1. ensure that the topic and verb of each and every condition or phrase agreethat are, that one matter keeps a singular verb, and a plural matter a plural verb. Whenever other keywords come between matter and verb, you’ll mistake the noun nearest towards verbbefore or afterfor the verb’s real matter.
Wrong: a main element of living purpose currently to go to law school. Appropriate: A central part of living aim might to attend legislation school.
Faulty: the gains generated by the cosmetic marketplace is maybe not satisfactory. Best: The profits gained of the aesthetic sector commonly satisfactory.
2. getting especially careful your topic and verb agree whenever your matter is comprised of several areas signed up with by and or or; once matter is actually a word like panel or jury, that may need either a singular or a plural verb dependent on if it is addressed as a product or as a team of people; or as soon as subject matter is a phrase like math or measles, which appears plural but is singular in meaning.
Incorrect: My brother along with his pal commutes every single day from Louisville. Right: My brother along with his pal commute every single day from Louisville.
Wrong: The committee was getting most of the duty themselves. Correct: The panel comprise using most of the duty by themselves. (remember that employing the phrase themselves suggests that committee is addressed as several people, not as a unit.)
Wrong: Measles are becoming less common in the United States. Correct: Measles is starting to become less frequent in the usa.
To proofread for subject-verb contract, circle the topic and verb in each phrase and be sure they concur.
Pronouns
1. A pronoun (like we, it, your, him, this lady, this, on their own, anyone, just who, which) is utilized to replace another wordits antecedentso the antecedent does not have to become repeated.Check each pronoun to make certain that they will abide by the antecedent in gender and number. Remember that phrase like each, either, neither, and another include singular; when they are utilized as antecedents, they simply take single pronouns. Antecedents comprised of 2 or more components joined by or or nor capture pronouns that agree with the nearest antecedent. Collective-noun antecedents (market, employees) tends to be singular or plural according to if they relate to one unit or a team of people.
Completely wrong: all the pups thrived within their brand new home. Right: each of the puppies thrived with its new home.
Completely wrong: Neither Jane nor Susan sensed which they was in fact managed relatively. Best: Neither Jane nor Susan believed that she was in fact managed fairly.
Incorrect: the group regularly altered the positions in order to get varied skills. Right: the group frequently changed their own positions receive diverse feel.
To proofread for contract of pronouns and antecedents, circle each pronoun, diagnose their antecedent, and make sure which they concur in gender and numbers.
2. As observed above, the majority of long pronouns (like each, either, neither, or one) become singular; therefore, they simply take single verbs. A relative pronoun, like whom, which, or that, requires a verb that will abide by the pronoun’s antecedent.
Wrong: all the items in these designs organize together with the other people. Appropriate: Each of the products in these models coordinates because of the people.
Wrong: He is among the workforce just who operates overtime regularly. Appropriate: he could be the workers who do work overtime regularly. (within example, the antecedent of who is workforce, and then the verb is plural.)
3. an unclear pronoun resource occurs when customers are not certain of a pronoun’s antecedent. If a pronoun could make reference to one or more antecedent, or if the antecedent is actually implied but not clearly mentioned, revise the sentence to really make the antecedent obvious.
Completely wrong: Before Mary attacked Mrs. Turpin, she ended up being a judgmental lady. Right: Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, the latter was actually a judgmental woman. (in the 1st sentence, she could refer to either Mary or Mrs. Turpin.)
Awry: They believe an egg is just as important as an individual being, it can’t be shown. Correct: They believe an egg is as essential as an individual becoming, but this type of an assertion can not be demonstrated. (in the 1st sentence, the antecedent of it try unknown.)
Additional Grammatical Errors
Sentence Fragments
1. The sentence fragment was a partial phrase punctuated as a sentence. To make it a whole sentence, join it toward biggest clause or rewrite they.
Completely wrong: she’s a good buddy. Individuals whom I confidence and appreciate. Best: She is a great friend, one who we count on and admire.
Awry: inside working area, we learned the worth of discipline. Additionally how-to take close records. Correct: For The working area, we discovered the worth of self-discipline. We furthermore discovered tips grab great records.
Faulty: the existing aluminum vessel resting on their truck. Appropriate: the outdated aluminum motorboat ended up being resting on its truck.
To proofread for phrase fragments, test all phrases for a subject, a verb, and at minimum one condition that will not start with a subordinating phrase like because, although, if, whenever, that, since, or just who.
Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
1. Misplaced or dangling modifiers are words, terms, or clauses perhaps not clearly attached to the keyword they adjust. Go a misplaced modifier closer to your message it defines, or change a sentence to give a dangling modifier a word to writing an argumentative research paper modify.
Faulty: they can look at eagles swooping and scuba diving with binoculars. Appropriate: With binoculars, they may start to see the eagles swooping and diving.
Incorrect: Nixon told reporters that he planned to get out of politics after the guy forgotten the 1962 gubernatorial competition. Appropriate: After the guy shed the 1962 gubernatorial race, Nixon told reporters that he wanted to escape politics.
Incorrect: a bunny’s teeth should never be utilized for security even when cornered. Correct: even if cornered, a rabbit never makes use of their teeth for security.
Wrong: As a young boy, his grandmother advised reports of the woman decades as a nation schoolteacher. Best: As a new man, he heard their grandmother tell tales of this lady decades as a nation schoolteacher.
To check for misplaced or dangling modifiers, circle all modifiers and bring a range on term they explain; remember they can’t mistakenly modify various other term.
Produced by Writing Information Providers, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
