Word Choice Workshop


Word Choice Workshop


Target

In this Lesson, you will look at


  • Commonly confused words
  • Needless, overused words
  • Using parallel structure


You are expected to understand and be able to identify these concepts when reading and use them correctly in your own writing.



English spelling can be tricky. However, spelling mistakes in formal writing are not only unfortunate; at times, they are costly.

Some companies see typos and spelling errors as indication of a candidate's communication skills as well as of the impression he or she makes on others.

Misspelled words, misused abbreviations, or weak grammatical constructions present challenges for the individual who must decode the cryptic language for meaning.


Read pages 76 to 83 on "Commonly Confused Words" in Connecting Sentences in iSkills Start with the Sentence before completing the self-assessment exercise below.


The writer of the following letter tried to use block format, but he made some errors.  In addition, he made errors in punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, tone, and paragraphing.

In all, more than thirty errors occur. See how many you can identify. 

Be sure to...
  • Search for errors in punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, tone, and paragraphing. Try to identify all! 

15 Road Runner Way
              
Toontown, Alberta, T0T 0T0
              
March, 2017 
 
              
 
             
Ms. Marjorie Warner, Personel Director
              
Acme Production Company
              
45 Desert Avenue
              
Toontown, Alberta T4T 0Y4
              

            

            
Dear Marjorie,
            
Hi! In Response to ur ad in the Sat., Mar. 18, 2017 edition of the Toontown Times,
 I want 2 apply 4 the position of Stunt Artist. I have awesome 
qualifications for the position. I have a diploma in Fine Arts from 
Toontown U, where I majored in
            Playing Villians and in Slapstick Stunting. In additona, I 
have 15 years of successful experience in the anamation business. During
 that time, I have specialized in such students as falling from cliffs, 
being smashed by anvils or grand pianos.
            And being shot by cannons. I have good atnetion to detail in
 my work. Enclosed, please find my resume, along with several still 
photographs from my anamated films. Please give me a jingle at 
403-555-1212 or email me at cutiepatootie@toonnet.ca
            if u have any further questions or if you wish to arrange 4 
an interview with me. Thanks for your time I look forward 2 hearing from
 u. :-)
            
Cheers,
            

            
Wile E. Coyote
            

            
Encl.

Here are some examples of commonly mixed up words from Oxford dictionaries (www.oxforddictionaries.com)

Figure 1 - Bear feet...warm,  but those nails!




Figure 2 - a stationery car might not get you where you want to go.


'"

Figure 3 - Dessert Island - a great place to eat?

Figure 4  Supermarket isle - might not be the easiest place to pick up some milk on your way home.




   When you are confident in the use of commonly confused words, take the Commonly Confused Words Quiz.


Have you ever wondered "when is this person ever going to get to the point?"

That is an example of someone who needs to communicate in a more concise and/or precise manner.

   Read "Omit Needless and Overused Words" on p. 100 - 105 in Start with the Sentence

  
 When you are confident in your ability to identify and avoid needless and overused words, take the Overused Words Quiz.


 Read pages 106 to 113 on "Making It Memorable: Using Parallel Form" in iSkills Start with the Sentence: Create Correct, Concise, Connected Sentences.  

View the video on parallelism below.

for Parallel Structure by Shmoop Video
Parallelism presents all ideas in the sentence in a similar pattern, which makes ideas easy to understand. Because nouns have more emphasis than other parts of speech, if you begin a list with nouns, continue using nouns.


  • Parallel: She likes cooking, jogging, and reading. (Pattern:  cooking, jogging, reading - All are "ing" words.)
  • Parallel: She likes to cook, jog, and read. (Pattern:  to cook, [to] jog, [to] read - All infinitive forms of verbs.)

Additional Resources

• Khan Academy: Parallel Structure example 1
• Khan Academy: Parallel Structure example 2
• Khan Academy: Parallel Structure - quiz

  
    When you are confident in the use of parallel structure, take the Parallel Structure Quiz.

   Contact your teacher if you have any questions.



When you have finished all of the activities in each of the tabs, continue to the next lesson.