Introduction to Philosophy
Dr. Christi Hemati
Common Paper Errors
Note: If you do not already have it, go to the bookstore as soon as possible and buy The Elements of
Style by Williams Strunk and E. B. White. Read it, mark it up, and keep it close at hand when you write
any paper in the future – it is the current “bible” of good writing.
Content
 Introduction:
Try to include at least (1) a clear thesis statement (what you intend to
show), and (2) the plan of your paper (how you will do it). [e.g “In this paper, I will argue that
…”] & [“First, I will show this by …. Then I will… Finally, I will …”] This may sound overly
straight-forward and silly, but it helps the reader know what to expect. Also, make sure that
your paper actually follows the plan of the introduction. Rewrite/revise the introduction
after you have written the paper.
 Conclusion: Make sure your conclusion pulls together all of your main points and responds
to your introduction (read your introduction & conclusion together). Do not claim more than
you have shown in the body of your paper or bring up any new points or arguments.
 Give priority to depth over breadth - Many students try to bring up 2-3 different claims in
every paragraph, and as a result, by the end of the paper, plenty of ideas are mentioned, but
none of them are fully developed. Instead, it is better to pick 2-3 main ideas and dedicate a
full paragraph or two to each one. Also, in each paragraph, try to include at least 2 concrete
examples that support or illustrate your claim.
Organization/Form
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Do not say “I feel that” (ex. “I feel that Greeks are dualistic.”) It sounds like you are just
stating a personal preference that could be completely relative (like your favorite ice cream
flavor), or like you are not very confident about your claim. Instead, say, “I think that …” or
something similar; or even better, simply state your point (ex. “Greeks are dualistic.”)
Watch out for sentences that run for 3-5 lines – these are often too long and can easily lose
the reader.
Work on good transitions between main ideas/points/paragraphs.
Watch out when you use pronouns (he, she, they, them, this, etc.). Make sure it is clear who
you are referring to.
Documentation, Grammar, Spelling
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No contractions (can’t, don’t, he’d, etc.) in formal papers – always spell these out (cannot, do
not, he would, etc.)
Ellipses – Use 3 ellipses points (…) when it falls between different parts of the same
sentence, but use 4 ellipses points when it falls as the end of a sentence or between the end
of one sentence and the beginning of another.
Avoid split infinitives. A split infinitive is where an adverb is interposed between “to” and
the infinitive it governs (ex. “to diligently inquire”). Unless you want to place unusual stress
on the adverb, place the adverb after the infinitive (ex. “to inquire diligently”).
Tense – Try to use the same verb tense throughout the paper, and if possible, use the present
tense. Avoid subjunctive tense (ex. would have …., could have…).
Voice - Try to use active voice (ex. “Plato denigrates the body.”), not passive voice (ex. “The
body is denigrated by Plato.”), as much as possible.
Point of view – in philosophy papers, first and third person point of view are fine, but try to
stay away from second person (pronouns like you and your)
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Introduction to Philosophy
Dr. Christi Hemati
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The word “this” should have a noun following it whenever possible. Articulating the subject
of your sentence will make your writing more precise. This practice dramatically improves
philosophical writing which tends toward the abstract.
Avoid forms of the verb “to be” wherever possible. Forms of the verb “to be” are: is are, was,
were, would be, should be. Decide what the subject of your sentence actually does and chose
the active verb that best conveys that particular action. Once you make these changes, “to
be” constructions actually become points of emphasis. Again, this practice diminishes the
needlessly abstract dimensions of philosophical writing.
Avoid long strings of prepositional phrases. A preposition is a word like: at, about around,
over, against, of, through, etc. A preposition conveys a spatial or temporal relationship to
something. Pay particular attention to strings of “ofs” and “ins.” Try not to use more than
one, or at most two, prepositional phrases in a row. Using shorter sentences and active verbs
diminishes the dependence on prepositional constructions.
Clear and concise - Avoid expletives like: There are, It is, It is possible that, It seems likely
that. Notice the difference between saying “It is possible to banish them completely.” and
“Banish them completely.” Say what you think. Be emphatic.
o Avoid the overuse of weasel words. Weasel words are terms like: seems to be,
appears to be, might actually be, somehow, in some way, could possibly be the case.
Again, say what you think. Be emphatic.
o Omit needless words.
Replace the phrase “in order to do X” with “to do X.”
Try to put statements in positive form. Make definite assertions and avoid tame, colorless,
hesitating, noncommittal language. Use the word not as a means of denial, never as a means
of evasion (ex. “He was not very often on time.” versus “He usually came late.”)
which vs. that – That is the defining, or restrictive, pronoun, which the nondefining, or
nonrestrictive. The easiest mistake is to use “which” when you should actually use “that” –
usually, if you can use either one, use “that” and you’re safe. Example of proper use:
o “that” – The lawn mower that is broken is in the garage. (Tells which one.)
o “which” – The lawn mower, which is broken, is in the garage. (Adds a fact about the
only mower in question.)
If you bring in outside information, cite your resource. Also, make sure your resource is
authoritative or reliable.
Writing Process
 Write the paper first without worrying much about these guidelines. Once you finish writing,
go through the paper line by line and make these changes. It may take 1-2 hours to revise,
but don’t be dismayed by the tedium of the process. You will be amazed at the difference.
You may even find that your ideas improve. Sometimes, when I get “blocked,” I sit down and
start making these changes. Inevitably, I become “unblocked.”
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