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frowning face MERI'S NO-NO LIST smiling face

  1. WRITING NO-NOS
  2. MECHANICS NO-NOS

WRITING NO-NOS (also refer to Writing Paragraphs and Essays textbook):

First, NEVER use second person (you) in any essay. See the First-Third Person page from my STAR English 100 class for suggestions and information.

Second, make sure you have at least five sentences per paragraph and follow all paragraphing rules.

  1. NEVER start a sentence with WELL, AND or BUT. Use more mature transitions like however and additionally. Actually, never use well at all unless you are talking about how healthy someone is.
  2. NEVER write ETC or use ellipsis (...) In any writing. This tells the reader that you have run out of ideas and want the reader to finish your thoughts for you. Very bad idea!
  3. NEVER forget paragraph transitions. You have an assignment entry or click on TRANSITIONS link on this. Don't overdo the same ones all the time. Be sophisticated in tying one idea to the next so it doesn't look like a cut and paste job.
  4. NEVER put your thesis statement in the wrong position in your intro paragraph. Place it as your LAST sentence of your introduction while you are in my class. See THESIS STATEMENT link.
  5. NEVER use boring or lifeless adjectives and verbs like "good" or "interesting", and "bad". For example:

    The movie WAS INTERESTING. Interesting has no meaning really, and avoid the to be verb as a main verb (is, was, will be). BETTER: The movie focused on state of the art special effects, quick-cut editing, and futuristic gadgetry.

  6. NEVER write numerals unless they are dates, addresses, or other acceptable numbers. Example:

    The boy was eight (not 8).

    These count as mechanical errors!
  7. NEVER misuse the word hopefully! This is one of my pet peeves. Hopefully means full of hope, NOT I hope that. Hopefully is an adverb, so it must modify a verb. Example:

    CORRECT: The child opened the present hopefully; she wanted a toy horse.
    INCORRECT: Hopefully it won't rain on the day of the beach party.

  8. NEVER use "a lot" as a quantity. Use other words such as many, several, dozens, and so on. There are many words that describe more than two.

  9. NEVER use the plural possessive (THEIR) for a singular or unknown antecedent. This is called an subject/pronoun agreement error. Example:

    INCORRECT: Someone left THEIR pencil on the desk.
    INCORRECT: Whoever left THEIR umbrella at home is sorry now.
    SOLUTIONS:

    • PLURALIZE: People who left their umbrellas at home are sorry now.
    • OR... PASSIVE: A pencil was left on the desk.
    • OR... Someone left his/her pencil on the desk. Or, someone left his pencil on the desk.
    • OR... Someone left a pencil on the desk.

    INCORRECT: A student should have their priorities right when starting college. (his/her)
    INCORRECT: One should know that they are in for a tough career when choosing the military. (he/she)
    INCORRECT: Each person has to choose their own path. (his/her)

    Each is singular! So are everyone, everybody, someone, and somebody. These are singular words that must take singular pronouns and verbs.

  10. Never use expressions such as "I think", "I believe", "I feel" and "In my opinion". These actually weaken your argument, and they are obvious anyway; you wouldn't be writing someone else's opinions! Say your opinions without these qualifications as though they are facts, and then support them with your evidence.

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MECHANICS NO-NOS

  1. Avoid run ons and comma splices. Points are deducted from your essays for this. Examples:

    RUN ON: I love going to the movies on the weekends it is an excellent tension reducer.
    COMMA SPLICE: I love going to the movies on the weekends, it is an excellent tension reducer.
    CORRECT: I love going to the movies on the weekends; it is an excellent tension reducer.
    Or... I love going to the movies because it is an excellent tension reducer.

    FOR HELP ON RUN ONS, COMMA SPLICES, AND FRAGMENTS (Please report if any of these sites are no longer active):

  2. NEVER put a comma before words like because, although, or other subordinating conjunctions. Examples:

    INCORRECT: I love Disneyland, because there is so much to do.
    CORRECT: I love Disneyland because there is so much to do.

    NOTE: If you BEGIN with the subordinating clause, you DO separate with a comma.
    CORRECT: Because there is so much to do, I love Disneyland.

  3. Remember all of your commas in a series. Put the comma before "and." If you don't, the last two items are assumed to be one item. EXAMPLE:

    CORRECT: Chemistry, Math, and Physics are all closed classes.

  4. An appositive has commas on both sides, just like parentheses. EXAMPLE:

    CORRECT: Jenna, my neighbor across the street, just had triplets.

  5. If you have a challenge with spelling, PLEASE use a spellchecker on your computer or get a spelling calculator device. Spelling is a key factor in holistic grading, so improvement in this area is important!

    FOR HELP ON COMMAS:

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Page was last updated: 11/13/02

E-mail your instructor: Meri Rogoff
Copyright © 2002 by Meri Rogoff. All rights reserved.

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