Strange Things Happen in Essays
What to Avoid that Will Bring You Down
1. Avoid those comma splices (two main clauses joined only by a comma).
2. Edit your work – DO NOT MISSPELL WORDS.
3. Make nouns and pronouns agree in case and number with antecedents and
verbs.
4. Avoid indefinite antecedents such as “it,” “that,” “they,” “this,” and “them.”
5. Know the difference between “their,” “there,” and “they’re.”
6. Avoid sentence fragments.
8. Write from THIRD PERSON (no “I,” “me,” “YOU,” “us,” “we,” or “your.”)
9. Do NOT skip lines between paragraphs; INDENT them.
10. Use blue or black ink.
11. Do NOT use empty words such as “things” or “stuff.”
12. Never use slang or abbreviations.
13. Stay in the tense that you begin with. Most essays are written in present tense.
14. Avoid starting every sentence with the words “the” or “there.”
15. In speaking of time situations, avoid using “is when.” It would be more
effective to say “occurs,” “takes place,” etc.
16. NEVER EVER use the word “alot” – it is NOT a word – or the term “a lot.”
17. Instead of saying “real,” “really,” or “very,” try words like “extremely” or
“rather.”
18. Avoid using the words “mainly” and “basically.” It is best not to use them
at all.
19. AVOID clichés (old worn-out sayings such as hot as a firecracker and busy as
a bee).
20. Use active voice verbs.
21. AVOID “to be” verbs. Use other more meaningful or vivid verbs.
22. Never write “I think,” “in my opinion,” “sort of,” “it seems like, or “kind of
like.”
23. Spell out words; do not use symbols. For example, do not use the ampersand
(&) symbol for the word “and.”
24. Do NOT divide words (unless you know how to divide them correctly).
25. Always make your voice heard and your writing legible.