Dr. Gault’s Current Pet Peeves

1. Dr. Gault’s Current Pet Peeves

2. By proofreading better, it will raise my grade.

3. Proofreading better will raise my grade. (Omit “By … it …”)

4. Dr. Gault is one professor that cares about proofreading.

5. Dr. Gault is one professor who cares about proofreading. • Use “that” with objects; use “who “ for people or for God. (preferred modern usage)

6. Less calories • Less people • Less books • Less countable objects

7. Fewer calories • Fewer people • Fewer books • Fewer countable objects

8. On a day-to day basis • On an hourly basis • On a regular basis • On an any-kind-whatsoever basis

9. Yearly • Monthly • Weekly • Daily • Hourly • Monthly • Regularly

10. I would have loved to go to the party last Saturday but I was at my cousin’s wedding.

11. I would have loved to go to the party last Saturday, but I was at my cousin’s wedding.

12. In our next assignment we have to interview three classmates and get inside their mind.

13. In our next assignment we have to interview three classmates and get inside their minds.

14. When you walk into my dorm room the first thing you notice is that my roommate stinks.

15. When a person walks into my dorm room, the first thing he or she notices is that my roommate stinks.Better: • When people walk into my dorm room, the first thing they notice is that my roommate stinks.

16. Because I had the flu, so I was absent from class.

17. Because I had the flu, I was absent from class. • I had the flu, so I was absent from class. • I was absent from class because I had the flu. (The comma here could be omitted, because the sentence is so short, and there would be no pause in natural reading.)

18. While I was walking to class across the lawn they said they would be there but they weren’t there so I went on to class without them.

19. I was supposed to meet my friends on the lawn, but they didn’t show up, so I went on to class without them. (Twisted grammar)

20. My first reaction to the topic of universal healthcare is that it is socialist, but then I read an article by Jim Wallis, and I came to see that it is a Biblical ideal.

21. My first reaction to the topic of universal healthcare was that it was (“is” would be okay)socialist, but then I read an article by Jim Wallis and came to see that it is a Biblical ideal. • (Talking about a current issue)

22. Wallis believed that all citizens should have access to healthcare, regardless of his ability to pay. Glenn Beck, on the other hand, holds that any step towards universal healthcare was a step towards communism.

23. Wallis believes that all citizens should have access to healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay; Beck, on the other hand, holds that any step towards universal healthcare is a step towards communism. • Parallelism, if this is the first reference to both writers: Jim Wallis and Glenn Beck or Wallis and Beck. Possible exceptions: Clinton, Bush, or others where there could be confusion. • Parallelism of verbs – use the present tense here, as both writers are alive, and this is a very current debate. • Parallelism or consistency of number – citizens … their • Optional semicolon. Period okay as well.

24. I really enjoy teaching Persuasive Writingbut there are so many papers to grade and I have trouble getting them all graded

25. I really enjoy teaching Persuasive Writing, but I have trouble getting all the papers graded. • I love teaching writing, but hate grading papers. • Parallelism and wordiness

26. You tell me the problem: • Every student should be able to go to their own doctor.

27. Every student should be able to go to his or her own doctor. • (Assuming that each student has one primary doctor.) • All students should be able to go to their own doctors.

28. Let’s review

29. I check my email on a day to day basis.

30. My wife Debbie, is a music teacher.

31. My wife used to be a good baseball player but since her surgery and all the antibiotics her knees and achilles tendon can’t handle it. • (3 problems)