Writing Pet Peeves
Learning to write clearly and effectively is at the heart of Hamilton College’s mission statement: “Hamilton students learn to think independently, embrace difference, write and speak persuasively, and engage issues ethically and creatively.” We asked our professors to share some common writing mistakes.
Pet Peeve | Examples of Incorrect Usage |
---|---|
utilize vs. use | Descartes utilizes the wax argument to show that we know physical objects with the mind, not the senses. |
bloated diction | Once liberty is actualized, justice will burgeon. |
inflated, imprecise words | The lifestyles of the majority of individuals were difficult due to what society utilized against them. |
misuse of prove/proof | The results prove that our hypothesis was correct. (A study supports a hypothesis; it does not prove it.) |
burying the subject | The significance of the study is that there is.... |
unnecessary subordinate clause and passive voice | There was one factor that was ignored by the “con” side: …. |
use of I as object of verb | They went with Dido and I to tour the Colosseum. The family came to see David and I perform. |
loose vs. lose | Forecasters fear that stocks will loose value next year. |
entitled vs. titled | My favorite song is entitled “Darwin Derby” by Vulfpeck. (Entitled means “a right to do or have.”) |
treating data as singular | The data shows that medication affects ADHD symptoms. |
than vs. then | The data indicate that Americans work more hours then Europeans. |
vacuous first sentences | Scientists have studied DNA for years. |
affect vs. effect | We studied the affect of the angle on acceleration. |
misuse of apostrophes | The 1920’s marked the height of the Swing Era. (Apostrophes indicate omitted numerals: the ’80s. Show plural by adding s.) |
less vs. fewer | The incumbent received less votes than the challenger. |
general sloppiness | My English professor cares to much about grammer and speling. |
Express Yourself
Developing the ability to communicate in a clear, organized, and effective way is a central goal of a liberal arts education — and a prerequisite for a successful career. That’s why we established centers for writing and speaking.
Tutor Appointments
Peer tutor and consultant appointments are managed through TracCloud (login required). Find resources and more information about the ALEX centers using the following links.
Contact
Office / Department Name
Nesbitt-Johnston Writing Center
Contact Name
Jennifer Ambrose
Writing Center Director
Office Location
Kirner-Johnson 152
Email
Hours
M
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10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Tu
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10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
W
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10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Th
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10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fr
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10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Su
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2 p.m. - 10 p.m.