Tip of the Month Plurals and Possessives:
To signify that a noun is possessive, you need to understand how to use the
apostrophe. Here are some tips: Signifying Possession Add an 's to show possession
to a singular noun. Note that "writer" in the following example is singular.
Example: The writer's pen left ink stains on Jane's shirt.
If your singular noun ends in s, still add 's for form the possessive.
Example: Jane's roommate enjoys reading Henry James's novels.
If a noun ending in s is plural and you need to make it possessive, simply
add an apostrophe. Note that "teachers" is already plural - more than one
teacher.
Example: A teachers' meeting combines pedagogy and theory. If
a noun changes letters to signify it is plural (goose to geese, for instance),
then revert to the original rule and add an 's.
Example: What effect has the women's liberation movement had
on children's literature? If you are showing joint possession, use 's (or
s') with the last noun only.
Example: Have you seen Mary and Maude's new computer? Also,
make sure to use an apostrophe in contractions to signify the omission of
a letter, especially with it's.
Example: It's easy being green. (It is easy being green.) I
haven't thought much about that. (I have not thought much about that.) How
would you correct the errors in possession in the following sentences? 1.
Mary and Janes' fathers were both in the class of '53. 2. I hadnt expected
to hear Janice' voice again.
Tip of the Month, by Pegeen Reichert Powell:
Using Semicolons Correctly
Semicolons almost always do the same job as periods: they end an independent
clause. Think of the semi-colon as a "weak" period; you use a semicolon instead
of a period when you don't want to separate two closely related independent
clauses. When you use semicolons in your writing, make sure that you could use
a period in place of each semicolon; in other words, there should be a complete
sentence on either side of the semicolon If not, you need another form of punctuation.
Example:
There is one exception to the use of the semicolon as a "weak" period, and that
is when you need to use it in a series. In this case, you use a semicolon instead
of a comma to separate items in a series when one of the items already has a
comma in it.
Example:
The assignments for the course include three exams; an extended case study;
a group presentation; and daily reading assignments, problem sets, and listserv
contributions.
(adapted from Margaret W. Taylor, The Basic English Handbook, New York: HarperCollins,
1995.)
Tip of the Month, by Lisa Mahle-Grisez: Avoiding
Affectation
Avoiding Affectation Affectation is the use of language that is more technical,
formal, or showy than is necessary to communicate information to the reader.
Affected writing forces the reader to work harder to understand the writer's
meaning. Affected writing typically contains abstract, highly technical, or
pseudotechnical words. For instance:
pursuant to (instead of
about or
regarding)
in view of the fact that (instead of
because)
it may be said that (omit)
The easiest kind of affectation to be lured into is the use of long variants:
words created by adding prefixes and suffixes to simpler words
(analyzation
for analysis, telephonic communication for telephone call).
Also, using unneccessarily formal words (such as herewith) and outdated phrases
(such as please find enclosed) is a common cause of affectation.
Tip of the Month, by Howe Professor Kate Ronald:
When to use Hopefully
Hopefully, I write this tip-of-the-month, trying to convince my readers to stop
using "hopefully" to begin their sentences, as in "Hopefully, I'll get an A
on that test." Or "Hopefully, Spring will come." Neither Spring nor tests hope.
People do. Hopefully is an adverb. It modifies verbs, and there's only one way
to use it correctly: as adverb meaning "in a hopeful manner."
Examples:
"Hopefully, the dog watched me eat the cheeseburger."
This sentence does not mean that I hope animals will observe me dining, but
that the dog hoped for a treat.
"Hopefully, they left on Spring Break in a car that needed new tires and a new
transmission" does not mean that the writer wishes them harm, but that the
vacationers hoped the car would make the trip.
Although just about every one uses hopefully to describe their own attitudes
toward whatever statement follows, as in
"Hopefully, I'll get the job I want,"
what you should say is
"I hope I'll get the job I want.
" NOT
"Hopefully, it won't rain this weekend," but
"I hope it won't rain
this weekend." Rain does not hope.
Hopefully, I implore you to use "hopefully" only to describe something or someone
who actually hopes. You'll be in among the few who speak and write clearly,
I hope.