Dear English Classes
Some of us really do not like the writing component of English - we get stuck when we have to edit our work and land up with red pen all over our essays. It is terrible as we try so hard but still somehow make mistakes.
Take a look at this Editing Checklist and make sure you aren't making any of these simple errors:
1) Don't never use double negatives.
2) Concord between subjects and verbs are vital.
3) Use a dictionary to look up difficult words and check your spelling.
4) Use a Thesaurus to find synonyms so you don't use the same word repeatedly.
5) Punctuate correctly:
- Do not use more than one exclamation mark!!!
- Avoid, the temptation, to use too many, commas.
- Do not abuse commas and use them to glue sentences together.
- Capital letters should only be used at the beginning of sentences and proper
nouns - do not use them in sentences as YOU ARE SHOUTING.
- Do not abuse ellipsis ... and use them ... in excess ... or else ...
- Apostrophe's should be used to show ommision and possession; try not to make
mistakes's when you use them.
6) Be careful to never split an infinitive.
7) Read your work carefully you have written it to ensure that you have not left words out or or repeated them.
8) Every sentence needs a main clause and a subject.
9) Do not begin a sentence with "and." And do not begin a sentence with "but" either. Use conjunctions to join sentences.
10) American spelling is out of favor - we are in South Africa.
11) Every sentence needs a finite verb.
12) Do not end sentences with prepositions.
13) Choose your pronouns carefully and use them correctly.
14) Do not over-use inverted commas.
15) Style is important:
- Keep your vocabulary simple and to the point.
- Avoid cheesy cliches.
- Avoid repetition and unnecessary redundancy which appears here, there and
everywhere. Check for repetition or repeated ideas that have been said
before,
earlier in your text.
- Use a consistent style and register and don't allow inappropriate colloquial
language to rock up without an invite.
- You will find that writing short and focussed sentences will avoid, you
making unnecessary and avoidable punctuation, grammar and content errors that
invariably make your work difficult to read and understand and cloud the real
meaning of the thing that you are trying, but not really succeeding to say.
- Do not mix your metaphors.
- Using inappropriate jargon and sounding like a politician whereby you attempt
to exemplify the properest means of communicating ideas to the stakeholders
only makes you sound silly.
- Inappropriate use of hyperbole will see you thrown out of the window for your
crimes.
