Common Usage Mistakes
For additional help, take a look at our Comma Rules resource.
Apostrophes
Generally, only use apostrophes to create a possessive noun "John's bike" or "the sergeant's hat." Apostrophes can also be used to make contractions ("they're" or "I'm"). When pluralizing words that end in
s, still add 's: "the witness's testimony." When giving the possessive of a plural noun, only add an apostrophe: "the Johnsons' van."
Their / They're / There
"Their" is a third person plural possessive: "Their house"
"They're" is a contraction for "they are": "They're crazy"
"There" refers to a place: "Over there"
Its / it's
"Its" is the possessive of "it," and an exception to the 's rule of possessives,
but it conforms to the other possessive pronouns--his, hers, theirs,
ours, yours--which do not take an apostrophe: "its wheels"
"It's" is a contraction of "it is:" "It's time"
Use of "I" in an Academic Essay
Some professors consider the use of "I" in an academic essay to be inappropriate.
However, its acceptance is increasingly common. Its use depends on your audience.
Avoid using "one" in place of "I" because it is easy for that practice to become a crutch. Instead, when voicing your opinions in a paper, state them as facts. Your professor will assume that such claims are your
belief as the writer of the paper and will probably expect them to be backed up with sources.
Example:
"I believe that the forest scenes in A Midsummer Night's Dream represent the romantic, lusty side of the human experience."
"The forest scenes in A Midsummer Night's Dream represent the romantic, lusty side of the human experience."
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