{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f2\fnil\fcharset2 Symbol;}}
{\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.21.2508;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\f0\fs36 Spelling\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 Spelling errors are among the most common surface errors as well as the most easily corrected. To correct spelling errors, use a spell-checker, regardless of your spelling skill, along with a dictionary to help you find the right alternative for a misspelled word. Remember that the spell-checker won\rquote t help with homonyms, words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. Some words that can cause trouble are listed below.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100\b their\b0  (possessive form of \i they\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}there \b0 (\i in that place\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}they\rquote re\b0  (contraction of \i they are\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}accept\b0  (a verb, meaning \i to receive\i0  or \i to admit to a group\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}except \b0 (usually a preposition, meaning \i but\i0  or \i only\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}who\rquote s \b0 (contraction of \i who is\i0  or \i who has\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}whose \b0 (possessive form of who) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}its \b0 (possessive form of \i it\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}it\rquote s \b0 (contraction of \i it is\i0  or \i it has\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}your\b0  (possessive form of \i you\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}you\rquote re \b0 (contraction of \i you are\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}affect \b0 (usually a verb, meaning \i to influence\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}effect \b0 (usually a noun, meaning result) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}than \b0 (used in comparison) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}then\b0  (refers to a time in the past) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}were\b0  (form of the verb \i to be\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}we\rquote re \b0 (contraction of \i we are\i0 ) \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}where \b0 (related to location or place) \par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs36 Punctuation\par
\fs28 Commas\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. Use a comma to signal a pause between the \b introductory element\b0  of a sentence and the main part of the sentence.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100\b Frankly,\b0  the committee\rquote s decision baffled us. \par
\b{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}Though I gave him detailed advice for revising,\b0  his draft only became worse. \par
\pard\sb100\sa100 2. Use a comma when you join two independent sentences with a \b conjunction\b0  (\i for\i0 , \i and\i0 , \i nor\i0 , \i but\i0 , \i or\i0 , \i yet\i0 , \i so\i0 ).\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100 Meredith wore jeans to the hotel\b , but\b0  she changed before the wedding. \par
\pard\sb100\sa100 3. Use a comma to signal the presence of a \b nonrestrictive element\b0 , that is, a word, phrase, or clause that gives additional information about the preceding part of the sentence, but which can be deleted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. If the element is in the middle of the sentence, use a comma before and after the element.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100 Marina\b , who was the president of the club,\b0  was the first to speak. \par
{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony until 1898, \b when it was ceded to the U.S.\b0  \par
\pard\sb100\sa100 4. Do NOT use a comma with a \b restrictive element\b0 , that is, a word, phrase, or clause that restricts the meaning of the word or phrase it modifies. A restrictive element cannot be deleted without changing the sentence\rquote s basic meaning.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: I\rquote ll return the sweater, that I borrowed, after I wear it tonight\line Right: I\rquote ll return the sweater \b that I borrowed\b0  after I wear it tonight.\par
Wrong: The people, who vandalized the school, were never caught.\line Right: The people \b who vandalized the school\b0  were never caught.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To see why these are restrictive elements, try eliminating them from the sentence. Once you do so, you see that the first sentence implies that there is only one sweater, while the second implies that all the people were never caught.\par
5. Traditionally, commas separate all the \b items in a series\b0  (three or more words, phrases, or clauses that appear consecutively in a sentence). Some instructors don\rquote t require a comma before the \i and\i0  or \i or\i0  between the last two items. Check your teacher\rquote s preference, and be consistent in either using or omitting this comma.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100 Sharks eat \b squid, shrimp, crabs, and fish.\b0  \par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs28 Apostrophes\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. To show that one thing belongs to another, either an apostrophe and an \i s\i0  or an apostrophe alone is added to the word representing the thing that possesses the other. An apostrophe and an \i s\i0  are used for \b singular nouns, indefinite pronouns\b0  \i (anybody, everyone, nobody, somebody)\i0 , and for plural nouns that do not end in \i s\i0 . When \b plural nouns end in \i s\b0\i0  only the apostrophe is used.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100 Overambitious parents can be harmful to a \b child\rquote s\b0  well-being. \par
{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}The accident was \b nobody\rquote s\b0  fault. \par
{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}Both \b drivers\rquote\b0  cars were damaged in the accident. \par
