Most common grammar mistakes

Today I want to share about the most common mistakes made in the English language. Even though we use them very often, we seem to make the mistakes.

First up, Who and Whom.
Who is a pronoun along with 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they', etc. It's used when pronoun acts as the subject of the passage, (e.g. Who loves you?). In the other hand, Whom is an object pronoun along with 'him', 'her', etc. It's used when pronoun acts as the object of the passage, (e.g. I asked a lawyer whom I met in Korea.). 
Using who or whom depends on whether you’re referring to the subject or object of a sentence.

Secondly, Envy and Jealousy.
Envy is used for the longing of someone else's fortune (e.g. covet for a friend's good looks)  while Jealousy is normally used for rivalry, often in sexual situations, (e.g. swoon over that good looking friend).

Now, the 's, 're, etc.
I found that this is the mistake that we make so much. We always accidentally, or unknowingly put it's for things like, the boy brought the lost dog to it's owner. However, that's wrong. It should be, the boy brought the lost dog to its owner. This is because, placing the 's on the word 'it' becomes either it is or it has. If you rewrite the sentence with it's, you are writing, the boy brought the dog to it is owner. Which is totally wrong. It's the same principle with 're you don't write, it's you're dog, that means you just wrote, it's you are dog. Yea. you got it wrong.

I and Me
'I' will always be the subject of the sentence whereas 'me' will be the object. (e.g. Can Josh and I go to the swimming pool?, Josh is going with me to the swimming pool.). Think i about is simply. It should always be, I am going to the swimming pool not me am going to the swimming pool. replace the 'me' and 'I's to see if the sentence makes sense.

Alot
A lot is two words. No exceptions. Don't argue with me, this is my homepage. If you think 'a lot' is one word lets make 'a little' one word as well.

Over instead of More than

Over is a special comparison. More than is appropriate for volume comparison.

references:

My brain

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/annoying-grammatical-mistakes-2014-2

How to write a good short story

A good short story is a short work of an imagination. A short story should contain these five elements:

1) Character

This person, or sometimes an animal takes a action or other work.

2) Settings

The setting is a time and place of the things that happen in the short story. The writer should be using scenery, season or weather to give a strong sense of setting in the reader's mind.

3) Plot

A plot are the events that occur within the story and the character's actions in the conflict.

4) Conflict

A conflict is a fight between characters (mostly good against evil) or things. A conflict of a short story could be a clash of good and evil, struggle against the force of nature, the society or a fight against him/herself (e.g. emotions, illness, etc.).

5) Theme

The theme is the main idea or the belief in the story (e.g. everything's about love or hatred, righteous always wins, etc.)

4 steps of writing a successful short story

 1) Get some ideas

In this phase, the writer should be thinking about who the characters should be, what theme it is and also brainstorming who will be telling the story (e.g. I, you, he or she). The writer should plan on how to write the story in the given time or length of the story. Brainstorming ideas for the events, climax and the characters will be necessary.

2) Know your characters

To make the story believable, you need realistic characters. Good advise is, never make the character perfect. Have him or she have some sort of flaw. Plan your character as detailed as you can in your brainstorm although you won't be including them all, having the detailed ideas in your head will make your writing more realistic and the character will come to life in the writer's mind and also the reader's mind.

3) Plan the basic of the story

During this time, the writer should be planning the introduction, the body and the conclusion.

Introductory paragraph

• Start your story with an interesting opening sentence or paragraph with a strong 'hook'.
• Introduce the settings and the characters

Body paragraph

• Initiating action: the point of the rising action
• Rising action: the lead up to the climax or the turning point
• Climax: the most extreme event or the turning point of the story

Conclusion

• Falling action: the story begins to end
• Resolution: Finish the story with a good or bad ending, or leave the end 'hanging' (Leave the story unfinished so the reader's can imagine their own conclusion of the story.).

4) Start Writing

Start drafting. These are few tips that will help you:

• Don’t worry about a great opening line yet. Start wherever you like.
• Keep the flow going – keep writing without stopping, going back, re-reading or changing what you’ve written.
• Remember to show not tell – think about how to stylise what you’re writing about and create visual images.
• Start somewhere else and get going again if you become stuck on a particular part.

Next, after writing the story, revise and edit. Correct all the mistakes you have made. Then, get someone to read it. Get a close friend, teacher or a relative to help you change your mistakes that you haven't noticed yourself or suggestions of how to make a more fancier writing.

references:

http://users.aber.ac.uk/jpm/ellsa/ellsa_elements.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Short-Story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/short-story-tips-_n_3947152.html

How to write a good persuasive writing

In a persuasive essay, it’s the writer’s job to convince the reader to accept a particular point of view. Persuasive essays will require good research, awareness of the reader’s concentration on or interest in one particular area and a solid understanding of both sides of the issue.

5 Step process of writing a good persuasive essay

1) Prewriting

Prewriting phase for a persuasive essay is vital. During this time, we should plan the aspect of the essay:

1. Choose a position. Pick a side to argue for.
2. Understand the audience. To write an effective persuasive essay, the writer must understand the reader’s perspective. Is the reader undecided or inclined to like one side or the other?
3. Do the research. A persuasive essay depends upon solid, convincing evidence. Don’t rely on a single source. There is no substitute for knowledge of both sides of the issue.
4. Identify the most convincing evidence, as well as the key points for the opposing view.

Next, create an outline os the essay arrange the evidence to build the strongest possible argument. If the task giver has specified an essay structure, include it into the outline. Normally, a persuasive essay is made up of five or six paragraphs.

Introductory Paragraph:

• Get the attention of the reader with a very interesting start of the paragraph (another name for this is called the 'hook')
• Introduce the topic
• Close the paragraph with a statement that shows the position to be argued

Body Paragraph:

• Each body paragraph should be focused on one piece of evidence.
• Provide enough support for each evidence within a paragraph.

Opposing View Paragraph:

• Describe and prove why the opposing view is incorrect or false.

Conclusion:

• Restate the opinion
• Summarise the arguments
• Close with a powerful statement why your opinion is correct

2) Drafting

These points will come in handy:

• The introduction should start with an interesting sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Open with an unexpected fact, a question or quotation, or a powerful statement.
• The opinions should leave no doubts about the writer’s position.
• Each body paragraph should cover a separate point, and the sentences of each paragraph should offer strong evidence in the form of facts, quotes from experts, and real-life examples.
• Consider various ways to make the argument, including using an analogy, drawing comparisons, or illustrating with hypothetical situation.
• Don’t assume the audience has a lot of knowledge of the issue. Define terms and give background information.
• The concluding paragraph should summarise the most important evidence and encourage the reader to incline to your opinion. The closing sentence can be a dramatic plea or a question that makes readers to think seriously about the issue.

3) Revise

In the revision phase, the writer should be reviewing, modifying, and make it their best work.

4) Edit

Proofread and correct all the grammar mistakes and edit it to make the writing fancy. Having a friend, teacher or parents to read the essay helps the writer to edit with a fresh perspective.

5) Hand it in

Share or hand your work in and when you get your essay back with corrections, don't throw it away. Read carefully what mistakes you have made and write better next time remembering not to make the same errors again.

references:

• http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/about-each-domain/writing/writing.html
• http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr4.htm
• http://www.webspirationclassroom.com/studytips/persuasive-drafting
• https://muhigh.missouri.edu/exec/data/courses/8240/public/lesson01/lesson01.aspx

Welcome Entry

Hello. I am Ronny Han and I made this blog to help myself and others to improve English skills. This blog contains about how to write essays and how to use correct tenses. I hope you find this website useful.