Common Errors! How to write the title of a novel Silly errors! Pronoun confusion Faulty parallelism Formal vs. informal writing
#1 – Titles of novels
#1 – Titles of novels Bilbo Baggins is an endearing character in the novel, The Hobbit.(typed) OR Bilbo Baggins is an endearing character in the novel, The Hobbit.(written by hand)
#2 – Silly Stuff!
#2 – Silly Stuff! DEFIANTLY DEFINITELY
#2 – Silly Stuff! Don’t use... HUGE/ENORMOUS/LARGE/BIG Use... SIGNIFICANT/IMPACTFUL/ETC.
#2 – Silly Stuff! Role models have an enormous impact on teens.
#2 – Silly Stuff! Role models have an enormous impact on teens. Role models have a significant impact on teens.
#3 – Pronoun Confusion They / Them / Their
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • When a child is going through their adolescent years.
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • When a child is going through their adolescent years. • When they are going through their adolescent years
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • When a child is going through their adolescent years.X • When they are going through their adolescent years. YES! • When a child is going through his/her adolescent years. YES!
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • A child’s mind is susceptible to this as they develop opinions...
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • A child’s mind is susceptible to this as they develop opinions... • Children’s minds are susceptible to this as they develop opinions...
#3 – Pronoun Confusion • A child’s mind is susceptible to this as they develop opinions... X • Children’s minds are susceptible to this as they develop opinions... YES! • A child’s mind is susceptible to this as he/she develops opinions... YES!
#3 – Pronoun Confusion Look for... They / Them / Their The pronoun must match the noun!
#4 – Faulty Parallelism Oooh, sounds complicated!
#4 – Faulty Parallelism Bilbo leaves himself time, he thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, he observed the behaviours of others closely, rest if the situation is safe, which provides him with enough information to act at the right moment.
#4 – Faulty Parallelism
#4 – Faulty Parallelism Bilbo leaveshimself time, he thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, he observed the behaviours of others closely, rest if the situation is safe, which provides him with enough information to act at the right moment.
#4 – Faulty Parallelism That’s a list of 5 things about Bilbo!
#4 – Faulty Parallelism That’s a list of 5 things about Bilbo! Note: 5 is probably too many for one sentence!
#4 – Faulty Parallelism So, let’s just take the first three things... Bilbo leaveshimself time, he thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, he observed the behaviours of others closely.
Faulty parallelism is when the start of each item in the list is not “PARALLEL” – doesn’t match!
Faulty parallelism is when the start of each item in the list is not “PARALLEL” – doesn’t match! Bilbo leaves himself time, he thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, and he observed the behaviours of others closely.
Faulty parallelism is when the start of each item in the list is not “PARALLEL” – doesn’t match! Bilbo leaves himself time, he thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, and he observed the behaviours of others closely. Bilbo leaves himself time, thinks for a very long time about the problems before acting, and observes the behaviours of others closely.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal I believe that all students should be issued a laptop.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal I believe that all students should be issued a laptop. Fix: All students should be issued laptops.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal The laptops had considerable weight, and when in our backpacks with our heavy binders, they put quite a strain on our backs.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal The laptops had considerable weight, and when in our backpacks with our heavy binders, they put quite a strain on our backs. Fix: The laptops had considerable weight, and when in a backpack with heavy binders, they put quite a strain on a student’s back.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal We are teenagers, and when you give us something expensive, some kids are bound to break them.
#5 – Formal vs. Informal We are teenagers, and when you give us something expensive, some kids are bound to break them. Fix: Teenagers are bound to break such expensive laptops.
Avoid 1st and 2nd person!
Avoid 1st and 2nd person! 1st Person… I Me Mine My We Our Us
Avoid 1st and 2nd person! USE THIRD PERSON!!! 1st Person… 2nd Person… I Me Mine My We Our Us You Your Yours 3rd Person… She/ She’s He/ He’s It/It’s They Them Their/Theirs
That’s today’s lecture!
