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Grammar Guide
This section is not intended to be a
substitute for your own grammar book. However, these are common mistakes made
in term papers. Perhaps you can eliminate such errors by following these
guidelines.
Numbers |
Spaces | Point of View |
Agreement | Sources
By the Numbers
When should you use digits and when should you use numbers
written out as words? The charts below provide some consistent rules.
Always use digits when writing:
|
the name of a
year |
1945 or 2001
or 2003 |
|
the day of the
month |
September 25,
2002 or March 28, 2003 |
|
a measurement
or percent |
20 lbs. or 68
m.p.h. or 72% |
|
a number that
includes a decimal |
2.6 million
dollars or 4.7 miles |
|
an address,
zip code, or phone number |
700 W. North
Street, Bradley, IL 60915 or (815) 937-3707 |
|
a number that
would take more than three words to say |
2,345 or
692,386 |
Always write numbers as words when writing:
|
a number that
would take less than four words to say |
Seven games or
thirty-nine people or two hundred twenty days |
Space Cadet
One of the
easiest mistakes to make is to use improper spacing. Follow these guidelines.
|
after end
punctuation use 2 spaces |
No! Don’t
go. You won’t like it. |
|
after a comma
use 1 space |
Yes, I will do
that. |
|
Before a
parenthetical citation use 1 space; do not leave a space between parenthesis
and end punctuation |
The Chicago
Bulls won six NBA Championships (Brown 29). |
Line spacing
|
If you type
your paper, use double spacing for the entire paper. |
If you type
your paper, use double spacing for the entire paper. |
|
If you
handwrite your paper, use each line provided on the paper (allowing for a
one-inch margin. |
If you handwrite your paper, use each line
provided on the paper (allowing for a one-inch margin). |
A Different Point of View
|
Avoid the
first person point of view. |
I found
information on Australia. |
|
Avoid the
second person point of view. |
You should
really try to go to Australia. |
|
DO
use the third person point of view. |
Australia has
many unique animals, such as the dingo and kangaroo. |
The pronoun “one” can sometimes be substituted for “you” in order to maintain
third person point of view. Remember that the pronoun “one” is singular.
|
You should
really try to go to Australia. |
One should
really try to go to Australia. |
In Perfect Agreement
Subjects and verbs in each sentence must agree with each
other in number.
|
Singular: He
swims with dolphins. |
Singular: One
swims with dolphins. |
|
Plural: They
swim with dolphins. |
Plural:
Visitors swim with dolphins. |
Verb tense must remain consistent throughout each paragraph
and paper.
|
The American
Revolution began in April 1775. In July, 1776 the Declaration of
Independence is signed. The country freed itself from
England. |
The American
Revolution began in April 1775. In July, 1776 the Declaration of
Independence was signed. The country freed itself from
England. |
The Source of the Matter
Be sure you use your sources correctly.
Number of Sources
|
The Works
Cited Page must list at least 5 different sources. |
Parenthetical
citations must show at least 5 different sources throughout the length of
the paper. |
Type of Sources
You must have at least three separate types of sources.
You may use only one encyclopedia article. You may use as many sources of other
types as you wish.
|
1 encyclopedia
article |
Books & book
chapters |
Magazine
articles |
|
Newspaper
articles |
Television
programs |
Video & DVD
programs |
|
Internet Web
Sites |
Software
(Reference books on CD) |
Personal
interviews with experts |
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BBCHS
English Department