THE BASICS OF WRITING IN ENGLISH
I expect you to know this basic information about writing in English.
1. The first word in every sentence is ALWAYS capitalized.
INCORRECT: my eyes are brown.
CORRECT: My eyes are brown.
2. The personal pronoun “I” is ALWAYS capitalized.
INCORRECT: Last semester i took Writing 2.
CORRECT: Last semester I took Writing 2.
3. Every sentence needs to have punctuation at the end (period, question mark or exclamation point).
INCORRECT: I’m shy and hardworking
CORRECT: I’m shy and hardworking.
4. When an adjective modifies a noun, the adjective appears BEFORE the noun.
INCORRECT: I have hair brown and eyes green.
CORRECT: I have brown hair and green eyes.
5. Adjectives in English do NOT have plural forms.
INCORRECT: I have greens eyes.
CORRECT: I have green eyes.
6. Formal standard English does NOT permit double negatives.
INCORRECT: I don’t have no hobbies.
CORRECT: I don’t have any hobbies.
7. Plural nouns in English have an –S on the end of the word.
INCORRECT: Right now I’m working two job.
CORRECT: Right now I’m working two jobs.
8. Every sentence in English MUST have a subject.
INCORRECT: Is very important to come to class on time.
CORRECT: It is very important to come to class on time.
9. Subjects MUST agree with their verbs in number (i.e. singular or plural).
INCORRECT: My eyes is dark.
CORRECT: My eyes are dark.
10. Do NOT start sentences with AND, BUT, SO, or OR.
INCORRECT: I like to go to the movies on the weekend. And I like to spend time with my family.
CORRECT: I like to go to the movies on the weekend, and I like to spend time with my family.
FIRST STEPS IN EDITING
Each sentence below has a mistake (or maybe even two). Find and correct the mistake(s).
1. My hair is dark and my eyes.
2. I like my whole body, but I like the most my hair.
3. I always running late everywhere.
4. I’m very funny and hardworking, and curious.
5. I’am quite tall.
6. My hair is brown, and my eyes is green.
7. Always I am very happy.
8. My hobbies is playing soccer and going to the gym, but my best hobbies is coming to college.
9. I am a passive person sometimes funny.
10. Im responsible and friendly.
11. For me is very easy to communicate with people.
12. i have dark eyes.
13. I have long, brown hair and honey eyes. Also, a wonderful smile.
14. When people meet me, say that I am a wonderful person.
15. Am a very curious person.
16. I love playing sports, hanging out with my friends, going to clubs every weekend. Or going to watch a good
movie.
17. I like play soccer with my friends on the weekend.
18. I like to help people when they need it, but it depend on what kind of person it is.
19. I have three beautifuls children, and I love them very much.
20. Now I do not have time for nothing.