{Revised 2.24.07}
CONTENTS
Complete Listing of AIP Errors
10
Most Common AIP Errors
1.
got, get: avoid--use synonyms: received, bought, became,
etc.
avoid: I got home and got into the shower.
preferable: I arrived home and jumped into the
shower.
2.
you: avoid 2nd-person
"you" and "your" constructs; instead, use 1st-person
"I" (see "9" point-of-view error)
avoid: You see the sun rising over the mountain.
preferable: I see the sun rising over the mountain.
3.
it: avoid beginning
sentences with "it" when the referent is to follow (the "empty
it")
avoid: It is a nice tree.
preferable: The tree is nice.
4.
thing: (also something)
don't use in place of a more substantial word
avoid: The thing is that I'm bored.
preferable: The reason is that I'm bored.
5.
rhetorical question (RQ): avoid when a statement is more effective
avoid: Should we allow the terrorists to go free?
Preferable:
We should not allow the terrorists to go free.
6.
so: don't use in place of
"thus," "therefore," or "very")
avoid: I was tired, so I went to bed.
preferable: I was tired; thus, I went to bed.
avoid: The campus was so nice.
preferable: The campus was very nice.
7.
there: avoid beginning
sentences with "there" when the referent is to follow (the
"empty there"); also, don't confuse "there" with
"they're" or "their"
avoid: There were four students in the room.
preferable: Four students were in the room.
avoid: Their nice people.
preferable: They're nice people.
8.
that: use with restrictive
clauses; do not set off with commas
avoid: The house, that is on the corner, is haunted.
preferable: The house that is on the corner is
haunted.
9.
which: use with
non-restrictive clauses; set off with commas
avoid: The house which is haunted is famous.
preferable: The house, which is haunted, is famous.
10.
fellow classmate: (also classmate of mine) redundant
avoid: I interviewed my fellow classmate.
preferable: I interviewed my classmate.
AIP or "6" Errors; Style Errors
Complete Listing
The
following is a list of "AIP" (Avoid If Possible) style errors.
They are marked "6" in your drafts. Remember, these forms
should be avoided if possible; however, when they are
logically necessary, use them.
across: include "from" (across from) when necessary
avoid: My home is across John's.
preferable: My home is across from John's.
alot: two words--"a lot"
avoid: I make alot of errors.
preferable: I make a lot of errors.
alright: Two
words--"all right"
avoid: It's alright to leave your shoes on.
preferable: It's all right to leave your shoes on.
and
then: Use "and" or
"then", but not both
avoid: I ate, and then I slept.
preferable: I ate, and I slept.
another one: Wordy--"another"
is usually sufficient
avoid: I wanted another one soon after the first.
preferable: I wanted another soon after the first.
as: Avoid when
"because" or "since" is appropriate; also, avoid overuse as
a device to dramatize a narrative
avoid: I'm tired as I studied all night.
preferable: I'm tired because I studied all night.
ashamed: not the
same as "embarrassed"
avoid: He was ashamed that he forgot her name.
preferable: He was embarrassed that he forgot her name.
aunty: see mom
began
to: (also started to, tried to) avoid
when the simple past tense will do
avoid: I began to walk down the aisle.
preferable: I walked down the aisle.
bring: Not the
same as "take"
avoid: Bring this with you to the party.
preferable: Take this with you to the party.
came
back: "Returned" is more
economical
avoid: I came back from
preferable: I returned from
car
drove: A car can't drive
avoid: The car drove in the wrong lane.
preferable: The officer drove in the wrong lane.
classmate of mine: see friend
of mine and fellow classmate
dad: see mom
dates: When dates
are written out, use the day-month-year format, e.g., 27 September 2002. Note
that there are no commas in this construct.
dates
in research papers: Abbreviate months
in research papers, e.g., 27 Sep. 2002. All months should be abbreviated to
three characters, except for May, June, and July, which should be written out
days
in dates: If the "th" as in "27th" is used, then the day must precede
the month, e.g., 27th of September.
avoid: September 27th, 2002
preferable: 27th of September 2002.
dilemma: means to
be torn between two equally strong choices; not the equivalent of
"problem"
avoid: The dilemma was that she wasn't hungry.
preferable: She faced a dilemma: eat and feel good right now, or
starve and feel good later.
due
to the fact that: (also the fact
that) wordy--"because" is preferable
avoid: I'm tired due to the fact that I stayed up all
night.
preferable: I'm tired because I stayed up all night.
each
individual (also each and every
one or each one): Redundant--"each" is usually sufficient
avoid: She stared at each individual person.
preferable: She stared at each person.
ever
so: Don't use in place of
"very"
avoid: He was ever so slow.
preferable: He was very slow.
fellow classmate: (also classmate
of mine) redundant
avoid: I interviewed my fellow classmate.
preferable: I interviewed my classmate.
first
of all: wordy--"first" will
do
avoid: First of all, I'm happy. Second of all, I'm proud.
preferable: First, I'm happy. Second, I'm proud.
