Key Terms

a verb that shows the subject of the sentence doing something (e.g., Hakim turned on the computer); active verbs are distinguished from passive verbs, which show something being done to the subject of the sentence (e.g., The computer was turned on byHakim).

a word group that contains a subject and a verb (e.g., The dog ran.)

simple and clear writing; the opposite of wordiness

an important feature of good writing: verb tense (past/present/future, etc.) and pronouns (point of view: I, you, he/she/it, etc.) should be kept consistent in order to avoid confusing the reader.

a clause that does not express a complete thought in and of itself; it requires an independent clause to complete its meaning.

Ex: Because the store was closed, the girl went home.
      ^{dependent clause           independent clause}

checking a paper carefully for errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and spelling

a clause that expresses a complete thought in and of itself; it requires no other clause to complete its meaning.

Ex: Because the store was closed, the girl went home.
      ^{dependent clause           independent clause}

balance; parallel structure, or balanced structure, is important in order to make your writing read smoothly. Ex.:
Nonparallel (Balanced) - My job includes checking the inventory, initialing the orders, and to call the suppliers.
Parallel (Balanced) - My job includes checking the inventory, initialing the orders, and calling the suppliers.

checking the final, edited draft of your paper closely for typos and other careless errors

using more words than necessary to express a meaning