Writing 101Writing 101

Singular, Plural, PossessiveSingular, Plural, Possessive• Know the difference

•Singular: The cat pressed the lever to escape the box.

•Plural: The cats were in a box marked, “For Sale.”

•Possessive: The cat’s ball rolled under the couch.

• Be aware of when verbs change to match the pronoun

•She .... is, was

•They or we... are, were

Irregular PluralsIrregular Plurals

Singular FormSingular Form ChildChild MouseMouse FootFoot OffspringOffspring FormulaFormula DatumDatum StimulusStimulus IndexIndex HypothesisHypothesis CriterionCriterion

Plural FormPlural Form ChildrenChildren MiceMice Feet Feet OffspringOffspring FormulaeFormulae DataData StimuliStimuli IndicesIndices HypothesesHypotheses CriteriaCriteria

*An -s or -es does not always pluralize a noun. *

ContractionsContractions

Don’tDon’t Can’tCan’t We’llWe’ll Aren’tAren’t Let’sLet’s I’mI’m You’dYou’d

Do notDo not Can notCan not We willWe will Are notAre not Let usLet us I amI am You wouldYou would

Do Not Use Them, Ever!

They All Sound the Same...They All Sound the Same...

They’re, There, and TheirThey’re, There, and Their– They’re going to the store this afternoon. They’re going to the store this afternoon.

(contraction = they are)(contraction = they are)– I just returned from Dublin, have you ever I just returned from Dublin, have you ever

been there? (place, direction)been there? (place, direction)– Their house is white with blue shutters. Their house is white with blue shutters.

(possession)(possession)

To, Too, and TwoTo, Too, and Two– Kent is moving to Massachusetts.Kent is moving to Massachusetts.– I want to go too.I want to go too.– He is taking his two dogs with him.He is taking his two dogs with him.

They all sound the same...They all sound the same... It’s and ItsIt’s and Its

– It’s Jake’s birthday today. (It is)It’s Jake’s birthday today. (It is)– Its hair was matted and mangled. (possession)Its hair was matted and mangled. (possession)

Whether and WeatherWhether and Weather– It does not matter whether or not Mandy stays for It does not matter whether or not Mandy stays for

dinner.dinner.– The weather is supposed to be cold and damp.The weather is supposed to be cold and damp.

Then and ThanThen and Than– Men are more likely than women to watch UFC.Men are more likely than women to watch UFC.– The students were instructed to clear their desks then The students were instructed to clear their desks then

begin the examination.begin the examination.

Often Forgotten.....Often Forgotten..... Who vs. WhomWho vs. Whom

– Who is the person with the white lab coat?Who is the person with the white lab coat?– With whom did you leave the key?With whom did you leave the key?

Who vs. ThatWho vs. That– Individuals who study, often find exams to be easy.Individuals who study, often find exams to be easy.– Companies that give employees better benefits have Companies that give employees better benefits have

higher productivity.higher productivity.– The vase that broke is in the cardboard box.The vase that broke is in the cardboard box.– Times when..., Places where... Times when..., Places where...

Affect vs. EffectAffect vs. Effect– Psychology students often learn about the Hawthorne Psychology students often learn about the Hawthorne

effect.effect.– Amy wants study how energy-drinks affect performance Amy wants study how energy-drinks affect performance

and cognitive ability.and cognitive ability.

Parallel ConstructionParallel Construction

Each statement must be able to stand alone Each statement must be able to stand alone and still be grammatically correct.and still be grammatically correct.

The student is required to read 30 pages of The student is required to read 30 pages of text, write a report, and memorize a list of text, write a report, and memorize a list of vocabulary words.vocabulary words.– to readto read– to writeto write– to memorizeto memorize

Using Conjunctions Using Conjunctions CorrectlyCorrectly

Since vs. BecauseSince vs. Because

– Andrew has been excited about going to the zoo Andrew has been excited about going to the zoo since last Thursday.since last Thursday.

– The dog salivated because Pavlov rang the bell.The dog salivated because Pavlov rang the bell. While vs. AlthoughWhile vs. Although

– Although I enjoy watching baseball on television, I Although I enjoy watching baseball on television, I would rather be at the stadium.would rather be at the stadium.

– While Jack cleaned the garage, Mary dusted the While Jack cleaned the garage, Mary dusted the living room. living room.

Or vs. NorOr vs. Nor– The girl was allowed to have either a piece of candy or a The girl was allowed to have either a piece of candy or a

sticker.sticker.

– Neither the doctor nor the nurse could find the patient’s Neither the doctor nor the nurse could find the patient’s chart.chart.

Referring to PeopleReferring to People

Do not use “You” to refer to the reader.Do not use “You” to refer to the reader. Do not use “We” to refer to general groups Do not use “We” to refer to general groups

or society.or society.

Use “One”Use “One”– If one chooses to engage in criminal activity, If one chooses to engage in criminal activity,

then one must be ready to accept the then one must be ready to accept the consequences.consequences.

– One should not equate correlation with One should not equate correlation with causation.causation.

Colloquialisms and SlangColloquialisms and Slang

Do not write as you would speakDo not write as you would speak

Do not use phrases or words such as:Do not use phrases or words such as:– Cop (police officer)Cop (police officer)– The merchandise was hot (stolen)The merchandise was hot (stolen)– Gonna (going to)Gonna (going to)– Ain’t (are not)Ain’t (are not)– Put a damper in things (complicated)Put a damper in things (complicated)

AnthropomorphizingAnthropomorphizing

Do not give human traits or abilities Do not give human traits or abilities to inanimate or non-human to inanimate or non-human objects/creatures.objects/creatures.

Do not writeDo not write– The article shows... The article shows...

Instead try...Deci and Ryan indicateInstead try...Deci and Ryan indicate– The research explains... The research explains...

Instead...Pavlov explainsInstead...Pavlov explains

Removing BiasRemoving Bias

One must be conscientious of how One must be conscientious of how individuals and groups are identified.individuals and groups are identified.– Do not over generalizeDo not over generalize– Gender biasGender bias– Racial/Ethnicity biasRacial/Ethnicity bias– Mental health or disability statusMental health or disability status– Age Age