their car.
C. Wondering eyes?
If you ever find your eyes wandering, notice that they are in fact wandering, and not wondering.
D. “ Defiantly ” or “ definitely ” ?
If you are talking about someone who is acting insolently, they may be defiant , and they may be acting defiantly.
If you are sure about something, you may be definite.
E. Adverbs
Use adverbs, not adjectives, to modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
Incorrect: The manager must see that the office runs smooth and efficient.
Correct: The manager must see that the office runs smoothly and efficiently.
Incorrect: Maria performed very good at her Drama Club audition.
Correct: Maria performed very well at her Drama Club audition.
III. Verb Tense
It is important to maintain consistency in your writing regarding the tense you use. Tense refers to the time your writing is placed. For example, you might use past tense:
· When I was young, I was afraid of tomatoes.
You might use future tense:
· When I go home tonight, I will have to walk carefully past the tomato garden so that the tomatoes do not attack me.
You might use present tense:
· Jorge walks happily past the tomato garden.
The key is to pick ONE tense and stick with it; do not change tenses in the middle of the narration.
IV. What is a sentence?
A sentence fragment is a word group that pretends to be a sentence. Some fragments are clauses that contain a subject and a verb, but begin with a subordinating word, so are not sentences:
On that morning I sat in my usual spot. On the old wooden stool i n the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.
To be a sentence, a word group must consist of at least one full independent clause—including a subject and a verb. It either stands alone or could stand alone:
On that morning, I sat in my usual spot: the old wooden stool in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen
V. What is a paragraph?
A paragraph consists of a topic sentence (also known as a “key sentence”) and sentences to support that topic sentence. Usually, but not always, the topic sentence comes first (in italics below):
Grading papers is a joy to me. When I sit down with a stack of papers to grade, I excitedly anticipate reading evidence of the brilliance of my students. As I read one paper after another, I bask in the knowledge that my students understood the content of the course, and enjoyed completing the project. This knowledge, combined with the reward I give myself for every “A” paper (a glass of wine), reinforces my belief that there is no greater joy than evaluating my students’ work.
VI. Verboten!
A. “Being that”
Never, ever, no matter what, start a sentence with “Being that …”
Incorrect: Being that she was a good student, she went to class every day.
Correct: Given that she was a good student, she went to class every day.
Correct: Because she was a good student, she went to class every day.
B. Terms to never ever use:
“Would of.” Often people use this instead of the correct term, “would have.”
“Thusly.” This is not a real word. Do not use it.