Grammar Guide: Usage Tips & Common Errors Explained

[toc]

grammar guide usage tips common errors explained

Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)

Page 75 Review

Mastering Grammar and Usage: A Detailed Analysis

This excerpt from a grammar and usage guide offers valuable insights into common errors and best practices for clear and effective writing.

Let’s delve into specific points:

Prepositions: ‘Between’ vs. ‘From’

The distinction between using “between” and “from” with age ranges is crucial for precision.

The excerpt highlights:

“Incorrect: We recorded the difference between the performance of participants who completed the first task and the second task.”

Instead, it suggests:

“Correct: betv .5 and 4.0 years old”

And further clarifies:

“Incorrect: between 2.5-4.0 years old”

This underscores that “between” requires a clear delineation of two distinct entities, while specifying a range often benefits from a simpler construction.

‘Both’ and ‘And’: Avoiding Redundancy

The guide emphasizes avoiding redundancy with “both” and “as well as.” The correct usage is demonstrated:

“Correct: The names were difficult both to pronounce and to spell.”

The incorrect version, although subtly different, demonstrates the pitfall:

“Incorrect: The names were difficult Both to pronounce to spell.”

The use of “both” with “as well as” is flagged as redundant, a common mistake easily overlooked.

‘Neither/Nor’ and ‘Either/Or’: Parallel Structure

Maintaining parallel structure with correlative conjunctions like “neither/nor” and “either/or” is essential for grammatical correctness and clarity.

The example given is:

“Correct: Neither the responses to the auditory stimuli nor the responses to the tactile stimuli were repeated.”

The incorrect example shows where the parallel structure breaks down:

“Incorrect: Neither the responses to the auditory stimuli nor to the tactile stimuli were repeated.”

And for ‘Either/Or’:

“Correct: The respondents either gave the worst answer or gave the best answer.”

Or:

“Correct: The respondents gave either the worst answer or the best answer.”

And the incorrect example:

“Incorrect: The respondents either gave the worst answer or the best answer.”

The parallelism applies to the elements being joined by the conjunctions.

In the correct examples, both elements following “neither” and “nor” are complete phrases.

‘Not Only/But Also’: Placement for Emphasis

“Not only/but also” constructions are powerful tools for emphasizing specific points.

The proper placement is illustrated:

“Correct: It is surprising not only that pencil-and-paper scores predicted this result but also that all other predictors were less accurate.”

The incorrect version disrupts the flow and reduces the impact:

“Incorrect: It is not only surprising that pencil-and-paper scores predicted this result but also that all other predictors were less accurate.”

The placement of “not only” directly before the element you wish to emphasize is key.

Elements in a Series: Consistency is Key

Maintaining parallel form within a series of elements is a fundamental principle of good writing.

The excerpt provides:

“Correct: The participants were told to make themselves comfortable, the instructions, and to ask about anything they did not understand.”

In the incorrect version, the third element breaks the pattern:

“Incorrect: The participants were told to make themselves comfortable, to read the instructions, and that they should ask about anything they did not understand.”

All items in a series should have the same grammatical structure.

In the correct example, all three elements are simple verb phrases.

Strategies for Writing Improvement: Reading as a Foundation

The guide correctly identifies reading as a crucial element in improving writing skills:

“Good writing is a skill learned through practice.

Reading is one of the most effective ways for students to improve their writing because…”

This highlights the importance of exposure to well-written material as a learning tool.

By reading widely, writers internalize grammatical structures, vocabulary, and stylistic techniques, leading to improved writing proficiency.

The passage suggests that the act of reading itself provides a wealth of examples and implicitly instructs the aspiring writer.

Buy full ebook for only $18: https://www.lulu.com/shop/american-psychological-association/concise-guide-to-apa-style-7th-edition-official/ebook/product-rmzpq54.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Grammar Guide Usage Tips Common Errors Explained

Read more: Who vs.

Which: Grammar Guide