1. Edited American English:Common Errors

2. Avoid These Common Mistakes Or risk making your professors feel like this:

3. #1Using an apostrophe to make a Noun Plural

6. Deep Fried Oreos

8. Wines for Valentines

11. CDs, DVDs, Games

14. 1880s

15. In informal settings, apostrophes are used to indicate that the structure is missing letters (e.g. contractions) or numbers (years).

16. Actually, In Academic Writing: Apostrophes should NOT be used to Indicate Missing Letters or Numbers

17. 1980s

18. 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

19. 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 carOnly add an apostrophe without the -s if the new word does not take on an extra syllable when pronounced. Jenny Burns=Jenny Burns’ car

20. #2Using ofas a substitution for Have.

21. ‘ve=have Incorrect CorrectCould of Could have Should of Should have Would of Would have

22. #3Using a semicolon (;) in place of a comma.

23. Commas separate words and phrases .

24. Semicolons separate two independent clauses An Independent Clause=a full sentence A Full Sentence=a complete thought

25. Therefore, semicolons indicate the end of a complete thought and the beginning of another complete thought

26. Try this one: Give me a cookie; Mom!

27. Give me a cookie. Give me a cookie is a complete thought

28. Mom! Mom! is not a complete thought.

29. Both sides of the semicolon MUST be complete thoughts So, the correct punctuation is a comma: Give me a cookie, Mom!

30. 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

31. Remember, a semicolon is not a colon ; : A ASemi-colon Colonseparates signalscomplete an upcomingthoughts definition or list

32. Why Should I Care?

33. Because Punctuation Affects Meaning

35. #4 Ending a Sentence with a Preposition or Linking Verb

36. Prepositions Prepositions are wordsin 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.

38. Pre-Positionmeans 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.

39. 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, were Because 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.

40. 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.

41. #5Forgetting to put a comma before the and when discussing a series of 3 or more items.

42. Like this: Houston is a large, multicultural, and powerful city.

43. This comma is known asThe Serial CommaorThe Oxford Comma

46. #6Placing What or How in the middle of a sentence.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. #7Using non-parallel structures in the same sentence.

50. 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.