firstly: see secondly
for: Avoid when
"because" or "since" is appropriate
avoid: I'm tired for I worked all day.
preferable: I'm tired because I worked all day.
for
me (also I feel, to me,
in my opinion, I think): In an essay, the writer's views are
assumed; don't qualify unnecessarily
avoid: For me, the governor was right.
preferable: The governor was right.
found
out: Wordy--"found" or
"learned" is usually sufficient
avoid: I found out that the exam had been canceled.
preferable: I found that the exam had been canceled.
friend of mine: Avoid when
"friend" will suffice
avoid: I had lunch with a friend of mine.
preferable: I had lunch with a friend.
got,
get: Avoid--use synonyms: received,
bought, became, etc.
avoid: I got home and got into the shower.
preferable: I arrived home and jumped into the shower.
grandma (also
grandpa): Use "grandmother" instead
avoid: My grandma visited me at home.
preferable: My grandmother visited me at home.
ground: not the
same as "floor"
avoid: The room was so clean that I could eat off the
ground.
preferable: The room was so clean that I could eat off the
floor.
hard: Use
"difficult" when appropriate
avoid: The problem was hard.
preferable: The problem was difficult.
have
to have: Use "need" or
"must have" instead
avoid: I have to have coffee in the morning.
preferable: I need coffee in the morning.
he/she (or he or
she): After the first occurrence of the pronoun, use one or the other, but not
both
avoid: I talked with him/her because he/she was sad.
preferable: I talked with him/her because he was sad.
humans: Use
"human beings" instead
avoid: Humans are the most intelligent creatures.
preferable: Human beings are the most intelligent creatures.
it: Avoid
beginning sentences with "it" when the referent is to follow (the
"empty it")
avoid: It is a nice tree.
preferable: The tree is nice.
it
is said: see they say
last
but not least:
trite--"finally" is usually sufficient
avoid: And last but not least, I'd like to thank my mother.
preferable: Finally, I'd like to thank my mother.
like: Avoid when
"for example," "such as," or "as though" is
appropriate
avoid: I love sports like basketball and football.
preferable: I love sports such as basketball and football.
little, few: These are not
interchangeable
avoid: She had only a little coins.
preferable: She had only a few coins.
mad: Don't confuse
"mad" with "angry"; remember that mad means insane
avoid: I was so mad that I could scream.
preferable: I was so angry that I could scream.
mom: (also ma,
mama, dad, daddy, pop, pa, sis, bro,
aunty, grandma, granny, grandpa, etc.) use
"mother" instead
avoid: Mom drove the car.
preferable: My mother drove the car.
more
happy: "Happier" is
preferable
avoid: She was more happy when she won the money.
preferable: She was happier when she won the money.
my: avoid the
overuse of "my" when a neutral word (such as "the") will
suffice
avoid: I started my car and pulled out of my garage.
preferable: I started the car and pulled out of the garage.
myself: don't use
in place of "me"
avoid: If that is for myself, thank you.
preferable: If that is for me, thank you.
now: a possible
time frame (TF) problem
avoid: I arrived on time. Now I felt relieved.
preferable: I arrived on time. I felt relieved.
often
times: don't use these in tandem;
instead, use either "often" or "at times"
avoid: I am often times late for class.
preferable: I am often late for class.
on the
one hand: see on the other hand
on
the other hand: be sure it is
preceded by "on the one hand"
avoid: I'm happy. On the other hand, I'm sad.
preferable: On the one hand, I'm happy. On the other, I'm sad.
one: use
"a" when appropriate
avoid: I would prefer one doughnut.
preferable: I would prefer a doughnut.
one
time: use "once" instead,
when possible
avoid: I went to
preferable: I went to
onomatopoeia:
avoid the transcription of sounds such as "ring" for the telephone or
"plop" for a drip
avoid: The police officer pounded on the door, "Bang! Bang!"
preferable: The police officer pounded on the door.
opnion: see for me
secondly: wordy;
omit the "ly"
avoid: Secondly, the team practiced very hard.
preferable: Second, the team practiced very hard.
started to: see began to
suppose to: Use "supposed
to" instead
avoid: I was suppose to meet her at noon.
preferable: I was supposed to meet her at noon.
tried
to: see began to
over
and over (also closer and closer,
more and more, faster and faster, darker and darker, around
and around, on and on): Once is enough.
avoid: I told her over and over that he is innocent.
preferable: I said repeatedly that he is innocent.
avoid: The night grew darker and darker.
preferable: The night grew increasingly darker.
plus: use
"furthermore" if possible
avoid: I was tired; plus, I was hungry.
preferable: I was tired; furthermore, I was hungry.
pop,
pa: see mom
pondered over (also pondered on):
Omit "over" or "on"; "pondered" is sufficient
avoid: I pondered over her failure.
preferable: I pondered her failure.
prejudism: No such word; use prejudice instead
avoid: The case was clearly one of prejudism.
preferable: The case was clearly one of prejudice.
real: Don't use
when you mean "really"
avoid: The exam was real hard.
preferable: The exam was really hard.
reason why is because:
Redundant. To avoid this problem, don't begin a sentence with "The
reason . . ."
avoid: The reason why I won is because I persisted.
preferable: I won because I persisted.
rhetorical question (RQ): avoid
when a statement is more effective
avoid: Should we allow the terrorists to go free?
