1.  Spelling counts.  You should use your computer’s spell-check program, but be aware that it cannot catch all errors.  You must know when to use to/too, there/their/ and its/it’s because many computers can not tell you when each is appropriate.  Simple errors like these make it appear like you did not proofread your paper.

 

2.  People deserve a “who,” not a “that” or a “which.”  For instance, “he is the one who…” not “he is the one that…”

 

3.  In any given sentence, nouns and pronouns agree in terms of number.  For instance, it is incorrect to write “The owner should be free because it is their business.”  Instead one should write “The owner should be free because it is her business” or “The owners should be free because it is their business.”

 

4.  Avoid jargon like “in today’s society.”  You will never see phrases like this in newspapers or magazines.  It is better to say “in contemporary society,” or simply “today.”

 

5.  Like a room cluttered with too much furniture, wordy sentences spoil the aesthetic effect you want to achieve.  Less is sometimes more.  Ask yourself if any words in your sentence can be chopped out without a loss in clarity.  For instance, “This type of benefit is the one which company rules and regulations should move to foster” could be edited down to “This is the type of benefit company rules should foster.” 

 

6.  The most common type of error college students make is not incorrect grammar but awkward constructions that sound strange to the native speaker.  For instance, “there are two basic issues why he is wrong” should be revised to read “there are two basic reasons why he is wrong.”

 

7.  Think carefully about your punctuation.  Use semi-colons (;) sparingly.  Place your commas strategically; do not stick them in at random.  The commas in this sentence are out of place: “While, not a liberal she does think that freedom is necessary, and valuable.”  It should read: “While not a liberal, she does think that freedom is necessary and valuable.”

 

8.  The introduction may be the most important part of an essay.  Its purpose is to indicate what the topic of the paper is and to excite some interest.  In short papers of the kind you are asked to write for this course, the introduction should not be very long.  Do not include substantive material in it that belongs in the body of the essay.  Instead, use the introduction to set up a problem you will resolve in the succeeding paragraphs.  Try to capture the reader’s interest by indicating why the topic is significant.  Starting with a relevant example is often an effective way to begin.

 

9.  While it is useful to listen to your paper, avoid using an overly casual or informal style.  Can’t and don’t are inappropriate for writing and should be replaced with can not and do not. 

 

*note – this style sheet is a slightly altered version of one created by Dr. Robert Mayer, of the Political Science Department at Loyola University for his classes.