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Pedants' corner
Original poster

I just got the first chapter of my dissertation back and...

28 replies

girlylala0807 · 04/03/2011 19:03

it would appear I cannot construct a sentance properly, spell, or use commas in the right place.

The guy marking it is a stickler for these things (rightly so) but in all my time at uni (im in 4th year now) ive never got the hang of it.

I seem to have mixed up the use of on/in/if. When I read it back it makes sense to me. It may just be the way I speak is not correct (as in im Scottish and how and why mean the same to those I speak to but I know not right)

So any help/advice would be lovely if any of you have time.

Thanks! :)

OP posts:
littleducks · 04/03/2011 19:06

Could you post a section, maybe a just a few sentences so we can see what you mean....it is hard to imagine

CaptainKirksNipples · 04/03/2011 19:08

You should be able to use spell check to help with spelling. Do you not have any friends or relatives that could look over it for you?

Guacamole · 04/03/2011 19:12

Spelling should never be an issue IMO, you have a spell checker on your computer and should have a dictionary, sseton should use them.
With regard to mixing up on/in/if... I have no idea?! I can't understand how you could.
Do you read through all of your work carefully? Do you have a friend who could proofread your work before you submit it to your lecturer?
You have to be so careful, however good the content of your work if the spelling and grammar are wrong it looks lazy.
It's good your asking for help.
Hopefully someone will come on and give you some useful advice.

TheCowardlyLion · 04/03/2011 19:12

Yes, if you C&P a section, we can help out.

If you'd like me to start, it's sentEnce, not sentAnce, I've, not ive and I'm, not im. Grin

Guacamole · 04/03/2011 19:14

Sseton? What on Earth is that? It's supposed to say 'so you', shame I don't have a spellchecker on my phone. Blush

Guacamole · 04/03/2011 19:15

OMG 'you're' not 'your' asking for help!

But whatever you do don't ask me, I clearly have no idea what I am talking about!

Original poster
girlylala0807 · 04/03/2011 19:20

I thought the spell checker was on but clearly not. I will get a dictionary in the morning.

Will copy bits below.

..."stories in the print media over the following days have been studied in order to ascertain how influential they were on creating an impression in the democratic west."

where it said on he said it should say in.

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 04/03/2011 19:25

Is that a full sentence?

itisnotgoingwelltoday · 04/03/2011 19:27

You've split your tense - following is future tense, studied is past tense.

And it's "at creating an impression" not on

(Sorry I feel like a grumpy teacher)

Can you post a longer section?

itisnotgoingwelltoday · 04/03/2011 19:28

Could actually be in creating an impression - depends on the longer context

Original poster
girlylala0807 · 04/03/2011 19:28

no.

sorry. will type it all.

"News broadcasts that followed the announcement and stories in the print media over the following days have been studied in order to ascertain how influential they were on creating an impression in the democratic west."

OP posts:
Original poster
girlylala0807 · 04/03/2011 19:30

Please feel free to be grumpy.

I should have tried to sort this in first year. I have just been a bit afraid to attempt to look at grammar and stuff, can't get my head round it.

OP posts:
itisnotgoingwelltoday · 04/03/2011 19:30

It's at creating an impression.

The tense is fine in that context.

londonmackem · 04/03/2011 19:31

'in creating' definitely!

TheCowardlyLion · 04/03/2011 19:38

In creating an impression - not at.

southeastastra · 04/03/2011 19:39

can you get someone in rl with good grammar etc to give it the once over before you submit?

Original poster
girlylala0807 · 04/03/2011 19:41

I have a friend who is a trainee teacher so she is going to look over it.

I just fished out a book really simple english grammar so will look up tense in that.

OP posts:
HuckingFell · 04/03/2011 19:53

"News broadcasts and print media articles that followed the announcement have been studied in order to ascertain how influential they were on creating an impression in the democratic west."

HuckingFell · 04/03/2011 19:55

actually

"News broadcasts and print media articles that followed the announcement have been studied to ascertain how influential they were in creating an impression in the democratic west."

Guacamole · 04/03/2011 20:10

I would also say 'in creating an impression' not at.

littleducks · 04/03/2011 20:43

I think Hullygully has a better version

When you read her version does it sound 'better' to you?

nickelbabe · 05/03/2011 10:57

I think either "in" or "at" work in this example, but I would have used "at" because she's got "in" very close after:

"News broadcasts that followed the announcement and stories in the print media over the following days have been studied in order to ascertain how influential they were on creating an impression in the democratic west."

I think you were thinking about "upon", which can be used for "creating an impression", but not in this context (more it would be the result of creating that impression)

nickelbabe · 05/03/2011 10:58

bloody bolding!
the bold was supposed to be around "on" and "in", not the sentence inbetween.

nickelbabe · 05/03/2011 10:58

yeah, I like Hully's second one better too

"News broadcasts and print media articles that followed the announcement have been studied to ascertain how influential they were in creating an impression in the democratic west."

TheCowardlyLion · 05/03/2011 14:18

Argh - it is influential in creating an impression! Not at!

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