\pard\sb100\sa100 2. The word \b\i its\b0\i0 , spelled without an apostrophe, is the possessive form of \i it\i0 , meaning of\b\i  it\b0\i0  or \b\i belonging to it.\b0\i0  The word \b\i it\rquote s\b0\i0 , spelled with an apostrophe, is a contraction of \b\i it is\b0\i0  or \b\i it has\b0\i0 . Even though with nouns an apostrophe usually indicates possessive form, the possessive in this case is the one without the apostrophe.\par
\pard{\pntext\f2\'B7\tab}{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf2\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'B7}}\fi-360\li720\sb100\sa100 The car is lying on \b its\b0  side in the ditch. \b It\rquote s\b0  a white 1986 Buick. \par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs28 Periods\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. A \b comma splice\b0  occurs when two or more clauses that could each stand alone as a sentence are written with only a comma between them. To correct this error, \b separate the clauses with a period or semicolon, connect the clauses with a word like \i and, for, because, \i0 or\i  although\i0 , or combine them into one clause.\b0\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: The ship was huge\b ,\b0  its mast stood thirty feet high.\line Right: The ship was huge\b ; its\b0  mast stood thirty feet high.\line Right: The ship was huge\b , and its\b0  mast stood thirty feet high.\line Right: The mast of the huge ship stood thirty feet high.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 2. \b Fused sentences\b0  are created when two or more groups of words that could each be written as an independent sentence are written without any punctuation between them. To eliminate a fused sentence, \b divide the groups of words into separate sentences, or join them in a way that shows their relationship.\b0\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: Our fiscal policy is not well defined it confuses many people.\line Right: Our fiscal policy is not well defined\b . It\b0  confuses many people.\line Right: Our fiscal policy is not well defined\b , and it\b0  confuses many people.\par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs36 Verbs\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\fs24 Active and Passive Verbs\b0\par
1. Verbs can be in either active or passive voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence \b performs\b0  the action of the verb; in passive voice, the subject \b receives\b0  the action of the verb. Readers typically find active voice sentences more vigorous and clearer; for these reasons, writers usually prefer active voice.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Passive: \b The ball \i was kicked by\b0\i0  the boy.\line Active: \b The boy \i kicked\b0\i0  the ball.\par
Passive: \b A decision \i was reached\b0\i0  by the committee.\line Active: \b The committee \i reached\b0\i0  a decision.\par
Passive: \b Many arguments \i are offered\b0\i0  against abortion.\line Active: \b Religious leaders \i offer\b0  \i0 many arguments against abortion.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 Notice that in the passive voice examples, the doer of the action is either at the end of the sentence in a prepositional phrase or, in the third example, is missing entirely from the sentence. In each active voice example, however, the doer of the action is in the subject position at the beginning of the sentence.\par
2. On some occasions, however, you might have a good reason for choosing a passive construction; for example, you might choose the passive if you want to emphasize the receiver of the action or minimize the importance of the actor.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Appropriate passive: The medical records were destroyed in the fire.\line Appropriate passive: The experiment was performed successfully.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 Passive voice verbs always include a form of the verb \i to be\i0 , such as \i am\i0 , \i are\i0 , \i was\i0 , \i is being\i0 , and so on. To check for active versus passive voice, look for sentences that contain a form of this verb, and see whether in these sentences the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb.\par
\b Shifting Verb Tense\b0\par
1. If you shift verb tense (for example, from past to present tense) in a sentence or passage without a good reason, you may confuse your reader.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: After he \b joined\b0  the union, Sam \b appears\b0  at a rally and \b makes\b0  a speech.\line Right: After he \b joined\b0  the union, Sam \b appeared\b0  at a rally and \b made\b0  a speech.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To proofread for verb tense errors, circle all verbs in your writing. Look at the verbs in sequence and check that you haven\rquote t changed tense unintentionally.\par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs36 Subject-Verb Agreement\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. Make sure that the \b subject\b0  and \b verb \b0 of each clause or sentence agree\emdash that is, that a singular subject has a singular verb, and a plural subject a plural verb. When other words come between subject and verb, you may mistake the noun nearest to the verb\emdash before or after\emdash for the verb\rquote s real subject.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: A central \b part\b0  of my life goals \b have been\b0  to go to law school.\line Right: A central \b part\b0  of my life goals \b has been\b0  to go to law school.\par
Wrong: The \b profits\b0  earned by the cosmetic industry \b is\b0  not high enough.\line Right: The \b profits\b0  earned by the cosmetic industry \b are\b0  not high enough.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 2. Be particularly careful that your \b subject \b0 and \b verb\b0  agree when your subject is made up of two or more parts joined by \i and\i0  or \i or\i0 ; when your subject is a word like \i committee\i0  or \i jury\i0 , which can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on whether it is treated as a unit or as a group of individuals; or when your subject is a word like \i mathematics\i0  or \i measles\i0 , which looks plural but is singular in meaning.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: My \b brother\b0  and his \b friend \i commutes\b0\i0  every day from Louisville.\line Right: My \b brother\b0  and his \b friend \i commute\b0\i0  every day from Louisville.\par
Wrong: The \b committee \i was taking\b0\i0  all the responsibility themselves.\line Right: The \b committee \i were taking\b0\i0  all the responsibility themselves.\line (Note that the use of the word \i themselves\i0  shows that \i committee\i0  is being treated as a group of individuals, not as a unit.)\par
