Writing Rules

Claremont McKenna College

Joseph M. Bessette

Department of Government

November 20, 2010

BESSETTE’S WRITING GUIDELINES

The following is a list of some rules I have frequently seen violated in student papers. Make every effort to follow these rules in your course papers.

1. Sentences must be sentences.

2. Possessives require apostrophes (but see rule #3). Note that the possessive of Congress is Congress’s.

3. Do not confuse “its” and “it’s.” The first is possessive; the second means “it is.”

4. Do not confuse semicolons and colons. Specifically, do not use semicolons to introduce lists.

5. Do not confuse the uses of semicolons and commas.

6. Singular subjects require singular verbs; plural subjects require plural verbs. The word “politics,” though it sounds plural, is usually treated as singular.

7. There is a right way and numerous wrong ways to spell every word. Use the right way.

8. Do not confuse “affect” and “effect.” If you do, it might affect your paper grade or cause me to effect a change in your grade.

9. Do not confuse “their” and “there.”

10. Do not make up words.

11. In almost all cases, use the active, not passive, voice. “President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq” is better than “The invasion of Iraq was ordered by President Bush.” Both are grammatically correct, but the first is stronger writing.

12. When you introduce a sentence with a subordinate clause, follow the clause with a comma [as in this sentence].

13. Plural pronouns must refer to plural antecedents; singular pronouns to singular antecedents. [The following is wrong: “Each student turned in their paper.” Any of the following is correct: “Each student turned in his paper”; “Each student turned in her paper”; “Each student turned in his or her paper”; and “Each student turned in her or his paper.”]

14. Do not confuse “fewer” and “less.” Use “fewer” for things that can be counted and “less” for things that cannot be...