1NUTR 230.

Writing Hints
Below are writing problems often found in papers.

use the following words correctly. They are often used incorrectly. If need be, look up their
meaning in a dictionary.

lose vs loose
its vs its
to vs too
there vs their
your vs youre
compliment vs complement
than vs then
choose vs chose

watch ending sentences with for, with, to

watch for placements of commas in possessive words

make appropriate use of semi-colons

watch the use of wordy phrases such as due to the fact - substitute the word because

words such as stuff, girls or boys are not appropriate for most of the writing you will do;
as professors we think of you as adults or students, and not girls or boys.

watch the use of the word thing or things - this is very imprecise writing - be more clear on
what thing means

choose whether you will write in the singular or plural and then be consistent. For example:

if you refer to a singular person (I, Jane, dietitian, person) the remaining words in the
sentence should also be singular (him, her, him/her, him or her, he, she, he/she, he or she)
if you refer to more than one person (we, dietitians, people, persons) the remaining words
in the sentence should also be plural (they, them, their).

Incorrect:
The dietitian wanted to see if their patient had received the message.
Correct:
The dietitian wanted to see if her patient had received the message.