paper comments
Here's a guide to deciphering some of the editorial comments I make on your papers:
* WO = Write Out. For example, depending on the context, if you write something like "3" or "MSU" or "OH" I might write, "WO." That means that in those cases you should write "three" or "Michigan State University" or "Ohio," etc.
* RO = Run On. This means you've written a run-on sentence. A run-on sentence is one that goes on for too long, often in a grammatically incorrect way.
* WC = Word Choice. I'm pointing to a word you should change, either because it's used incorrectly or because it's not quite right in terms of meaning or style.
* AWK = Awkward. Often, when I write "AWK," I'm pointing out a phrase that's not technically wrong, but that doesn't sound great as is. Rewrite that part, working to make it clear, accurate, and economical.
* PT = Past Tense. When you write about the past, use the past tense, not the present tense.
* PV = Passive Voice. It's generally best to make the subject of your sentence the thing that's doing the action. "Passive voice" means that the subject of your sentence is passive -- it's having something done to it, instead of doing something itself. Sometimes passive voice is useful, but for the most part it's a weak way of writing. Furthermore, passive voice often hides what or who is really doing the action, and that's often important. For examples of ways to fix the passive voice, see Writing Tips.
* SP = Spelling. Fix it.
* If I ever circle something you've written and put a little tail on the circle, I'm telling you to remove whatever that was. If I ever write something and circle what I've written, I'm telling you to add that in.
* WO = Write Out. For example, depending on the context, if you write something like "3" or "MSU" or "OH" I might write, "WO." That means that in those cases you should write "three" or "Michigan State University" or "Ohio," etc.
* RO = Run On. This means you've written a run-on sentence. A run-on sentence is one that goes on for too long, often in a grammatically incorrect way.
* WC = Word Choice. I'm pointing to a word you should change, either because it's used incorrectly or because it's not quite right in terms of meaning or style.
* AWK = Awkward. Often, when I write "AWK," I'm pointing out a phrase that's not technically wrong, but that doesn't sound great as is. Rewrite that part, working to make it clear, accurate, and economical.
* PT = Past Tense. When you write about the past, use the past tense, not the present tense.
* PV = Passive Voice. It's generally best to make the subject of your sentence the thing that's doing the action. "Passive voice" means that the subject of your sentence is passive -- it's having something done to it, instead of doing something itself. Sometimes passive voice is useful, but for the most part it's a weak way of writing. Furthermore, passive voice often hides what or who is really doing the action, and that's often important. For examples of ways to fix the passive voice, see Writing Tips.
* SP = Spelling. Fix it.
* If I ever circle something you've written and put a little tail on the circle, I'm telling you to remove whatever that was. If I ever write something and circle what I've written, I'm telling you to add that in.