Grammar Exercise-Dohertyk9

 

“If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child it increases the risk that they’re child will grow up hostile towards others. And its not just aggression toward others that results from child abuse; a large amount of children raised by abusive parents also harm themselves. The reason for this negative behavior is because the children don’t learn appropriate techniques for handling lifes disappointments. If you aren’t raised with coping skills, your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches. The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”, is that everyone gets the child they deserve.”

Rule 1:  There/Their/They’re

“If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child it increases the risk that they’re child will grow up hostile towards others”

Error: they’re should be their. “If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child it increases the risk that their child will grow up hostile towards others”

Rule 2: Its/It’s

“And its not just aggression toward others that results from child abuse”

Error: its should be it’s or it is. “And it’s not just aggression toward others that results from child abuse”

Rule 3: The reason is because

“The reason for this negative behavior is because“

Error: Because means for the reason that. So instead this sentence should read, “The reason for this negative behavior is” or “This negative behavior is because”

Rule 4A: Pronouns and Gender

“If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child”

Error: The author attempted to avoid the gender problem, but didn’t make the sentence plural. It should read: “If primary caretakers have negative attitudes towards their children,” or “If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward her child,”

Rule 4B: Pronouns and Number

“If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child”

Error: There is only one primary caretaker. It should read: “If primary caretakers have negative attitudes towards their children,”

Rule 5: Count and Noncount Nouns

“a large amount of children raised by abusive parents also harm themselves.”

Error: Children can be counted, therefore we should use the word “number” rather than the word “amount.” “a large number of children raised by abusive parents also harm themselves.”

Rule 6: To/Too/Two

“your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Error: Incorrect use of the word “to.” Instead, the word “too” should be used here. “your much too likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Rule 7: Periods and Commas Inside the Quotes

“The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”, is that everyone gets the child they deserve.”

Error: The comma should be within the quotes. “The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers,” is that everyone gets the child they deserve.”

Rule 8: Then/Than

“If you aren’t raised with coping skills, your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Error: Wrong version of “then” is being used here. “Than” should be used because it is a comparison. “If you aren’t raised with coping skills, your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ than if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Rule 9: Affect/Effect

“The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”,”

Error: Wrong version of “affect” being used here. We should be using the noun, “effect,” not the verb, “affect.” “The effect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”,”

Rule 10: Your/You’re

“If you aren’t raised with coping skills, your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Error: The contraction for “you are” should be used here. No possession is taking place. “If you aren’t raised with coping skills, you’re much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Rule 11: Single quotes/Double quotes

“your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Error: The only time we use single quotes is within double quotes. “your much to likely to act “inappropriately” then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Rule 12: The Banned 2nd Person

“If you aren’t raised with coping skills, your much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if you have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Error: Use of the 2nd Person. “If children aren’t raised with coping skills, they’re much to likely to act ‘inappropriately’ then if they have developed more reasonable approaches.”

Rule 13: Plurals and Possessives

“The reason for this negative behavior is because the children don’t learn appropriate techniques for handling lifes disappointments.”

Error: Possession is indicated with an apostrophe. “The reason for this negative behavior is because the children don’t learn appropriate techniques for handling life’s disappointments.”

Rule 14: Subject/Verb Agreement

“The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”, is that everyone gets the child they deserve.”

Error: The word “everyone” is actually singular, not plural. Therefore, “they” should not be used. “The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”, is that everyone gets the child he/she deserves.” or “The affect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers”, is that we all get the child we deserve .”

“If primary caretakers have negative attitudes towards their children, there is an increased risk that their children will grow up hostile towards others. And it’s not just aggression toward others that results from child abuse; a large number of children raised by abusive parents also harm themselves. This negative behavior is because the children don’t learn appropriate techniques for handling life’s disappointments. If children aren’t raised with coping skills, they’re much too likely to act “inappropriately” than if they have developed more reasonable approaches. The effect of poor parenting as reported by Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers,” is that we all get the child we deserve.”