Wrong: \b Measles \i have become\b0\i0  less common in the United States.\line Right: \b Measles \i has become\b0\i0  less common in the United States.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To proofread for subject-verb agreement, circle the subject and verb in each sentence and be sure they agree.\par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs36 Pronouns\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. A pronoun (like \i I\i0 , \i it\i0 , \i you\i0 , \i him\i0 , \i her\i0 , \i this\i0 , \i themselves\i0 , \i someone\i0 , \i who\i0 , \i which\i0 ) is used to replace another word\emdash its antecedent\emdash so the antecedent does not have to be repeated.Check each \b pronoun\b0  to make sure that it agrees with its \b antecedent\b0  in gender and number. Remember that words like \i each\i0 , \i either\i0 , \i neither\i0 , and \i one\i0  are singular; when they are used as antecedents, they take singular pronouns. Antecedents made up of two or more parts joined by \i or\i0  or \i nor\i0  take pronouns that agree with the nearest antecedent. Collective-noun antecedents (audience, team) can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to a single unit or a group of individuals.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: Every\b  one\b0  of the puppies thrived in \b their\b0  new home.\line Right: Every \b one\b0  of the puppies thrived in \b its\b0  new home.\par
Wrong: \b Neither Jane nor Susan\b0  felt that \b they \b0 had been treated fairly.\line Right: \b Neither Jane nor Susan\b0  felt that \b she\b0  had been treated fairly.\par
Wrong: The \b team\b0  frequently changed \b its\b0  positions to get varied experience.\line Right: The \b team\b0  frequently changed \b their\b0  positions to get varied experience.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To proofread for agreement of pronouns and antecedents, circle each pronoun, identify its antecedent, and make sure that they agree in gender and number.\par
2. As noted above, most indefinite pronouns (like \i each\i0 , \i either\i0 , \i neither\i0 , or \i one\i0 ) are singular; therefore, they take singular verbs. A relative pronoun, like \i who\i0 , \i which\i0 , or \i that\i0 , takes a verb that agrees with the pronoun\rquote s antecedent.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: \b Each\b0  of the items in these designs \b coordinate\b0  with the others.\line Right: \b Each\b0  of the items in these designs \b coordinates\b0  with the others.\par
Wrong: He is one of the \b employees\b0  who \b works \b0 overtime regularly.\line Right: He is one of the \b employees\b0  who \b work\b0  overtime regularly.\line (In this example, the antecedent of \i who\i0  is \i employees\i0 , and therefore the verb should be plural.)\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 3. A vague pronoun reference occurs when readers cannot be sure of a pronoun\rquote s antecedent. If a \b pronoun\b0  could refer to more than one \b antecedent\b0 , or if the antecedent is implied but not explicitly stated, revise the sentence to make the antecedent clear.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, \b she\b0  was a judgmental woman.\line Right: Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, \b the latter\b0  was a judgmental woman.\line (In the first sentence, \i she\i0  could refer to either Mary or Mrs. Turpin.)\par
Wrong: They believe that an egg is as important as a human being, but \b it\b0  can\rquote t be proved.\line Right: They believe that an egg is as important as a human being, but \b such an assertion \b0 can\rquote t be proved.\line (In the first sentence, the antecedent of\i  it \i0 is unclear.)\par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs36 Other Grammatical Errors\par
\fs28 Sentence Fragments\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. The sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as a sentence. To make it a complete sentence, \b join it to the main clause or rewrite it.\b0\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: She is a good friend. A person whom I trust and admire.\line Right: She is a good friend, \b a\b0  person whom I trust and admire.\par
Wrong: In the workshop, we learned the value of discipline. Also how to take good notes.\line Right: In the workshop, we learned the value of discipline. We \b also learned\b0  how to take good notes.\par
Wrong: The old aluminum boat sitting on its trailer.\line Right: The old aluminum boat \b was sitting\b0  on its trailer.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To proofread for sentence fragments, check all sentences for a subject, a verb, and at least one clause that does not begin with a subordinating word like \i as\i0 , \i although\i0 , \i if\i0 , \i when\i0 , \i that\i0 , \i since\i0 , or \i who\i0 .\par
\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs28 Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers\par
\pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 1. Misplaced or dangling modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses not clearly connected to the word they modify. Move a misplaced modifier closer to the word it describes, or revise a sentence to give a dangling modifier a word to modify.\par
\pard\li360\ri360\sb100\sa100 Wrong: \b They \b0 could see the eagles swooping and diving \b with binoculars\b0 .\line Right: \b With binoculars, they\b0  could see the eagles swooping and diving.\par
Wrong: \b Nixon\b0  told reporters that he planned to get out of politics \b after he lost the 1962 gubernatorial race.\b0\line Right: \b After he lost the 1962 gubernatorial race, Nixon\b0  told reporters that he planned to get out of politics.\par
Wrong: A rabbit\rquote s teeth are never used for defense even \b when cornered.\b0\line Right: \b Even when cornered, a rabbit\b0  never uses its teeth for defense.\par
Wrong: \b As a young boy\b0 , his grandmother told stories of her years as a country schoolteacher.\line Right: \b As a young boy, he\b0  heard his grandmother tell stories of her years as a country schoolteacher.\par
\pard\sb100\sa100 To proofread for misplaced or dangling modifiers, circle all modifiers and draw a line to the word they describe; be sure they can\rquote t mistakenly modify some other word.\par
\pard\f1\fs20\par
}