The 5 fatal mistakesThe 5 fatal mistakesin English usagein English usage

Papers (or journal or blog Papers (or journal or blog entries with these errors will entries with these errors will

not receive a grade)not receive a grade)

1.Misspelling words jump

2.Beginning a sentence without a capital jump

3.Using text-messaging abbreviations Jump

4. Writing sentence fragments jump

5. Writing run-on sentences (and comma splices) jump

Misspelled WordsMisspelled Words

We live in the spell check era.Use it.

To a large extent, the worlds of education, business, and government are closed to you if you cannot turn in text without misspellings.

The habit of checking, and re-checking, the spelling of documents you create is vital.

No school assignment should be handed in with words misspelled.

Beginning a sentence without a

capital(or failing to capitalize “I”)

Not capitalizing the first word of each sentence is the quickest and easiest way to:

1. Not get that job you want. Few employers will bother with someone who can’t or doesn’t write standard English.

2. Not be taken seriously by other people. People will assume you’re dumb if your writing is sloppy. In fact, not taking the time to fix simple problems is dumb.

3. Not to pass this class.

It’s true that some online communitiesHave relaxed rules about capitalization. Sometimes, no capitalization is used.

This is okay, in those places, just as it’s okay to lounge around the house in slippers and a ragged t-shirt.

But it’s not okay at school or at work.

Using text-messaging Using text-messaging abbreviationsabbreviations

If u wan2tlk to tptb u need 2tlk in English

Translation:

If you want to talk to the powers that be, you need to speak in English.

tkmwfi(take my word for it)

Sentence fragmentsSentence fragments

A complete sentence A complete sentence expressesexpresses

a complete thoughta complete thought

Are these groups of words Are these groups of words sentences?sentences?

Although Rachel worked hard on her paper

My student editor Derrick

A freshly watered houseplant

Because I couldn’t find the right program

They aren’t sentences becauseThey aren’t sentences becausethey aren’t complete thoughts.they aren’t complete thoughts.

►What happened although Rachel worked hard?

►What about my student editor Derrick?►What about that freshly watered house

plant?►What happened because you couldn’t

find the program?

What’s wrong with the following What’s wrong with the following “sentence”?“sentence”?

Jesse loves to write poetry he’s a Jesse loves to write poetry he’s a talented writer.talented writer.

The sentence is wrong because “Jesse The sentence is wrong because “Jesse likes to write poetry” and “He’s a likes to write poetry” and “He’s a talented writer” can both stand as talented writer” can both stand as complete sentences. Therefore, we complete sentences. Therefore, we can’t merge them into a single can’t merge them into a single sentence without separating them in sentence without separating them in some way.some way.

It’s a “run-on sentence.” It’s not It’s a “run-on sentence.” It’s not good enough to join the two good enough to join the two thoughts with a comma. That’s thoughts with a comma. That’s called a “comma splice”:called a “comma splice”:

Jesse stopped at the grocery store, Jesse stopped at the grocery store, he needed a lunch for the field he needed a lunch for the field trip tomorrow.trip tomorrow.

If you have two independent clauses, they need to be separated by something more powerful than a comma.

A clause is a group of words that A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a contains both a subject and a predicate. predicate.

► Dependent clauses cannot stand Dependent clauses cannot stand alone as sentences:alone as sentences: Although I was on time for workAlthough I was on time for work Because Alice was the first one in lineBecause Alice was the first one in line

► Independent clauses can stand alone Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences:as sentences: Gary did want the sandwichGary did want the sandwich My brother, Greg, was late for the My brother, Greg, was late for the

meetingmeeting

There are 5 ways to fix run-on There are 5 ways to fix run-on sentencessentences

► Make the two clauses into two Make the two clauses into two sentences:sentences:

WrongWrong RightRight

Brandon played Brandon played drums in the band drums in the band it was a hard rock it was a hard rock band.band.

Brandon played Brandon played drums in the band. drums in the band. It was a hard rock It was a hard rock band.band.

► Use a semi-colonUse a semi-colon

WrongWrong RightRight

Craig accepted Craig accepted Lisa’s gift it was Lisa’s gift it was nice.nice.

Craig accepted Craig accepted Lisa’s gift; it was Lisa’s gift; it was nice.nice.

► Use a comma Use a comma andand a coordinating conjuction a coordinating conjuction ((and, but, or, for, yet, norand, but, or, for, yet, nor, or , or so)so)::

WrongWrong RightRight

It was snowing we It was snowing we forgot to bring our forgot to bring our coats.coats.

It was snowingIt was snowing, , butbut we forgot to we forgot to bring our coats.bring our coats.

Use a comma and a subordinating Use a comma and a subordinating conjunction conjunction (after, although, before, unless, as, (after, although, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while, etc.)because, even though, if, since, until, when, while, etc.)

WrongWrong RightRight

Jessica and Waylon Jessica and Waylon like pizza Allison like pizza Allison doesn’t.doesn’t.

ThoughThough Jessica and Jessica and Waylon like pizzaWaylon like pizza,, Allison doesn’t.Allison doesn’t.

► Use a semi-colon and a transition Use a semi-colon and a transition (however, moreover, on the other hand, nevertheless, (however, moreover, on the other hand, nevertheless, instead, also, consquently, otherwise, as a result, etc.)instead, also, consquently, otherwise, as a result, etc.)

WrongWrong RightRight

I thought the I thought the colors would go colors would go together well I was together well I was mistaken.mistaken.

I thought the I thought the colors would go colors would go together welltogether well; ; however,however, I was I was mistaken.mistaken.

Getting these things right isn’t hard. They have more to do with habits of carefulness than with any great knowledge of writing.

Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.

St . Augustine

We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.

John Dryden

Laziness grows on people; it begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains.

Thomas Buxton

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

Mortimer Caplan