Making Better Word Choices – 4 Examples

Written by David J. Clapham


Choosingrepparttar wrong words can have a poor effect on your writing and on you. Whether you are writing a cover letter for a job, a business proposal, or an application essay for graduate school, using words poorly can result in negative feedback. One could find entire books regarding word choices for writers; this article will touch on some fundamental, but important ways to chooserepparttar 128595 correct word for your situation.

Our starting point will berepparttar 128596 use of “There are” or “There is” to begin sentences. Consider this;repparttar 128597 word “there” indicates “not here” (in other words, some other place). Now look atrepparttar 128598 sentence below and think about whatrepparttar 128599 meaning is and what might be intended.

There are four dogs playing with a ball.

Ifrepparttar 128600 writer meant that four dogs are over there and they are playing with a ball, then this would be technically correct. Ifrepparttar 128601 intention was merely that four dogs are playing with a ball, here, there, or anywhere, thenrepparttar 128602 sentence could be worded better. The following sentence would show better wording onrepparttar 128603 writer’s part.

Four dogs are playing with a ball.

The next two words that writers often confuse are “which” and “that.” Ifrepparttar 128604 goal of your writing is to describe something and you have used commas to separaterepparttar 128605 phrase fromrepparttar 128606 rest ofrepparttar 128607 sentence you want to use “which.” When a writer wants a word to define andrepparttar 128608 reference is restricted then you want to use “that.” The first sentence below showsrepparttar 128609 correct use of “that” andrepparttar 128610 second sentence shows correct use of “which.”

The Yodo isrepparttar 128611 river that runs through Osaka. The Yodo, which is a major waterway, runs though Osaka.

Our next word choice is between “while” and “although.” Another way of thinking aboutrepparttar 128612 word “although” is to look at its meaning, as found on Merriam-Webster Online dictionaryrepparttar 128613 meaning is, “in spite ofrepparttar 128614 fact that : even though.”1 The definition of “while” indicates a relation to time, such as during a period when something else is happening. Two correctly worded sentences are below.

How To Use Punctuation

Written by Rumki Sen


The most common mistake people tend to make while writing is inrepparttar use of Punctuation. Wrong punctuation can damagerepparttar 128592 flow of ideas and change meaning, but properly used punctuation not only helps readers understand your meaning but also makes them engrossed in your writing. The following discussion is about some ofrepparttar 128593 frequently misused punctuation marks and what actually their correct application should be.

Use of Apostrophe - Use an apostrophe to show possession, but never put apostrophe in case of possessive pronouns. Always remember that whenrepparttar 128594 word "it's" is used, it is actually forrepparttar 128595 contraction forrepparttar 128596 two words: "it has" or "it is". Onrepparttar 128597 other hand, "its" is a possessive pronoun, andrepparttar 128598 word being already possessive should not contain an apostrophe in it.

Example

It'srepparttar 128599 same thing happening over and over again. (Contraction of It and is: It isrepparttar 128600 same thing happening over and over again).

Wrong: That car is your's.

Right: That car is yours.

Note: Rewriting is sometimesrepparttar 128601 solution for an awkward possessive.

Awkward: A friend of mine's cap.

Better: A friend's cap (orrepparttar 128602 cap of a friend of mine).

To show possession inrepparttar 128603 case of singular nouns, add 's, and for plural words that end in s, add only an apostrophe. Don't forget to put 's with plural words not ending in s.

Example Singular: nurse's uniform

Plural: nurses' uniforms (plural word ending in s)

Plural: children's uniforms (plural word not ending in s)

Use of Comma - Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Though journalists most ofrepparttar 128604 times omitrepparttar 128605 final comma beforerepparttar 128606 word "and", but retainingrepparttar 128607 final comma avoids confusion.

Example

Poor: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online,repparttar 128608 woman who daily eats 45 eggs and Tom Cruise.

Better: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online,repparttar 128609 woman who daily eats 45 eggs, and Tom Cruise.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions.

Example

Wrong: I am not good in writing but I love writing.

Wrong: I am not good in writing, but, I love writing.

Right: I am not good in writing, but I love writing.

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