Editing and Writing Tips
Here are some suggestions to help distance education students avoid common mistakes.
1. Left justify margins (only).
Do not double justify margins unless directed to by your instructor. The problem with double justification is that the gaps between words become larger and therefore hinder fast reading.
2. Document your work.
Theological research is about showing your instructor where you found your information. Don't just assert your beliefs, support them with evidence. Show your instructor that you know where the facts are found, be they in scripture or in a textbook or journal article.
2.1 Document your work properly.
Fewer mistakes are more annoying than when a student fails to follow citation guidelines. There is NO EXCUSE for this type of error.
3. Avoid quotes.
Opinions differ on this but my thought is, "Anyone can quote." What I want to see is your ability to paraphrase the thought of another, and cite the reference, rather than reading the other person's words. Quoting should be done only when the statement is so critical to your point that it must be stated verbatim.
Common Writing Errors
Common Errors with Words
Word Confusion-spelling
- alter vs altar
- to vs too vs two
- threw vs through
- its vs it's
- prophesy vs prophecy
- god's vs gods
Word Confusion-semantics
- think vs feel
- expiation vs propitiation
- faith vs fideism
- belief vs concession
- possible vs probable
Common Errors of Grammar
- Inapproriate tense changes
- Subject-Verb number disagreement
Common Errors of Punctuation
- Capitalization of nouns that aren't proper nouns.
- Failure to capitalize proper nouns.
- Appositives not separated by commas.
For example, the bolded content in the sentence below is bracketed by commas because it is an appositive. Identify an appositive by the following trick. If you can remove the words without changing the grammar or flow of the sentence, then it is an appositive.
God, in this chapter, presents to his people the Israelites two options that will determine his future dealings with them.
Tips for Effective Writing
- Avoid the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were). Use strong verbs instead.
- Avoid passive tense. Make the sentence such that the subject performs the action of the verb. For example, "I hit the ball" is preferable to "I was hit by the ball."
- Be sure your thoughts are organized. Typically, it is better to describe an opposing view point in one paragraph and then critique it in the next.
- Avoid wordiness.
eg. Wordy: In my opinion, It seems to me....
Better: I believe.....
Be as specific and concrete as the evidence and content allows. Avoid glittering generalities. For example, don't say, "We need to follow Christ." It is a true statement but it lacks specific content. Say, we need to follow Christ by helping rescue the poor from poverty.
- Avoid redundancy in word usage and sentence length. Use a thesaurus to vary your word usage.
- Reference use. If you aren't referring to sources in your work on a regular basis then you have not read enough. Don't just assert ideas, support them with evidence. Too often students assume that just saying the Bible says this or that, is the same as proving it. If you make a claim, tell the grader where to look to prove that the Bible said it.
- Be sure to include your bibliography.
- Avoid long quotes. Anyone can quote. Quoting is typically used as a way to avoid the hard work of paraphrasing.
- Format notes and bibliography according to the required style. There is no excuse for losing points on this. Yes, it is tedious, boring and in ten million years, unimportant. Nevertheless do it.
Computer Helps
1. Hanging indent. A hanging indent looks as follows
Vantassel, Stephen. The Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook rev. ed.
.........Springfield, MA: Wildlife Damage Control, 2002.
The second line is indented rather (as it should be in a bibliographic entry). In Microsoft Word, creating hanging indents is very easy. Just go to Format, then paragraph, then click indent, choose hanging.
Recommended Grammar and Writing Books
Elements of Style
Revising Prose
Editing
Content:
- Some grammatical and typo corrections
- Emphasis on strength of argumentation and evidence
- Cost:1 dollar per page (1 inch margins, double spaced 12 pt font) 5 page minimum.
Dr. Vantassel's latest guide:
Phone Consultation
- Dr. Vantassel's Tutoring Services are Free for
- 25 dollars per/hr 1/2 hour min. You call me. By appt. Only.
King's Evangelical Divinity School (Fromerly Midlands Bible College, Wolverhampton, England)
I can help you in the following areas:
- Editing papers for content and clarity
- Assistance with research
- Exegesis, Greek & Hebrew papers
- Software and resource purchases to help improve and expand your library
- Proof reading to help reduce grammar, punctuation and style mistakes
About Stephen Vantassel
B.A. 1987 Gordon College, Wenham MA in Biblical Studies and Philosophy with a concentration in Greek and Hebrew
M.A.T.S. 1989 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, S. Hamilton, MA. in Old Testament.
Ph.D. 2008 Trinity College of the Bible and Seminary, Newburgh, IN. in Theology.
I have also been a special education teacher and have been involved in distance education for over 5 years. Let me help you succeed in your education so that you can get on with work of the ministry.
Assistant Editor of The Evangelical Review of Society and Politics
http://www.evangelicalreview.com
Tutor for King's Evangelical Divinity School