语言教学 | 普渡大学写作教学系列General Writing 60-Grammar(1):Spelling&Numbers

提示：点击上方"英语写作教学与研究"免费关注哦

征稿：二语写作

Grammar

These OWL resources will help you use correct grammar in your writing. This area includes resources on grammar topics, such as count and noncount nouns, articles (a versus an), subject-verb agreement, and prepositions.

Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike

Many words sound alike but mean different things when put into writing. This list will help you distinguish between some of the more common words that sound alike. Click on any of the blue underlined links to open a longer and more complete definition of the word in a new window.

Forms to remember

Accept, Except

• accept = verb meaning to receive or to agree:

  He accepted their praise graciously.

• except = preposition meaning all but, other than:

  Everyone went to the game except Alyson.

We are currently updating these resources, but for more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on accept and except.

Affect, Effect

• affect = verb meaning to influence:

  Will lack of sleep affect your game?

• effect = noun meaning result or consequence:

  Will lack of sleep have an effect on your game?

• effect = verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish:

  Our efforts have effected a major change in university policy.

A memory-aid for affect and effect is RAVEN: Remember, Affect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun.

We are currently updating these resources, but for more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on affect and effect.

Advise, Advice

• advise = verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel:

  I advise you to be cautious.

• advice = noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should be done:

  I'd like to ask for your advice on this matter.

Conscious, Conscience

• conscious= adjective meaning awake, perceiving:

  Despite a head injury, the patient remained conscious.

• conscience = noun meaning the sense of obligation to be good:

  Chris wouldn't cheat because his conscience wouldn't let him.

Idea, Ideal

• idea = noun meaning a thought, belief, or conception held in the mind, or a general notion or conception formed by generalization:

  Jennifer had a brilliant idea—she'd go to the Writing Lab for help with her papers!

• ideal = noun meaning something or someone that embodies perfection, or an ultimate object or endeavor:

  Mickey was the ideal for tutors everywhere.

• ideal = adjective meaning embodying an ultimate standard of excellence or perfection, or the best:

  Jennifer was an ideal student.

Its, It's

• its = possessive adjective (possessive form of the
  pronoun it):

  The crab had an unusual growth on its shell.

• it's = contraction for it is or it has (in a verb phrase):

  It's still raining; it's been raining for three days.

  (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

Lead, Led

• lead = noun referring to a dense metallic element:

  The X-ray technician wore a vest lined with lead.

• led = past-tense and past-participle form of the verb to lead, meaning to guide or direct:

  The evidence led the jury to reach a unanimous decision.

Than, Then

Than	used in comparison statements: He is richer than I. used in statements of preference: I would rather dance than eat. used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount: Read more than the first paragraph.
Then	a time other than now: He was younger then. She will start her new job then. next in time, space, or order: First we must study; then we can play. suggesting a logical conclusion: If you've studied hard, then the exam should be no problem.

Their, There, They're

• Their = possessive pronoun:

  They got their books.

• There = that place:

  My house is over there.

  (This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)

• They're = contraction for they are:

  They're making dinner.

  (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

To, Too, Two

• To = preposition, or first part of the infinitive form of a verb:

  They went to the lake to swim.

• Too = very, also:

  I was too tired to continue. I was hungry, too.

• Two = the number 2:

  Two students scored below passing on the exam.

Two, twelve, and between are all words related to the number 2, and all contain the letters tw.

Too can mean also or can be an intensifier, and you might say that it contains an extra o ("one too many")

We're, Where, Were

• We're = contraction for we are:

  We're glad to help.

  (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

• Where = location:

  Where are you going?

  (This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)

• Were = a past tense form of the verb be:

  They were walking side by side.

Your, You're

• Your = possessive pronoun:

  Your shoes are untied.

• You're = contraction for you are:

  You're walking around with your shoes untied.

  (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

I/E Rule

Write I before E

Except after C

Or when it sounds like an A

As in "neighbor" and "weigh"

i before e: relief, believe, niece, chief, sieve, frieze, field, yield

e before i: receive, deceive, ceiling, conceit, vein, sleigh, freight, eight

Exceptions

seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, conscience, counterfeit, forfeit, neither, science, species, sufficient

Please see our exercises to practice these rules.

-ible, -able Rule

-ible	-able
If the root is not a complete word, add -ible. aud + ible = audible Examples: visible horrible terrible possible edible eligible incredible permissible	If the root is a complete word, add -able. accept + able = acceptable Examples: fashionable laughable suitable dependable comfortable If the root is a complete word ending in -e, drop the final -e and add -able. excuse - e+ able = excusable Examples: advisable desirable valuable debatable

Some exceptions:

• contemptible

• digestible

• flexible

• responsible

• irritable

• inevitable

Try some exercises for spelling -ible and -able correctly.

Please note we are in the process of revising our exercises. They will eventually be altered to reflect those revisions.

Writing Numbers

Although usage varies, most people spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words and use figures for numbers that are three or more words long. Note: If you are using a specific citation style, such as MLA or APA, consult the style manual for specific formatting instructions.

Words

over two pounds

six million dollars

after thirty-one years

eighty-three people

Figures

after 126 days

only $31.50

6,381 bushels

4.78 liters

Here are some examples of specific situations:

Days and Years

December 12, 1965 or 12 December 1965

A.D. 1066

in 1900

in 1971-72 or in 1971-1972

the eighties, the twentieth century

the 1980's or the 1980s

Time of Day

8:00 A.M. (or) a.m. (or) eight o'clock in the morning

4:30 P.M. (or) p.m. (or) half-past four in the afternoon

Addresses

16 Tenth Street

350 West 114 Street

Identification Numbers

Room 8

Channel 18

Interstate 65

Henry VIII

Page and Division of Books and Plays

page 30

chapter 6

in act 3, scene 2 (or) in Act III, Scene ii

Decimals and Percentages

a 2.7 average

13.25 percent (in nonscientific contexts)

25% (in scientific contexts)

.037 metric ton

Large Round Numbers

four billion dollars (or) $4 billion

16,500,000 (or) 16.5 million

Notes on Usage

Repeat numbers in commercial writing.

The bill will not exceed one hundred (100) dollars.

Use numerals in legal writing.

The cost of damage is $1,365.42.

Numbers in series and statistics should be consistent.

two apples, six oranges, and three bananas

NOT: two apples, 6 oranges, and 3 bananas

115 feet by 90 feet (or) 115' x 90'

scores of 25-6 (or) scores of 25 to 6

The vote was 9 in favor and 5 opposed

Write out numbers beginning sentences.

Six percent of the group failed.

NOT: 6% of the group failed.

Use a combination of figures and words for numbers when such a combination will keep your writing clear.

Unclear: The club celebrated the birthdays of 6 90-year-olds who were born in the city. (may cause the reader to read '690' as one number.)

Clearer: The club celebrated the birthdays of six 90-year-olds who were born in the city.

精彩推文回顾

• 语言教学 | 普渡大学写作教学系列General Writing 01-The Writing Process and List

• 语言教学 | 普渡大学写作教学系列General Writing 10-Thesis Statement