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Before doing these exercises, review the
list of common word-choice errors in the University of Minnesota’s style
manual. |
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Ready? |
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Correct the word-choice errors in the
following sentences. |
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1. Its
going to cost you big bucks if you
loose or forget you’re access code, as we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. Its
going to cost you big bucks if you
loose or forget you’re access code, as we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you loose or forget you’re access code, as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you loose or forget you’re access code, as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget you’re access code, as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget you’re access code, as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget [your] access code, as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget [your] access code[,]
as we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget [your] access code[ ]
as we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget [your] access code[ ] as
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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1. [It’s]
going to cost you big bucks if you [lose] or forget [your] access code[ ] [because]
we get tired of reissuing them. |
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2.
Since John Smith has left the department, I will take over his
duties as chief financial officer. |
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2. Since
John Smith has left the department, I will take over his duties as chief
financial officer. |
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2. Since
John Smith has left the department . . .
Note that “since” could
be construed as a reference to time. |
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2. [Because]
John Smith has left the department, I will take over his duties as chief
financial officer. |
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3.
Irregardless of the competition, Higgins Company certainly increased their market share, unlike
alot of other companys. |
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3. Irregardless
of the competition, Higgins Company certainly increased their market share, unlike alot of other
companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company certainly increased their market share, unlike alot of other
companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company certainly increased their market share, unlike alot of other
companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased their market share, unlike alot of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased their market share, unlike alot of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased [its] market share, unlike alot of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased [its] market share, unlike alot of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased [its] market share, unlike [a lot] of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased [its] market share, unlike [a lot] of other companys. |
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3. [Regardless]
of the competition, Higgins Company [ ]
increased [its] market share, unlike [a lot] of other compan[ies]. |
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4. My
desk is further from the fax machine than your’s. |
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4. My
desk is further from the fax
machine than your’s. |
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4. My
desk is [farther] from the fax machine than your’s. |
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4. My
desk is [farther] from the fax machine than your’s. |
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4. My
desk is [farther] from the fax machine than [yours]. |
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5. We
have less employees than we had a year ago. |
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5. We
have less employees than we had
a year ago. |
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5. We
have [fewer] employees than we had a year ago. |
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6. I am
persuaded that we must take action now. |
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6. I am
persuaded that we must take action now. |
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6. I am
[convinced] that we must take action now. |
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7. Miss
Jenkins stated that the economy has effected their business. |
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7. Miss
Jenkins stated that the economy has effected their business. |
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7. Miss
Jenkins stated that the economy has [a]ffected their business. |
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7. Miss
Jenkins stated that the economy has [a]ffected their business. |
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7. [Miss
Jenkins] . . .
Use the social title preferred by the person. |
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7. [Mrs.
Martha Jenkins] . . .
Use the social title preferred by the person. |
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7. [Mrs.
John Jenkins] . . .
Use the social title preferred by the person. |
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7. [Ms.
Jenkins] . . .
If you don’t know her preference, use “Ms.” |
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8.
Please ask your staff to man the phones earlier in the day. |
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8.
Please ask your staff to man
the phones earlier in the day. |
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8.
Please ask your staff to [answer] the phones earlier in the day. |
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9. Once
plastered, you are ready to paint the walls. |
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9. Once
plastered, you are ready to paint the walls. |
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9. Once
plastered, [the walls] are ready to be painted. |
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10. When loaded, type “Go” to start the program. |
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10. When loaded, type “Go” to start the program. |
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10. When [the program] is loaded, type “Go” to
start it. |
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11. Meals are prepared under supervision of a
dietitian packaged in disposable
styrofoam containers. |
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11. Meals are prepared under supervision of a
dietitian [and] packaged in disposable styrofoam containers. |
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12. Never mind her predicament. Are the meals any good? |
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12. Never mind her predicament. Are the meals any good? |
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12. Never mind [the dietitian’s] predicament. |
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Are the meals any good? |
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Notes