WRITING TIPS

CONTRACTIONS
okay to say, but not in formal writing
NOT It’ll, I’d, We’ll, don’t, can’t, it’s
YES! It will, I would, We will, do not, cannot, it is

HOW TO USE QUOTES:
* INTRODUCE SPEAKER
* CITE! Henry Jenkins says, “Blah dee Blah” (Jenkins 45).
* ANALYZE (why did you use this quote? How does it support your argument?)

PASSIVE VOICE
NOT “These goals were achieved by web designers in the 1990s” (passive voice)
BUT
“Web designers in the 1990s achieved these goals” (active voice – subject first! WHO is doing it?)

more examples of passive voice:
NOT The internet is used by teens.
YES - Teens use the internet

NOT Sites were made by producers and consumed by users.
YES - Producers made sites for users to consume.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE
The components of a list must match grammatically.

NOT Major companies are always competing for our attention, market to children, and strategy meetings.

YES - Major companies are always competing for our attention, marketing to children, and strategizing.

NOT I enjoy a nice cup of tea, running a mile and to listen to music.

YES I enjoy a nice cup of tea, a mile-long run, and music listening sessions (all nouns) OR I enjoying sipping a nice cup of tea, running and mile and listening to music (all gerund verbs).