Slides developed by Dr. Michael Hebering of Baker's Center for Graduate Studies

1. My goal is to have students leave this class with the
leadership and communication skills needed to
help them advance in their chosen careers.
Solid written communication skills will set you
apart from your peers.
I have collected a number of common writing
mistakes from student papers in my MBA classes.
Review the following slides.
Before you submit your writing assignments:
1. Review These Slides, 2. Use a Grammar Check,
and 3. Closely Proofread Your Work
UPDATED: 9-24-15

2. Too long to be effective and may be hard to follow.
For clarity and conciseness, consider rewording the
sentence or splitting it into two (or more) sentences.
When rating these types of theories and the
successes that have been accomplished using a
particular type of theory, the one with that I have
seen with the most background and facts to back
up their plans implemented into many different
kinds of companies over the years, I would have
to lean towards the management type of theory
that Drucker has implemented with many
different organizations. Sixty-Six Words Long!

3. NOTE: Passive Voice IS acceptable!!!!
However, for a livelier and more persuasive sentence,
use an active verb rather than a passive verb.
In Passive Voice (PV), the subject RECEIVES the
action.
Catherine was hit by the ball. (PV)
In Active Voice, the subject PERFORMS the action.
The ball hit Catherine. (AV)
All suggestions are reviewed by management.
(PV)
Management reviews all suggestions. (AV)

4. Write out numbers one (1) through nine (9). Use
the number for 10 and above.
There are nine players on a baseball.
There are 11 players on a football team.
However, be consistent in the same sentence:
There are nine 9 players on a baseball team and
11 on a football team.
If the sentence starts with a number greater than
nine, spell it out.
Twenty-two football players are on the field.

5. Don’t Do not use contractions in academic
writing.
Use the full form of the verb phrase.
Examples: I’ve, Don’t, Doesn’t, Wouldn’t,
Can’t, Isn’t, Who’s & He’ll
This rule eliminates the misuse of:
It’s & Its, They’re & Their, You’re & Your
Who’s & Whose

6. Phrase overused, distracting (annoying) or unnecessary to
the meaning of the sentence.
above & beyond, again & again, all in all, all walks of life,
any & all, at our fingertips, as a matter of fact, at the crack
of dawn, by the same token, due to the fact that, each &
every, every once in a while, fact of life, a far cry, few & far
between, for all intents & purposes, more ways than one, a
must, needless to say, in a nutshell, on the flip side, once
& for all, over & over, pick & choose, powers that be, thing
of the past, stands to reason, task at hand, track record,
touch base, turn a blind eye, ups & downs, and vested
interest
THE # 1 Cliché: with this/that (being) said

7. A word/phrase used in informal
conversation. DO NOT USE!!!
Unacceptably Informal !!!
Examples: kind of, sort of, a lot of,
lots of, might of, could of, would of,
should of, try and, is where, is when

8. kind of, sort of – rather, somewhat
a lot of, lots of – many, much
might of, could of, would of, should of
might/could/would/should (of ) HAVE!!!
An election is where/when voters
choose representatives by ballot.
An election is the process of choosing
representatives by ballot.

9. “Try and” or “Try to”?
Focus on the main point to try and remember it.
Focus on the main point to try to remember it.
We will try and watch the movie.
We will try to watch the movie.
Sometimes it feels good to try and help others.
Sometimes it feels good to try to help others.

10. “To Be” or “To Get” - That is the question.
Substitute the appropriate form of the verb
“to be” for “to get”
We were all getting paid the same amount.
We were all being paid the same amount.
The dog gets fed twice a day.
The dog is fed twice a day.

11. Connecting Words - Do not begin sentences with
and, also, but, plus, or, though, so, or too
So, they would be able to go.
Therefore, they would be able to go.
Also, they would be able to go.
In addition, they would be able to go.
Too, Bruce planted a garden.
In addition, Bruce planted a garden.
Though, Linda prefers roses.
However, Linda prefers roses.

12. Certain adjectives, such as empty, equal,
final, obvious, perfect, routine,
temporary and unique
CANNOT be modified.
If something is "perfect," it cannot become
"more perfect."
Baryshnikov's artistic sense is very unique
among his peers.
The tasks are extremely routine.

13. Delete Words that add no meaning to a sentence.
Examples: absolutely, basically, fairly, pretty,
generally, & really
Ellen is really busy with work.
Joe’s cooking is absolutely terrible.
Those words hit pretty hard.
Stress occurs fairly regularly.
Bill is basically a hard worker.

14. Delete repetitive words or words that add no meaning
to a sentence. Examples:
Collaborate together
But yet Off of
And also May also
End result Final outcome
First of all General public
Main focus Past experiences
Period of time Return again
Time Period (One or the other, not both)
Time Period (One or the other, not both)

15. Using more words than you need to express
your idea. Delete introductory phrases:
there is, there are, there were, it is, it was
Delete or not when used with whether
It was Mary who reached the summit.
Mary reached the summit.
There are several companies that now offer
these services.
Several companies now offer these services.
He could not decide whether or not to go.

