Editing Definition Essays
You've completed large-scale improvements, so now you can focus your attention on each specific detail of your essay. The following activities will help you ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement. You'll also find a checklist to help you catch any errors in punctuation, capitalization, spelling, usage, and grammar.
Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree. Follow these rules to ensure subject-verb agreement:
- A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. Usually, plural nouns end in s, and plural verbs do not: terms have and term has. Watch for one s between the noun and verb.
Merriam-Webster offers them as synonyms for each other, but each has a slightly different focus. (singular subjects and verbs)
Now that both terms have shucked many of their negative connotations, they are used by people about all kinds of non-academic, non-techie subjects. (plural subjects and verbs)
- A compound subject joined by and is always plural.
In the days of traveling circuses, the lion tamer, trapeze artist, and tightrope walker were royalty. (plural subject and verb)
- When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.
Neither the water boy nor the geek was considered a skilled carney. (singular final subject and verb)
- Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, someone) and others are always plural (both, few, many, several).
Everyone wants a geek to fix a computer. Few choose a jock.
- Some indefinite pronouns (all, any, most, none, some) change depending on the object of the preposition that follows them.
All of the sideshow acts are top notch. All of the bigtop is fireproof.
- Don't be fooled when other nouns come between the subject and verb. Make sure the true subject and verb agree.
A nerd, whether devoted to books or computers or sports, is a serious expert in the subject.
Check subject-verb agreement.
Correct the subject-verb agreement in each sentence. If the sentence is already correct, leave it as it is. Afterward, review your essay, making sure all subjects and verbs agree.
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Nerd and geek, both meaning "socially awkward expert," havehas different origins.
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Anyone classified among the nerds isare probably an introverted expert.
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Everybody in the family of geeks isare probably an extroverted expert.
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A nerd herd isare one name for a group of experts.
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A computation of geeks isare a name for another group.
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Someone suggests that the best collective name would be a revenge of nerds.
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Both of the nerds areis enthusiastic about the World Cup.
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Neither the calculus class nor the valedictorian appreciatesappreciate the name nerd.
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Both the chess club and the salutatorian embraceembraces the label.
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Nerd and geek alike areis welcome here!
Editing for Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Pronouns also must agree with their antecedents in number, person, and gender.
|
Singular |
Plural |
|
|
First Person |
I, me, my, mine |
we, us, our, ours |
|
Second Person |
you, your, yours |
you, your, yours |
|
Third Person |
he, him, his (masculine) her, her, hers (feminine) it, its (neuter) |
they, their, theirs |
Note that gender becomes an issue only in the third person singular, but then it can become a real issue:
Agreement error: A geek should take pride in their expertise.
Sexist: A geek should take pride in his expertise.
Sexist: A geek should take pride in her expertise.
Awkward: A geek should take pride in his or her expertise.
Unacceptable: A geek should take pride in its expertise.
You can solve this problem by making the antecedent and pronoun plural.
Geeks should take pride in their expertise.
When the antecedent is an indefinite pronoun, remember that some are always singular (each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, someone), others are always plural (both, few, many, several), and others (all, any, most, none, some) change depending on the object of the preposition that follows them.
Check pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Rewrite the following sentences to correct any errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement. (If you change a subject to plural, remember also to change the verb). Afterward, check the pronouns in your essay to make sure they agree with their antecedents.
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Geeks haveEach geek has their own areas of interest.
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Geeks might have theirA geek might have his favorite video games.
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Nerds might have theirA nerd might have her favorite authors.
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Geeks and nerds alike can speak for hours about their areashis or her area of interest.
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Fans consider themselves geeksSomeone in fandom considers himself a geek.
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Scholars consider themselves nerdsSomeone in academia considers herself a nerd.
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Some of the geeks are presenting their novelshis or her novel at the convention.
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Most of the seminars are free, so fans should attend as many of themit as possible.
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Most of the seminar is devoted to Q&A, so itthey should be very interactive.
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Nerds and geeks, as well as anyone else, should let theirhis or her enthusiasm shine!
Editing in Action
After you check for subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement, you should also make sure your definition essay has correct punctuation, capitalization, spelling, usage, and grammar. Keep editing until your essay is error free.
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Text Before Edits
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Agreement errors are corrected, along with errors in spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
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Text After Edits
Edit with a checklist.
Use the following checklist to edit your definition essay. When you can answer a question with a yes, check it off. Continue editing until each line is checked.
Sentences
- Do sentences read smoothly throughout the essay?
- Are sentences correct, without run-ons, comma splices, or fragments?
Punctuation
- Do periods and commas after quoted material appear inside the end quotations marks?
- Do question marks and exclamation points after quoted material appear inside the end quotation marks if they belong to the quotation?
- Do commas follow introductory clauses and longer introductory phrases (four words or more)?
Mechanics
- Are proper nouns and the first words in sentences capitalized?
- Are specific names of people, cities, states, and institutions as well as other proper nouns capitalized?
- Have I checked spellings of the names of all people, places, and so on?
- Have I checked spelling using a dictionary or spell checker?
Grammar
- Do subjects and verbs agree in number?
- Do pronouns and antecedents agree in number, person, and gender?
Usage
- Have I chosen words with effective connotations?
- Are commonly confused words used correctly (your/you’re, their/they’re, its/it’s)?
Publishing Your Definition Essay
"Publishing" really means just "making public"—sharing your writing with the people around you. If you are truly interested in the term(s) you have researched, you'll want to share what you've discovered with classmates and family members as well as your instructor. You'll want to make sure your essay is in the best possible shape!
Publishing the Final Copy
Create a clean final copy.
Once you have completed all of your revisions and edits, print a clean final copy of your definition essay. Share it with your teacher, classmates, and family members.
Reflecting on Your Writing
Reflect on your writing.
Complete the following sheet to reflect on writing a definition essay.
