Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Mistakes Corrected

working class; universality
--If we are talking about a group with characteristics that are the same everywhere, we would use "universal". "There are universal characteristics of the working class all over the world."

The life of university
--Should be, "University life" if you mean what it is like to be a college student. "The life of the University" means the way that a school functions as a school.

It is thought that it is a fairly proud act to actively saying words to teacher and classmates.
--Could be more clear. Perhaps, "People believe that speaking to teachers and classmates requires a great deal of pride." The problem here is that "pride" can sometimes be a positive and sometimes be a negative characteristic. We can't tell if this observation reflects a stereotype that those who speak are good people or bad people.

However, Andy Warhol has ever said 'In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.' It is important to express ourselves or we may be easily neglected.
--Should be, "Andy Warhol said"; also, there's no connection between what Warhol said and our need to express ourselves. Warhold is talking about celebrity culture; he's not talking about our need to assert ourselves.


Note the difference between: resolute/resolve

Note the difference between: stressful/stressed

The article elicits three studies
--"elicits" isn't used correctly. "The article mentions three studies." "examines" also works.

...To my expect...
--Should be, "In accordance with my expectations" (e.g., "Things happened the way I thought they would happen")

This kind of stereotype implies that women should do the housework....
--Could be more clear with, "This stereotype implies that housework is women's work."

However, Homer and Bart do nothin but lying on the couch....
--Should be, "do nothing be lie on the couch"; watch for misused -ing verbs

Easy as words on the surface, they might mean deeply with the use of metaphors.
--Hard to understand. Perhaps this means, "Words have simple meanings, but they can have deeper meanings through the use of metaphors.

Note the difference between: easy/easily

There were three papers researched about...
--Should be, "There were three research papers..." "researched about" is unnecessary: "researched" is fine.

So, it is necessary [for me] to adjust my lifestyle.
--Note that I add "for me" to the sentence, "it is necessary to adjust my lifestyle".

Note the differences between: serious/seriously; lesser/fewer

The only thing we assure is that
--Should be, "The only thing we can be assured of..." This means, "The only thing we can know for certain."

...put my shoes in theirs
--Should be, "Put myself is their shoes." 'Shoes' are a metaphor for 'perspective'. The mistake is that we are putting shoes inside other shoes, which is a bit confusing (and often difficult).

Having the shadow of fearing be hurt, Jin avoided expressing himself...
--The metaphor of "shadow" is confusingly used here. We can eliminate the metaphor, "Fearing that he will be hurt, Jin avoids expressing himself..." (Remember, when summarizing a story, we can use the present tense--"avoids" instead of "avoided")

Note the difference between: acceptations/expectations ("acceptations" not a word)

Because he bumped into they, when they were closing. However, Bart eventually propagated it.
--This is a response to "Grade School Confidential". I think it means, "Bart bumped into them when they were kissing." The next problem is a "However" problem. "However" sets up a contrast between expectation and result. Example: "She seemed to like him. However, she rejected his request to become his girlfriend." There's no contrast between these two sentences; it just describes two events in sequence: "Bart sees Skinner and Krabbapel kiss. Eventually, he tells everyone about it." There's no need for "however".

The topic talks about a serious topic--to fit in.
--"fitting in" works better as a subject because the "ing" ending makes it more clearly a verbal (a verb turned into a noun). Also, there's no need to use "topic" twice; in fact, it looks strange. "The novel examines a serious topic: fitting in." Some might object to the idea of a book "talking".

"As far as I'm concered"
--This is a phrase used in speech; there's no need to use it in writing. It's also used unnecessarily. If you state an opinion, you can just state it correctly; the introductory phrase, "As far as I'm concerned" really doesn't add anything to the sentence.

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