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