Common Writing and Grammar Mistakes: A Baker's Dozen
Prepared by
Vicki Miller, CIT News and Publishing
For Agroforestry
February 2004
The Baker's Dozen
- Active voice/passive voice
- It's vs. its
- Adverbs that dont end in 's'
- Noun-verb agreement
- Ever-changing tenses
- Parallel construction
- Participal phrase confusion
- Vague pronouns
- Wordy, indirect and unclear
- Big words = confusing
- Tricky words
- Run-on sentences
- Not checking spelling vs. depending on spell check
1. Active voice/passive voice:
Write in the current tense whenever possible. Your words should act, not be acted upon.
This is the key to interesting, readable writing.
Passive:
A decision was reached by the board of directors to amend the company bylaws.
Mistakes were made.
Active:
The board of directors decided to amend to company bylaws.
The board amended the company bylaws.
She made mistakes.
It's is a conjunction for it is.
Its is a possessive noun.
If you use it's in a sentence, read it as "it is" and see if it makes sense. If not, it's its.
Wrong:
Its the sort of day that makes a dog chase it's tail.
Right:
It's the sort of day that makes a dog chase its tail.
3. Adverbs that don't end in 's':
Many people incorrectly add an 's' to some common adverbs.
It's toward, NOT towards; anyway, NOT anyways; forward NOT forwards.
This rule applies to everywhere, somewhere, backward, etc. There are no -wheres, -ways and -wards.
A single noun or pronoun takes a singular verb; a plural noun or pronoun takes a plural verb. Some words that describe many parts are still singular, or collective nouns. These words are often incorrectly given a plural pronoun: board of directors, company, committee or a specific species.
Wrong:
The board of directors will vote on these issues at their meeting.
Right:
The board of directors will vote on these issues at its meeting.
Wrong:
The company is well known for the quality of their products.
Right:
The company is well known for the quality of its products.
Wrong:
I like subtitles because it helps break up the type.
Right:
I like subtitles because they break up the type.
Choose a tense and stick with it. Don't change tenses within sentences or paragraphs. It confuses readers.
Wrong:
In this publication, we will outline how to install sprinkler irrigation, review guidelines for use and have validated those concepts. We then demonstrated the water-saving capacity of this technique. Finally, we offer other water-saving ideas.
Right:
In this publication we outline how to install sprinkler irrigation, review guidelines for using this system and demonstrate how to validate these concepts. We also offer other water-saving ideas.
A string of words, phrases or clauses should use the same voice, tense, verbs and patterns. In other words, all parts of a sentence must "agree". Beware of double-meanings when sentences are not parallel.
Example 1.
Wrong:
Sam helps with work around home by cooking and ironing his own clothes.
Better options:
Sam helps with work around home by cooking and by ironing his own clothes.
or
Sam helps with work around home by ironing his own clothes and cooking.
Example 2.
Wrong:
Bob enjoys his work as a landscaper during the day and going to the movies.
Right:
Bob enjoys working as a landscaper during the day and going to the movies at night.
Example 3.
Wrong:
She enjoyed the smell of rain, walking on sand and her daughter's laughter.
Right:
She enjoyed the smell of rain, the feel of sand on her feet and the sound of her daughter's laughter.
Example 4.
Wrong:
Not only are native grasses well-known for their hardiness but also for their beauty.
Better:
Native grasses are well-known for their hardiness as well as their beauty.
Native grasses are well-known for their hardiness and beauty.
Native grasses are well-known for their hardiness. They're also beautiful.
(Sometimes turning a confusing compound sentence into two sentences is the best solution.)
7. Participal phrase confusion:
A participal phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
When it doesn't there usually are unintended consequences. A participle is a verb used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun. Make sure you're really writing what you mean.
Example 1.
Confusing:
After putting a worm on my hook, the fish began to bite. (What a nice worm.)
Clear:
After I baited my hook, the fish began biting.
(The fish began biting as soon as I put the worm on my hook.)
Example 2.
Confusing:
Being made of glass, Sally handled the vase carefully. (Poor thing!)
Clear:
Sally handled the glass vase carefully.
Example 3.
Confusing:
Looking for fun, the boat sailed away. (Ambitious boat.)
Clear:
While we were looking for fun, the boat sailed.
OR
We sailed away on the boat in search of fun.
OR
For fun, we set sail on the boat.
When a sentence includes several nouns, the use of pronouns can get confusing. This is a case of you knowing what you meant, but not making it clear to the reader.
Examples:
My friend John and his brother were surprised when he won the award. (Who won? John, his brother, someone else?)
OR
My friend and his brother were surprised when John won the award.
John, who is my friend, and his brother were surprised when John won the award.
Science is so complex that reporters covering environmental issues and politics typically ignore it. (What is it?)
9. Wordy, indirect and unclear:
Wordiness is a common error. In an attempt to provide lots of details, authors confuse readers with extra words, unclear meanings, and indirect sentence construction. Confused writing often begins with a writer who doesn't fully understand his or her subject matter. Clear, direct and concise are your goals.
Example 1.
Wordy:
I am majoring in the field of natural resources,
Better:
I am majoring in natural resources.
Example 2.
Wordy:
Another aspect that needs to be examined is the matter of irrigation.
Better:
Irrigation also needs to be considered.
Irrigation is also a factor.
Example 3.
Wordy:
There were more than 100 people in attendance at the meeting.
Better:
More than 100 people attended the meeting.
There were more than 100 people at the meeting.
Example 4.
Wordy:
Due to the fact that trees can become root-bound, it is important to properly spread out the roots at planting time.
Better:
It is important to properly spread the roots at planting because trees can become root-bound.
Properly spreading the roots at planting time helps keep a tree from becoming root-bound.
Example 5.
Wordy:
The conclusions that the committee of scientists reached are summarized in the scientific journal.
Better:
The committee of scientists' conclusions are summarized in today's edition of the scientific journal.
OR
Today's scientific journal summarizes conclusions by the committee of scientists.
With writing, as with words, less usually is more. Using lots of big, fancy words when a few well-chosen words will do is a sign of an inexperienced writer. Look for ways to explain things in clear, understandable language that make your information accessible to readers.
Example 1.
Confusing:
Due to the fact that the outlet mechanism for the organic fuel appliance was obstructed by carbon, the edifice was consumed by fire.
Better:
Because the flue for the wood-burning stove was clogged with soot, the house burned.
Example 2.
Confusing:
The athletic contest commenced at the stipulated time.
Better:
The game began on time.
Example 3.
Confusing:
Owing to the tremendous heights that it can achieve, this tree species could be ruled out as a good candidate for placement in a small garden.
Better:
This tree species grows too big for a small garden.
Know the subtle differences in words so you can use the correct spelling for your context.
Some examples:
further -- more
farther -- distance
effect -- as a verb means to cause; as a noun means result.
affect -- to influence (a verb)
complement -- to complete; or supplement
compliment -- to praise
complimentary -- free
Varying the length of your sentences makes your writing more interesting, but this doesn't mean long sentences that go on and on and have several thoughts in them are the sorts of things that most readers are willing to read through, sort out and stick with for very long. (I rest my case.)
Try to keep most sentences to fewer than 30 words. If you have a long thought, such as the one above, try breaking it into two or three sentences or thoughts.
13. Not checking spelling vs. depending on spell check:
Always check your spelling but don't rely completely on spell check. Use the spell check feature but change spellings only if you know what's correct. When in doubt, use a dictionary. Never set the computer to automatically correct.
Prepared by Vicki Miller, CIT News and Publishing
For Agroforestry
Feb. 3 and 10, 2004