Preferable: We should not
allow the terrorists to go free.
right
hand side: Omit "hand" and/or
"side" when "right" is sufficient
avoid: The house is on the right hand side.
preferable: The house is on the right.
scared: Not the
same as "afraid"
avoid: I was scared to enter the room.
preferable: I was afraid to enter the room.
schiz: Avoid separating your self from a part of you
avoid: My mind began to think of all the possibilities.
preferable: I began to think of all the possibilities.
secondly (also thirdly):
Instead, use "second", "third", etc.
avoid: Firstly, we should plan our next move.
preferable: First, we should plan our next move.
should of: Often a mistake for
"should have" or "should've"
avoid: We should of won the game.
preferable: We should have won the game.
sis: (see mom)
slowed down (also sit down):
Delete "down" if possible
avoid: The train slowed down before the crossing.
preferable: The train slowed before the crossing.
so: Don't use in
place of "thus" or "therefore",
avoid: I was tired, so I went to bed.
preferable: I was tired; thus, I went to bed.
avoid: The campus was so nice.
preferable: The campus was very nice.
some
more: Omit "some" when not
necessary
avoid: Buy some more.
preferable: Buy more.
something: see thing
started to (also began to, tried
to): Avoid when the simple past tense will do
avoid: I started to dress.
preferable: I dressed.
still
yet but: Avoid in combinations of two
or more—redundant
avoid: I studied, still yet I failed.
preferable: I studied, yet I failed.
suddenly (also all
of a sudden): Avoid overuse as a device to dramatize a narrative
avoid: Suddenly, she turned to me and smiled.
preferable: She turned to me and smiled.
suppose to: Use "supposed
to" instead
avoid: He was suppose to arrive early.
preferable: He was supposed to arrive early.
t-shirt: It's
T-shirt, with an upper-case T
avoid: He wore a t-shirt to work.
preferable: He wore a T-shirt to work.
talked to (also spoke to): Use
"talked with" when referring to a conversation
avoid: John talked to Mary.
preferable: John talked with Mary.
that: Use with
restrictive clauses; do not set off with commas
avoid: The house, that is on the corner, is haunted.
preferable: The house that is on the corner is haunted.
then: Avoid
overusing as a transition in narratives
avoid: Then we knocked. Then we entered.
preferable: We knocked and entered.
there: avoid
beginning sentences with "there" when the referent is to follow (the
"Empty There"); also, don't confuse with "they're" or
"their"
avoid: There were four students in the room.
preferable: Four students were in the room.
avoid: Their nice people.
preferable: They're nice people.
they
say: (also it is said) avoid vague references
avoid: They say that Bill is a liar.
preferable: John and Mary say that Bill is a liar.
thing: (also something)
don't use in place of a more substantial word
avoid: The thing is that I'm bored.
preferable: The reason is that I'm bored.
thirdly: see secondly
till: Use
"until" instead, or "'til" in a quote
avoid: Wait till midnight.
preferable: Wait until midnight.
told
her/told him/told me: use
"said" or "asked" instead
avoid: I told her to wait.
preferable: I asked her to wait.
tone
of voice: Often, "voice" is
enough
avoid: Her tone of voice was mellow.
preferable: Her voice was mellow.
towards:
"Toward"–-without the "s" is preferable
avoid: He walked towards the barn.
preferable: He walked toward the barn.
tried to (also started to, began to): Avoid when the simple
past tense will do
avoid: I tried to walk down the aisle.
preferable: I walked down the aisle.
two times: Use "twice" if possible
avoid: I called her two times.
preferable: I called her twice.
very
unique: "very" in this case
is meaningless since "unique" means one of a kind
avoid: She had a very unique voice.
preferable: She had a unique voice.
very
very: Once
is enough
avoid: He had a very very nice
car.
preferable: He had a very nice car.
which: Use with
non-restrictive clauses; set off with commas
avoid: The house which is haunted is famous.
preferable: The house, which is haunted, is famous.
worse/worst:
Distinguish between the two
avoid: He is the worse general in the army.
preferable: He is the worst general in the army.
avoid: His voice is worst than mine.
preferable: His voice is worse than mine.
would: if
possible, avoid the would-trap -- structures that require the awkward, frequent
repetition of "would"
avoid: I would sit, and I would watch.
preferable: I sat, and I watched.
years
of age: Often "of age" can
be omitted; "old" in "years old" can also be omitted
avoid: John is eighteen years of age.
preferable: John is eighteen.
you: avoid
2nd-person "you" and "your" constructs; instead, use
1st-person "I"; see "9" point-of-view error
avoid: You see the sun rising over the mountain.
preferable: I see the sun rising over the mountain.