Writing Acceptable Sentences
"You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right parts of the country." —Robert Frost.
What Robert Frost says is certainly true. Much of the color and charm of literature comes from the everyday habits and customs-and especially the speech-of its characters. Keep that in mind when you write fiction of any kind. However, when you write essays, reports, and most other assignments, keep in mind that it's just as important to use language that is correct, appropriate, and therefore acceptable.
Substandard(nonstandard) Language—Substandard language is often acceptable in everyday conversation, but seldom in formal writing.
Colloquial: Avoid the use of colloquial language such as go with, wait up.
Mr. Park went with to the meeting. (Substandard)
Mr. Park went with them to the meeting. (Acceptable)
Double Preposition: Avoid the use of certain double prepositions: off of, off to, in on.
Reggie went off to the movies. (Substandard)
Reggie went to the movies. (Acceptable)
Substitution: Avoid substituting and for to in formal writing.
Try and get here on time. (Substandard)
Try to get here on time. (Acceptable)
Avoid substituting of for have when combining with could, would, should, or might.
I should of studied for that test. (Substandard) I should have studied for that test. (Acceptable)
Slang: Avoid the use of slang or any other "in" words.
The museum trip was way cool. (Substandard)
The museum trip was wonderful. (Acceptable)
Double Negatives: A double negative is the improper use of two negative words to perform the same function in a sentence. In standard English, use only one negative word in a sentence.
Awkward: I haven't got no money.
(This actually says-with the two negatives-I have money.)
Corrected: I haven't got any money. / I have no money.
Using the words hardly, barely, or scarcely with the words no or not also results in a double negative.
Double Negatives are possible to use when you intend to cancel out something in a sentence for a purpose. Null and void are a form of double negatives they cancel each out for a decent reason and serve a decent purpose too.
Shifts In Construction—A shift in construction is a change in the structure or style midway through a sentence.
Shift In Number: When a person has the flu, they ought to stay at home.
Corrected: When people have the flu, they ought to stay at home.
Shift In Person: When you are well again, you can do all the things a person loves to do.
Corrected: When you are well again, you can do all the things you love to do.
Shift In Voice: Marcia is playing soccer again and many new skills are being learned by her.
The shift here shifts from n active voice to a passive voice.
Corrected: Marcia is playing soccer again and learning many new skills.
Both verbs occur during the active voice.
Shift In Tense: Marcia drinks lots of juice and got plenty of rest.
Corrected: Marcia drinks lots of juice and gets plenty of rest.
Additional tip on Shift In Tense—it is acceptable to have a shift in tense in a sentence that states one action as happening before another action.
Example: I think (present tense) he completed (past tense) his assignment last night.
Unparallel Construction—Unparallel construction occurs when the kind of words or phrases being used changes in the middle of a sentence.
Unparallel Example 1: In my hometown, folks pass the time shooting pool, pitching horseshoes, and at softball games.
The sentence switches from the -ing words, shooting and pitching, to the prepositional phrase at softball games.)
Parallel: In my hometown, folks pass the time shooting pool, pitching horseshoes, and playing softball.
Now all three activities are -ing words—they are consistent, or parallel.
Unparallel Example 2: For the open house, teachers prepare handouts for parents and are organizing the students' work for display.
In this sentence, the verbs prepare and organizing are unparallel-not stated in the same way.
Parallel Example 2: For the open house, teachers prepare handouts for parents and organize the students' work for display.
Now both verbs are stated in the same way.
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