Avoid using the synonym selection in Word.

Do not start sentences with “And.”

Do not use “I” or “You” in ANY paper.

Could of – NO!!! Could’ve Could have

Avoid contractions

Use simple language But be formal

Affect/effect

Than/then

Toward and Towards Toward and towards are both correct and

interchangeable.

PossessivesSingular names that end in –s: use an apostrophe and an sChris’s house is blue.

Other words that end in –s: use s’The drinking glass’ crack is noticeable.

MISTAKES IN PAPERS

ThesisShould include the three major points of your paper

Example:The setting of the novel affects the main character because of A, B, and C.

Goes at the end of the intro

Between and AmongBetweenOne-to-one relationshipsLet's keep this between you and me. Choose between green and blue.

More than two items, groups, or peopleThe differences between English, Chinese, and Arabic are significant.

AmongThings that aren't distinct items or individualsTaylor and Morgan are among the students featured in this month’s magazine.

The scandal caused a division among the fans.

Indicates that someone is part of a group or left out of a groupHe was glad to find a friend among enemies.

Clichés They have no place in formal writing and

do not adequately describe what you are trying to say.

Many students try to argue that clichés make the paper more interesting, that what they’re saying is “not really a cliché,” that the phrasing makes them sound witty, smart, etc. They’re wrong.

They should be avoided in all writing, but especially in formal papers. Starting off on the wrong foot In the long run Writing on the wall Too much of a good thing A huge fan of Sweep under the rug Tip of the iceberg

Semicolons Semicolons are used to join

independent clauses in a sentence. If what comes after the semicolon is

a fragment and cannot stand on its own as a sentence, YOU’RE USING IT INCORRECTLY!!!

Examples:Working mothers nationally pay an average of $53 a week for child care; this means that many women pay nearly half of their weekly salary to day care centers or babysitters.

Colons Colons are used after an independent clause

that precedes a list. The use of these punctuation marks often confuses students: comma, semicolon, colon, hyphen, and dash.

Colons are used to separate an explanation, rule, or example from a preceding independent clause. After a sleepless night, the senator made her decision: she would not seek re-election.

This is a way to remember which direction to move the hands of the clock when changing to or from Daylight Savings Time: spring forward, fall back.

Dialogue within a quote “Nelly walked up the stairs and

encountered Martha. ‘What are you doing with the children today?’ she inquired” (Smith 67).

“Nelly walked up the stairs and encountered Martha. ‘What are you doing with the children today?’” (Smith 67).

The use of double quotation marks is only necessary for a quote within a quote. Not all dialogue receives the double quotation marks. “What are you doing with the children

today?” (Smith 67).

MISTAKES IN PAPERS

Even if you use a quote in the middle of a sentence, put the citation at the end.

Do not cite the same author more than three times in a row.

Indent quotes that are longer than three lines.Refer to MLA format in packet for proper citations.

Agreement If a person has a big decision to make, they have a lot to consider.NO!

If a person has a big decision to make, he has a lot to consider.

If a person has a big decision to make, she has a lot to consider.

Comma splice A comma splice is the incorrect use of a

comma to connect two independent clauses. (Recall that an independent clause is a phrase that is grammatically and conceptually complete; that is, it can stand on its own as a sentence.)

To correct the comma splice, you can: replace the comma with a period, forming two sentences

replace the comma with a semicolon join the two clauses with a conjunction such as "and," "because," "but," etc.

Examples: I like Jamie, she is very pretty.

INCORRECT I like Jamie. She is very pretty. CORRECT I like Jamie; she is very pretty. CORRECT I like Jamie because she is very pretty.

CORRECT

Dangling participles A participle is a verb-form that ends in -

ing. It is called "dangling" when it doesn't

agree with its subject. Incorrect example: While walking down

the road, a tree caught Kelly's attention. The subject of the sentence is "a tree," but it is not the tree that is doing the walking, therefore the participle "walking" is dangling.

Correct examples: While walking down the road, Kelly noticed a tree. A tree caught Kelly's attention as she walked down the road.

Remember that not all words that end in -ing are participles (e.g. thing).

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition Prepositions are little words that

indicate position: with, at, by, from, etc. In general, a preposition should come

before the noun it modifies.Hence the name “Pre"-position

Incorrect example: “That's the person I must talk to.”

Correct example: “That's the person to whom I must talk.”

Winston Churchill: "This is the kind of thing up with which I will not put!"

About Behind From On Toward Above Below In On top of Under Across Beneath In front of Onto Underneath After Beside Inside Out

Of Until Against Between Instead of Outside Up Along By Into Over Upon Among Down Through Without Before For Off To Of

With Around During Near Since Within At Except Like Past

“Who” and “whoever” are subjective pronouns; “whom” and “whomever” are in the objective case.

Examples: Who is that masked man? (“Who”/subject)  The men, four of whom are ill, were

indicted for fraud. (“whom”/object) 

Rule: Substitute “he/him” or “she/her” If it's either “he” or “she,” then it's “who;”

if it's “him” or “her,” then it's “whom.”

5 standard areas spelling punctuation sentence structure paragraph structure syntax errors

Transition use connections between paragraphs and within paragraphs

Use of quotes and cites

2 successes/2 areas of improvement

Must be signed!

PROBLEMS

Thesis statementsThey should not be hard to findYour three main points should be listed in your thesis.

Body paragraphs should follow the format/order of your thesis.Point A of your thesis should be the topic of your first body paragraph, etc.

Heading must be correct

PROBLEMS

Delete space between paragraphs.

Remember rules for quotes.Only use the double quotation marks when there’s a break in dialogue.

Not all dialogue gets the double quotation marks.

Do not start a paragraph with a quote.You need to include some explanation and set up the quote. Follow with explanation.

Indent quotes longer than three lines 10 spaces.INDENT THE WHOLE QUOTE, not just the first line.

PROBLEMS

Long quotes do not get quotation marks at the beginning and end of the quote.UNLESS it’s a quote within a quote, then you follow the same rules: single marks on the dialogue within the quote.

Example:I went into the stairwell and was surprised at what I saw. ‘What are you doing here?’ Mrs. Callar asked. ‘I’m searching for Mr. Barnes. Is he still on the grounds?’ I had hoped he was gone (Sanders 27).

PROBLEMS NO CONTRACTIONS!

Too much summaryNeed to include some kind of commentary (critique) and your own analysis instead of just retelling what happened.

PossessivesIf you are using a proper name, such as “Miles,” it would be expressed as “Miles’s.”

Also, notice where the comma and period are placed above when using quotation marks without a citation.The character is suspicious of her newfound “friends.”

The girl referred to the woman as “Aunt Rita,” despite the fact they were not truly related.

PROBLEMS

ExaggerationsThe governess was losing her mind.The governess’ mental stability was questionable.