Take The Write Way Challenge:
Can you spot the shortcomings in English grammar, usage, structure, or clarity in the following passages? Give it a try, then compare your findings to those of an experienced professional writer/editor who sees — and corrects — errors like these daily.
1) If we want the race to be fair for all contestants, we must insure that the rules are strictly enforced.
2) I believe credit will free up, but for now you want to see a three year track record because we really do not want to extend credit to individuals that do not show the ability to repay.
3) In well-documented and scientifically conducted road tests authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Toyota Camry had better gas mileage than any car in it’s class.
4) Since the offer of an $8,000 tax credit is about to expire, first time home buyer’s should act now rather than wait and hope for an extension.
5) If you have ever laid awake at 2 o’clock in the morning worrying about your business, you may be comforted knowing that other business owners report having the same experience.
6) We don’t want other people to know about this problem, so let’s keep it a secret between the three of us. With five possible solutions, we can choose the better one without help from anybody else.
7) I enjoy many different leisure activities, but my favorites are biking, playing tennis, and to go for a walk on the beach.
“The fack can’t be no longer disgised that a Krysis is onto us.”
How did you do? Perhaps this exercise was challenge enough so that you see our point: examples of “bad” writing abound; even if your writing skills are good and your knowledge of grammar rules is above average, Write Way Tutoring can help you become an even better communicator!
Here are the professional writer/editor’s comments:
1) “insure” is used incorrectly here. The word should be used only when referring specifically to insurance policies. “Ensure” would be correct — meaning “to make certain.”
2) The full article is even worse than this excerpt, which suffers from awkwardness and “pronoun distress” as the writer switches from the first person singular “I” to the ersatz “you” to the royal “we” in short order — with a “that” thrown in where a “who” would be more appropriate.
3) This sentence has two glaring errors: the use of “it’s” — a contraction of “it is” — instead of the correct word “its” which is the possessive form required here; and it is impossible for the Toyota Camry to get better gas mileage than “any car in its class” because it would then be getting better gas mileage than itself. The sentence needs to read “…than any other car in its class.”
4) The plural of buyer is buyers, not buyer’s; to coin a word, this writer and countless others have apostrophitis. Fortunately, the condition is curable.
5) Two problems: “laid” is incorrect usage — the correct word is “lain”; and we don’t believe the writer intended to say that other business owners lie awake worrying about your business — but that is the way the sentence reads.
6) “between” should be used when two people are involved; for three or more, the correct word is “among.” And among (not “between”) five solutions, you would hope to choose the “best” one; “better” is appropriate only when comparing two alternatives.
7) Lack of parallel usage makes this statement awkward. Much better: “…biking, playing tennis, and walking on the beach.”
Ha! Trickery on our part: there is absolutely nothing wrong with this passage. It is purposely — and delightfully — written in the dialect of Artemus Ward, a character created by 19th century humorist and author Charles F. Browne. Quote marks serve as a do-not-tamper-with-this warning in most editing situations.
Effective communication relieves stress
Effective communication helps avoid mistakes
Effective communication sells your products and services
