Writing Guide
Sociology 100
The following are some basic guidelines for clear and grammatically correct writing. Clarity and grammar are important for effectively communicating your ideas. Review the guidelines and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Clarity
1. Tighten wordy sentences
a. Eliminate Redundancies.
Redundant: Daniel is employed at a rehabilitation center working as a physical therapist.
Not redundant: Daniel works at a rehabilitation center as a physical therapist.
b. Avoid Inflated Phrases:
Inflated Concise
along the lines of like
at the present time now, currently
because of the fact that because
by means of by
due to the fact that because
for the reason that because
in order to to
in spite of the fact that although, though
in the event that if
until such time as until
2. Choose active verbs over forms of be and passive verbs
Form/Be: A surge of power was responsible for the destruction of the coolant pumps.
Passive: The coolant pumps were destroyed by a surge of power.
Active: A surge of power destroyed the coolant pumps.
3. Balance parallel ideas
a. Balance all items in a series by presenting them in parallel grammatical form.
Unbalanced: Cross-training involves a variety of exercises, such as running, swimming, and weights.
Balanced: Cross-training involves a variety of exercises, such as running, swimming, and lifting weights.
b. Balance paired ideas by expressing them in similar grammatical form.
Unbalanced: It is easier to speak in abstractions than grounding one’s thoughts in reality.
Balanced: It is easier to speak in abstractions than to ground one’s thoughts in reality.
4. Eliminate confusing shifts.
a. Eliminate shifts in point of view
Shifted POV: One week our class met to practice rescuing a victim trapped in a wrecked car. You were graded on your speed and your skill.
Stable POV: One week our class met to practice rescuing a victim trapped in a wrecked car. We were graded on our speed and our skill.
b. Eliminate shifts in tense
Shifted Tense: Rescue workers put water on her face and lifted her head gently onto a pillow. Finally, she opens her eyes.
Stable Tense: Rescue workers put water on her face and lifted her head gently onto a pillow. Finally, she opened her eyes.
5. Avoid jargon, slang, sexist and offensive language
Jargon: For many decades the indigenous body politic of South Africa attempted to negotiate legal enfranchisement without result.
Revised: For many decades the indigenous people of South Africa negotiated in vain for the right to vote.
Slang: The government’s “filth” guidelines will gross you out.
Revised: The government’s “filth” guidelines will disgust you.
Sexist: All executives’ wives are invited to the picnic.
Revised: All executives’ spouses are invited to the picnic.
Grammar
1. Subject Verb Agreement
Singular Plural
First Person I give we give
Second Person you give you give
Third Person he/she/it gives they give
Examples of proper agreement:
High levels of air pollution damage the respiratory tract.
The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused the panda population to decline drastically.
Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others have led to a career in the ministry.
If a relative or neighbor is abusing a child, notify the police.
Neither the lab assistant nor the students were able to download the program.
2. Irregular Verbs
For all regular verbs, the past-tense and past-participle forms are the same, ending in –ed or –d. The same is not true for irregular verbs. The past-tense form, which never has a helping verb, expresses action that occurred entirely in the past. The past participle is used with a helping verb to form one of the perfect tenses or to form the passive voice.
Past Tense: Last July, we went to Paris.
Past Participle: We have gone to Paris twice.
Some Common Irregular Verbs:
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle
arise arose arisen
be was, were been
beat beat beaten, beat
begin began begun
break broke broken
do did done
drink drank drunk
eat ate eaten
3. Personal Pronouns (I vs. me)
Pronouns functioning as subjects or subject complements appear in the subjective case; those functioning as objects appear in the objective case; and those functioning as possessive appear in the possessive case.
Subjective Case Objective Case Possessive Case
I me my
we us our
you you your
he/she/it him/her/it his/her/its
they them their
Correct:
While diving for pearls, Brian and she found a treasure chest full of gold bars.
The most traumatic experience for her father and me occurred long after her operation.
During the Lindbergh trial, Bruno Hauptmann repeatedly denied that the kidnapper was he.
The chief strategists, Dr. Bell and I, could not agree on a plan.
The reporter interviewed only two witnesses, the shopkeeper and me.
4. Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to adjectives (formal, formally). However, some adjectives end in –ly (lovely, friendly) and some adverbs don’t (always, here). When in doubt, consult a dictionary.
a. Adverbs usually answer one of these questions: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? How often? To what degree?
Incorrect (adj): The manager must see that the office runs smooth and efficient.
Correct (adv): The manager must see that the office runs smoothly and efficiently.
Incorrect (adj): We were delighted that Sarah had done so good on the exam.
Correct (adv): We were delighted that Sarah had done so well on the exam.
b. Adjectives
Incorrect (adv): Lori looked well in her new raincoat.
Correct (adj): Lori looked good in her new raincoat.
c. Comparatives and superlatives: Most adjectives and adverbs have three forms: the positive, the comparative, and the superlative. Use the comparative to compare two things, the superlative to compare three or more.
Incorrect: Which of these two brands of toothpaste is best?
Correct: Which of these two brands of toothpaste is better?
Incorrect: David is the more qualified of the three applicants.
Correct: David is the most qualified of the three applicants.
5. Fragments
To be a sentence, a word group must consist of at least one full independent clause. An independent clause has a subject and a verb, and it either stands alone as a sentence or could stand alone. Some fragments are clauses that contain a subject and a verb but begin with a subordinating word. Others are phrases that lack a subject, a verb or both.
Fragmented clause: Patricia arrived on the island of Malta. Where she was to spend the summer restoring frescoes.
Correct: Patricia arrived on the island of Malta, where she was to spend the summer restoring frescoes.
Fragmented phrase: The archaeologists worked slowly. Examining and labeling every pottery shard they uncovered.
Correct: The archaeologists worked slowly, examining and labeling every pottery shard they uncovered.
6. Run-on Sentences
Run-on sentences are independent clauses that have not been joined correctly. An independent clause is a word group that does or could stand alone as a sentence. To correct a run-on sentence you have four choices:
1. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction
2. Use a semicolon
3. Make the clauses into separate sentences
4. Restructure the sentence, perhaps by subordinating one of the clauses
Run-on: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone, they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Fix 1: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone, but they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Fix 2: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone; they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Fix 3: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone. They are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Fix 4: Although gestures are a means of communication for everyone, they are essential for the hearing-impaired.