16. Verbs that share the same subject in a
sentence should have the same tense.
Example:
They (subject) lean on each other,
challenged one another and have fun
together.
They (subject) lean on each other,
challenge one another and have fun
together.

17. Subject-Verb Disagreement: Verb must agree
with subject in number and in person.
Incorrect:
A group (singular) of employees feel (plural)
threatened by a temporary employee.
Correct:
A group (singular) of employees feels (singular)
threatened by a temporary employee.
Also Correct:
Groups (plural) of employees feel (plural)
threatened by a temporary employee.

18. Plural pronouns they, their, themselves, and
them must also refer to a plural noun/pronoun
OR change the entire sentence to singular.
Each student (singular) has their (plural) own
notebook.
Students (plural) have their (plural) own
notebook.
Each student (singular) has his or her
(singular) own notebook.
Also Singular: Anybody, Anyone, Every,
Everyone & Someone

19. Place I, we, me, or us last when connecting
with a noun or another pronoun.
Incorrect: Me and my co-workers are proud
to work for this company.
Correct: My co-workers and I are proud to
work for this company.
Memory Aid: Always be polite. Let
others go before you (I, we, me, or us)

20. Comparisons: When comparing with than or
as, ADD the implied verb.
Some supervisors were just nicer to work
with than others ( ).
Some supervisors were just nicer to work
with than others were.
When using a pronoun, change the form:
Can you tell that he is shorter than her ( )?
Can you tell that he is shorter than SHE is?

21. When comparing one item to another,
use "different from" instead of "different
than."
My idea is different than your idea.
My idea is different from your idea.

22. For clarity, use "not all" rather than
"all...not."
All languages are not difficult to learn.
Not all languages are difficult to learn.
Use "not every" rather than "every...not."
Every citizen did not vote in the election.
Not every citizen voted in the election.

23. Use "but also" with the conjunction "not only."
"But" by itself is incorrect when paired with "not
only."
The child lost not only his coat but his boots.
The child lost not only his coat but also his
boots.
Ice hockey is not only exciting but dangerous .
Ice hockey is not only exciting but also
dangerous.

24. When using "either/or," or "both/and," place each part
of the pair in similar positions within your sentence.
If "either" comes just before a noun, "or" should also
come just before a noun.
She called me either ON Friday or Saturday.
She called me ON either Friday or Saturday.
She called me either ON Friday or ON Saturday.
He competed both IN freestyle and backstroke.
He competed IN both freestyle and backstroke.
He competed both IN freestyle and IN backstroke.

25. Effect, Affect and Impact
Criteria and Criterion
That
Who and That
That and Which
But and Although
But and However

26. “Effect” is a NOUN (the result of something).
The recession had a negative affect effect
on sales.
Memory aid: The name Ian or E-N, Effect/Noun
“Affect” is a VERB (to influence).
The recession effected affected sales
negatively.
Memory aid: A/V - audio/visual - affect/verb

27. “Impact” is a noun, NOT a verb.
You can have an impact on something.
However, you CANNOT impact
something.
If tempted to use "impact" as a verb, use
"affect" or “influence”.
How does Emotional Intelligence impact
affect results?

28. Use one criterion, two or more criteria.
"We made the decision based on one
overriding criteria criterion.”
… or just use "reason" or "factors" and
you won’t have to worry about getting
it wrong.
"We made the decision based on one
overriding criteria factor.”

29. It is incorrect to introduce a direct quote with the
word “that.”
Bob said that “You can hear the siren.”
Bob said, “You can hear the siren.” (Comma)
If you indirectly quote a source, you can use
“that.”
However, you need to reword the quotation in
your own words and delete the quotation marks.
Bob said that you can hear the siren.

30. “Who” refers to people.
“That” refers to things.
We bring in candidates
that who are fully qualified.
I want to be the employee that
who will speak up.

31. Use that with “restrictive” clauses:
The painting that was hanging in the foyer
was stolen. (NOTE: No Comma)
Use which with “nonrestrictive” clauses:
The painting, which was hanging in the foyer,
was stolen. (NOTE: Use of Comma)
You can delete a nonrestrictive clause:
The painting, which was hanging in the foyer,
was stolen. Without changing the meaning.

32. “But” is used when you wish to stress
a contradiction.
She said the book was blue, but I
think that it is green (Contradiction).
“Although” is used to stress that both
halves of a statement may be true.
We usually use the microwave;
although we sometimes use the stove
(Both halves are true).

33. "But" goes in the same sentence.
I don't like cherry pie, but I like apple.
"However" always goes in a new
sentence.
I don't like cherry pie.
However, I love apple. OR
Apple, however, is my favorite. OR
I do like apple, however.

34. “Loose” is most often an ADJECTIVE but can
be a NOUN.
Your dog is loose (escaped from kennel), your
loose change is clinking in your pocket, or
your loose clothes are too big.
"Lose" is a VERB.
This is what happens when you lose your keys,
you lose a bet, or you lose a game.
If you are too focused on the goal, you may
loose good employees.