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Learn how to improve your writing with active voice, parallel structure, avoiding run-on sentences, fixing comma splices, and ensuring pronoun agreement. Examples and guidelines provided for better language use.
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Tips for Improving Your Writing Signature School August 2004
Use active voice instead of passive • Active: John threw the ball. • Passive: The ball was thrown by John.
Keep items in a series parallel • Parallel: She enjoys reading, skating, watching television. • Not-Parallel: He likes reading, skating, and to watch television.
Avoid run-on sentences • ROS-- Bob was always on time his sister was always late. • Repaired – Bob was always on time, but his sister was always late. • OR Bob was always on time; his sister was always late. • OR Unlike his sister who was always late, Bob was always on time. • OR Bob was always on time. His sister was always late.
Avoid comma splices • C-S – Jane wanted to tell her mother about the accident, her mother was not at home. • Repaired – Jane wanted to tell her mother about the accident, but her mother was not at home. • OR Jane wanted to tell her mother about the accident; her mother was not at home.
Watch pronoun agreement • Indefinite pronouns • Some are always singular: another, anybody, someone, everyone, each, either. . . • Some are always plural: Few, both, several, all. . . • Some can be either: all, any, more, most, none, some
Example • Indefinite pronouns must agree in number with their verbs and personal pronouns: • Each of the members has one vote. • One of the girls gave up her seat. • NEVER – One of the girls gave up their seat.
Gender-Sensitive Case • If you need to use a personal pronoun to refer to an indefinite pronoun, it must agree with the indefinite pronoun. In Standard English, the possessive pronoun his is usually used. • Is everyone happy with his gift? • NEVER – Is everyone happy with their gift?
Gender-Sensitive Case • If you prefer not to use the masculine pronoun, you may use two possessive pronouns: • Is everyone happy with his or her gift? • NEVER – Is everyone happy with their gift? • You may also rewrite the sentence to use a plural personal pronoun: • Are all the people happy with their gifts?
