1. ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS
ELINA HALONEN
STYLE: CONFUSING WORDS, SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION

2. CONFUSING WORDS MAKE AND DO: Do = perform, carry out, act
Make = construct, produce, form, shape, create
RISE, ARISE, RAISE, INCREASE:
Rise = go up, get up, go higher ( intransitive, ie without a direct object )
Arise = come into existence, appear
Raise = lift up, make higher, cause to rise
Increase = make or become greater in size, number, degree, etc ( transitive and intransitive )
EXERCISE: Write 4 sentences using the verbs above.

3. FREQUENTLY CONFUSED WORDS
NOUNS
VERBS
PRACTICE
ADVICE
EFFECT
CHOICE
PRACTISE
ADVISE
AFFECT
CHOOSE

4. FREQUENTLY CONFUSED WORDS
NOUNS
ADJECTIVES
POLITICS
MATHEMATICS
STATISTICS
LOGIC
ECONOMICS
POLITICAL
MATHEMATICAL
STATISTICAL
LOGICAL
ECONOMIC

5. WHICH ONE? Choose the correct alternative.
We need to practise / practice more.
It had a negative effect / affect on the matter.
Don’t loose / lose your passport!
I’m sure you can run farther / further.
I expected fewer / less people to come.
They criticised the economic / economical policy.
What would you advice / advise me to do?

6. CAPITAL LETTERS NAMES OF PEOPLE, PLACES, RIVERS, ETC
TITLES OF PEOPLE AND NAMES OF THINGS AND PLACES WHEN REFERRING TO PARTICULAR EXAMPLES
the City of London, Professor Pollard, President Bush, Ms Halonen
NATIONS AND ADJECTIVES OF NATIONALITY
DAYS, MONTHS, FESTIVALS, HISTORICAL ERAS
TITLES OF BOOKS, PLAYS, WORKS OF ART, ETC
MANY ABBREVIATIONS

7. PUNCTUATION: Use of comma
SEPARATES A NON-DEFINING CLAUSE FROM THE REST OF THE SENTENCE
USE WHEN A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE COMES BEFORE THE PRINCIPAL CLAUSE
SEPARATES PHRASES IN APPOSITION
SEPARATES SOME NON-DEFINING ADJECTIVAL PHRASES
IN MANY KINDS OF LISTS
SEPARATES A NUMBER OF CONNECTIVES
USE TO MAKE LONG SENTENCES MORE READABLE

8. EXERCISE: Use of commas
If you can’t get the work done in time please let me know now.
Let me know by tomorrow if you can do it.
On September 30 this offer will expire.
The new improved version will sell better.
She has short black hair.
Professor Irvine who owns a farm teaches law.
Regardless of religious beliefs on December 25 most people celebrate Christmas.
The young man who works at the car wash is still in college.
He said that he would come later.
I want these things: a car a house and a good job.