Edited American English:

Common Errors

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Or risk making your professors feel like this:

#1Using an apostrophe to make a

Noun Plural

Deep Fried Oreos

Wines for Valentines

CDs, DVDs, Games

1880s

In informal settings, apostrophes are used to indicate that the structure is missing letters (e.g. contractions) or numbers (years).

Actually, In Academic Writing: Apostrophes should NOT be used to

Indicate Missing Letters or Numbers

1980s

• To make a word plural add -s or -es. Jane Smith and John Smith=The Smiths book=books boss=bosses

• Use an ‘s to show ownership. John’s book The teacher’s chair

• To make a word both plural and possessive, make it plural first and then add the -‘s.

The Smiths’ car

Something You Might Not Know

If the word already ends in an –s, add an ‘s if the new form of the word is pronounced with an extra syllable. Kim Davis=Kim Davis’s car Only add an apostrophe without the -s if the new word does not take on an extra syllable when pronounced. Jenny Burns=Jenny Burns’ car

#2Using of as a

substitution for Have.

‘ve=have

Incorrect CorrectCould of Could haveShould of Should haveWould of Would have

#3Using a semicolon (;) in

place of a comma.

Commas separate words and phrases

.

Semicolons separate two independent clauses

An Independent Clause=a full sentence A Full Sentence=a complete thought

Therefore, semicolons indicate the end of a complete thought and the

beginning of another complete thought

Try this one:

Give me a cookie; Mom!

Give me a cookie.

Give me a cookie is a complete thought

Mom!

Mom! is not a complete thought.

Both sides of the semicolon MUST be complete thoughts

So, the correct punctuation is a comma:

Give me a cookie, Mom!

Semicolons are used for:

Joining two independent clauses that are working together--There is a huge difference between running a full and a half-marathon; it is a difference only marathoners can appreciate. Joining two independent clauses separated by a special conjunction.*The teacher’s assignment was unclear; however, I had to do my best and come up with something.

*Special conjunctions=nevertheless, however, moreover, therefore, then, & thus

Remember, a semicolon is not a colon

; : A ASemi-colon Colonseparates signalscomplete an upcomingthoughts definition or list

Why Should I Care?

Because Punctuation Affects Meaning

#4 Ending a Sentence with a Preposition or Linking Verb

Prepositions

Prepositions are words in the pre-position of the noun and its modifiers.

They show some type of relationship. at, into, on, for, to, of, in, to, with, from, about, beside, beneath, under, over, before, between, within, onto, inside, outside, out of etc.

Pre-Position means they MUST be followed by other words; they cannot END a sentence.

Incorrect: They are the group the speech was given to.

Correct: They are the group to whom the speech was given.

Linking Verbs

Linking Verbs are verbs that link words and phrases to other words and phrases. any form of to be such as: is, are, am, was, wereBecause they link two parts together, they cannot be the last word of the sentence. Incorrect: The city is the place I want to be.Correct: The city is the place I want to be for life.

Remember:

Because prepositions come in the PRE position and linking verbs link two structures together,

They should NEVER be found at the end of a sentence.

#5Forgetting to put a

comma before the and when discussing a series

of 3 or more items.

Like this:

Houston is a large, multicultural, and powerful city.

This comma is known asThe Serial Comma

orThe Oxford Comma

#6Placing What or How in

the middle of a sentence.

These Sentences are Vague

The school is communicating what the parents need to know. The school is contemplating how the new system will benefit the students.

In both cases, the use of interrogatives in place of nouns leads to a lack of specificity in the writing.

These Sentences are Clear & Specific

The school is communicating the information that the parents need to know.

The school is contemplating the ways in which the new system will benefit the students.

#7Using non-parallel

structures in the same sentence.

Sentences composed of unlike structures are Non-Parallel

She likes to run, to rollerblade, and playing racquetball.

She likes to run, to rollerblade, and playing racquetball.

“playing” is an –ing verb form, while the other two verbs are infinitive verb forms.

Obama is a basketball player, a father, and runs the country.

Obama is a basketball player, a father, and runs the country.

“runs the country” is a verb phrase; the other two structures are noun phrases.

She likes to run, to rollerblade, and to play racquetball.

Obama is a basketball player, a father, and the head of this country.

#8Using the object form

of the pronoun in place of the subject form.

Nominative Objective Possessive

I Me My/Mine

You You Your/Yours

He Him His

She Her Her/Hers

We Us Our/Ours

They Them Their/Theirs

Who Whom Whose

Nominative vs. Objective

Nominative (Subject) Objective (Object)Use when the pronoun Use when the pronounis doing the action is receiving the action or is the object of a preposition

He kicks the ball. Correct! He is the subject.The ball is kicked to him. Correct! Him is the object.Him and I kick the ball. Wrong! He is the subject.Her and me are a lot alike. WRONG! She and I are subjects.

#9Using a non-matching or unclear

pronoun

Pronoun/Antecedent Issue

Someone called today; they hung up before leaving a message.

Non-matching

Someone called today; however, whoever called did not leave a message.

One=Singular but They=Plural

Anyone Everyone Someone No One Nobody

All of these are singular. They require a singular pronoun.

Colorado legalized marijuana; it has always been horrible.

Unclear

Colorado legalized marijuana; it has always been a horrible state.

#10Confusing these words:

Figurative vs. Literal

Literal=Actual or Real Figurative=Symbolic

Loose vs. Lose

Loose is the opposite Lose is the oppositeof tight. It is an adjective. of win. OR it means to misplace something. It is a verb.

Well vs. Good

“How are you doing?”

Incorrect Answer: “Good.” Correct Answer: “Well” Good is an adjective. Adjectives modify nouns. Well is an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs.

Doing is a verb. Do NOT use an adjective to modify it. Also incorrect: He did good! She played good. He sings good.

Further vs. Farther

Further is used for Farther is used formetaphorical distance. physical distance.

Her ideas will take us The dog chased him fartherfurther than we’ve ever been. than he’s ever run.

Their, They’re, There

Its vs. It’s Then vs. ThanIt’s = It is Then=NextIts= Possessive Than=Compared to

Too, Two, & To Too=Also To=preposition Two=Number

Affect vs. EffectAffect: (verb) to make an impressionThe bank crisis severely affected the economy.Effect: (noun) a result of some type of changeThe effects of the bad economy were felt by everyone.

Affect: (noun) a person’s outward appearance of moodEven though he had experienced a tragedy, his affect did not seem very sad or distraught.Effect: (verb) to cause a specific change/resultMartin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and others in the Civil Rights Movement worked to effect change in discriminatory laws and behaviors.

Affect vs. Effect

Lie vs. Lay Lie: to be in the prone position Lay: to put something down

Billy, lie down. Susie, lay your pencil down.He is lying down. She is laying down her thoughts.He will lie down. She will lay it down.He lay down. She laid it down.He has lain down. She has laid it down.

Remember:

• Use the correct conjugation of Lie when you are describing a person, place, idea, or object already existing in the prone position.

• Use the correct conjugation of Lay when you

are describing putting a person, object, or idea onto/into something.

Some Funny Errors