Pet Peeves #1-5
Have a sheet of paper
ready.
Pet Peeve #1: Spell Check
Spell check on a computer is a wonderful tool.
However, it is not perfect. If a word in a
document really is a word, spell check won’t tell
you that it is the wrong word. For example,
many people write the word are when they
mean the word our, perhaps because they
pronounce the words almost the same. Spell
check won’t catch the mistake. If you don’t
reread your paper carefully, you may end up
with a lot of spelling mistakes, even though spell
check tells you the paper is perfect.
Example
“Eye don’t won’t too go to sleep,” wined little
Alfred to his sister. “Eye want too stay up and wash
TV with ewe.”
“Eye want too sit hear on the couch with my
boyfriend,” grumbled Lauren. “Wee want to bee
alone.”
“Y?” asked Alfred.
Lauren side. “Ewe err to young too under stand.”
“Know I’m knot!” cried Alfred. “I am for!” He
climbed up and wedged himself between Lauren
and her boyfriend. “Sea? I’m a big buoy. Thistle be
fun!”
Pet Peeve #2: Beginning with…
People often don’t know how to start. Because
they don’t know what to say, they sometimes begin by
writing something like this: “Hi, my name is Lisa.” Such
an opening is definitely NOT a good idea.
First of all, your name is on the paper – or should
be. You don’t need to introduce yourself by name.
What you need to do is introduce your subject. To do
that, simply make a statement about your subject. For
example, for a report on gorillas, you might start out by
writing, “Most people think of gorillas as vicious, meateating animals.” For a composition on why school
lunch periods should be longer, you might start out by
writing, “Lunch should be a time for relaxation, not
stress.”
It’s also not a good idea to start out by writing, “
I am going to tell you about how the printing press
was invented,” or “My paper will be about the printing
press.” If you are in first grade and doing show and
tell, it’s fine to start by saying, “I am going to tell you
about…” It you are older, you need to do something
more sophisticated, more grown up.
Instead of announcing your topic, begin by
telling something about your topic. You might even
tell your main idea. For example, for a report on the
invention of the printing press, you might write, “The
invention of the printing press in 1455 was a
development that changed the world forever.” For an
essay comparing cats and dogs, you might start like
this: “Though cats may be attractive to some people,
dogs really make much better family pets.”
Just a few more ideas for ways to begin:
• Tell an anecdote about your experience, or
someone else’s experience, related to your
topic.
• Quote an authority who has said something
particularly interesting or colorful about your
topic.
• Point out a startling statistic, an interesting fact,
or a fascinating bit of trivia related to your
topic.
Pet Peeve #3: It’s vs. its
Nothing drives an English teacher crazier than
apostrophes used incorrectly. Learn to get them right –
even right MOST of the time – and you will save your English
teacher and yourself a lot of anguish.
The key to success is to remember the Magic
Apostrophe Rule. Learn this rule, and dozens of annoying
little writing problems will disappear. Here is the rule:
THE MAGIC APOSTROPHE RULE
Except when it is used with a person’s
name or a noun, an apostrophe almost
always stands for a letter that has been left
out. If nothing is left out, you don’t want an
apostrophe.
The word it’s is not a person’s name or a noun.
Therefore, the apostrophe stands for a letter that has
been left out – the “i” in is. It’s is short for it is. The word
it’s should be used only in places where you could say
it is.
Which word should you use in each of the
following sentences?
It’s/Its always exciting to get a gift in the mail.
(Try substituting it is in the sentence: It is always exciting
to get a gift in the mail. That makes sense. Use it’s.)
The car flipped on it’s/its back in the accident.
(Try substituting it is in the sentence: The car flipped on
it is back in the accident. No, that doesn’t make
sense. Use its.)
Pet Peeve #4: You’re vs. Your
Remember the Magic Apostrophe Rule, and
your problems will be over with you’re and your.
Look at the word you’re. It is not a person’s
name or a name. Therefore, the apostrophe must
stand for something left out.
It does. The word you’re is a contraction for you
are. The apostrophe stands for the missing a in are.
Therefore, the only time you should use you’re is when
you can substitute the words you are for the word
you’re.
Take a look at a few examples:
Be sure to bring your/you’re coat with you.
(Be sure to bring you are coat with you? No, that
doesn’t make sense. You definitely don’t want you’re.
Use your instead.)
If your/you’re going to ask a guy to the dance,
at least pick a nice one.
(If you are going to ask a guy to the dance, at least
pick a nice one. Yes, that sounds right. Use you’re.)
Pet Peeve #5: To vs. Too
People are always mixing up to, too, and two.
Almost everyone knows the word two is the one that
refers to a number. Let’s assume that you do, too.
The biggest problem people usually have is
mixing up to and too. Luckily, there is a very easy way
to tell the difference between the words. The key is to
remember how we really pronounce the little “filler”
word to.
Most of us really pronounce to so that it sounds
like tuh, as in “I’m going tuh watch TV now.” When
you don’t know the which word to use, try saying tuh
in the sentence. If tuh makes sense, use the word to. If
tuh sounds silly, use the word too. (Warning: This trick
works only if you try tuh first. Don’t do it the other way
around and try too first. Everything sounds right with
too.)
Let’s look at some examples:
Joleen said, “I’m going to/too buy a new
hamster.”
(Try substituting tuh in the sentence: I’m going tuh buy
a new hamster. That sounds okay. Use to.)
Blake likes chocolate cake, chocolate milk, and
chocolate pie, to/too.
(Try substituting tuh in the sentence: Blake likes
chocolate cake, chocolate milk, and chocolate pie,
tuh. Tuh sounds wrong. Use too.)
Reminders
• Your blog comment is due
Monday, January 13th.
• Tomorrow we will be in room 167
to get your PSAT results back.