LANG112: Communication Skill II (for Law) --16 May 2007 – Summary of Lecture

Dr. Sally S. Harris, Visiting Lecturer

Editing for Usage—Misused Forms

Usage is the way that words are used in a language. Errors in usage are not usually
flagged by electronic systems like Grammar Check; therefore, you as a writer should
become conversant with the categories of some of the most typical usage errors.

This lecture focuses on the last listed item below of many restrictions found in English.
• Syntax = word order (English has very strict word order rules.)
• Collocations = way phrases are created (English has strict rules about how to
create noun phrases, verb phrases, and adjective phrases.)
• Limits called “Co-occurrence Restrictions” = what can precede or follow a word
(English has a number of restrictions on what words can come before of after
particular lexical (dictionary) choices. The student must learn these restrictions
word-by-word, but the student can learn categories of typical errors.)

This lecture focuses on Co-occurrence Restrictions for words that must follow certain
verbs:
• Particles following the main verbs in Phrasal Verbs
• Particular prepositions following certain verbs
• That-clauses following certain verbs
• Infinitives with to following certain verbs
• Infinitives without to following certain verbs
• Present participles following certain verbs
• Past participles following certain verbs
• Indirect and Direct Object following certain verbs
Suggestions:
1. Always use Spell Check and Grammar Check even though these programs
cannot catch more than a few types of errors. Catching these is still worthwhile.
But remember, Grammar Check cannot catch usage errors.
2. Be prepared to look for typical usage errors when you edit. Becoming very
knowledgeable about the typical types of errors is part of an editor’s job.
3. Keep a notebook of vocabulary and grammar concepts that you are trying to
learn; make sure entries are complete. (i.e. Note not only a new phrasal verb
but what other particles go with that main verb to create different meanings. These
broader entries are called “semantic fields.” Learning new words one by one is
slow; learning using semantic fields is much faster.)
4. Use a good online English Language Learners’ Dictionary (ELLD). These
specialist dictionaries give grammar and usage information not found in regular
dictionaries, therefore they are much more valuable. Pearson Education Publishers
of Harlow, England publishes a free online ELLD—The Longman Dictionary of
Contemporary English. When you are editing at a computer, access this ELLD at
http://www.ldoceonline.com

Assignment Due Wednesday, 23 May 2007:

• In the Longman Online Dictionary, check and record what it says about
– Two phrasal verbs & five words with different co-occurrence
restrictions.
• Extra Credit: Access the Writing Assistant and record what help you got.
• WORK INDEPENDENTLY; DO NOT COPY ANOTHER’S WORK.