1.

Standard Spacing with Punctuation

Full stops/periods, commas, and semicolons are placed right after a word,
with one space before the following word.

Correct: In reality, money does not always lead to happiness.

Incorrect: In reality,money does not always lead to happiness.
Incorrect: In reality , money does not always lead to happiness.
Incorrect: In reality ,money does not always lead to happiness.

2. Always capitalize:

• The first word in a sentence

• The word I
• Names of specific people, places, and things

Correct: I’ve left a spare key to the house with my brother Robert.
Correct: He’s worked at Infosys in Bangalore for the last three years.

Do NOT capitalize other nouns, or the first word after a comma/semicolon.

Incorrect: People should make an Effort to eat healthy food.

Incorrect: In fact, Many people successfully lose weight.

3. Contractions and Abbreviations

Contracted forms, e.g., don’t, isn’t = informal; do not use in Task
1 AT or Task 2 essays

Correct: When people earn a university degree, they are more likely to obtain a
high-paying job.
Incorrect: When people earn a university degree, they’re more likely to obtain a
high-paying job.
Abbreviations are used only in the context of proper names, e.g., Dr.
Smith (Am.) or Dr Smith (Br.). Do not write e.g., i.e., etc. in Task 2 or Task 1 AT
essays.
Never use the ampersand (&) sign instead of writing and.
Phrasal verbs, especially with get, are associated with informal writing; single-
word verbs are associated with formal writing (e.g., get up vs. awaken).
And absolutely no text speak (e.g., u, LOL)!

4. Definite and Indefinite Articles

A(n) = indefinite, indicates one of many; often used when a noun

is first mentioned.
Correct: Some people argue that living alone or in a small family is better than
living in a large family.
Incorrect: Some people argue that living alone or in the small family is better than
living in the large family.
Incorrect: Some people argue that living alone or in small family is better than
living in large family.

Note that the plural of an is no article (“zero article”). This construction is used to
describe a general situation.

Correct: Some people argue that large families are better than small families.
Incorrect: Some people argue that the large families are better than the small
families.

The = definite, indicates the only one

Correct: The current trend toward solitary living will likely cause demand for
smaller housing units to increase.
Incorrect: A current trend toward solitary living will likely cause demand for
smaller housing units to increase.
Incorrect: Current trend toward solitary living will likely cause demand for smaller
housing units to increase.

The must also be used with the superlative (“most” or “-est”) form of an
adjective, e.g., the best way.
5. Articles with(out) Indefinite Pronouns

Few = almost no (one)

A few = several
Correct: Few people believe that children should be allowed unlimited amounts of
junk food. = almost no one believes this

Correct: A few researchers have suggested that eating foods low in acid help
people lose weight. = several (a small number of) researchers have suggested
this

The majority
Correct: The majority of dieters have difficulty losing weight.
Incorrect: Majority of dieters have difficulty losing weight.

A number of (=many)
Correct: A number of dieters have difficulty losing weight.
Incorrect: Number of dieters have difficulty losing weight.

6. Focus on correct usage rather than obscure or “high-level”

words; when paraphrasing, use only synonyms whose meanings
you are absolutely certain of

Correct: I believe that governments should direct more funding toward the arts, as
museums, theatres, and concert halls benefit society in many important ways.

Avoid: The most conspicuous reason which reinforces my perception is that arts,
theatre, and music aid in the extension of society in a plethora of manners.

7. Linking devices = formulas; do not alter them to sound more

original

Correct: First(ly)/To begin, e-commerce threatens the health of local businesses.

Incorrect: At the outset, e-commerce threatens the health of local businesses.
8. Two sentences must be separated by period/full stop or a
semicolon, NOT a comma

A clause that begins with a conjunctive adverb

(e.g., however, therefore, thus, moreover) is independent. The adverb follows a
period/full stop or semicolon and is followed by a comma
The two main adverbs to know are however and therefore.
Correct: Studying in a foreign country has many advantages. However, it also has
some drawbacks.
Correct: Studying in a foreign country has many advantages; however, it also has
some drawbacks.
Incorrect: Studying in a foreign country has many advantages, however, it also
has some drawbacks.
Incorrect: Studying in a foreign country has many advantages however; it also has
some drawbacks.

Pronoun as Subject (e.g., it, they, I)

A sentence that begins with a pronoun is grammatically identical to a sentence that
begins with a noun: Cigarettes affect smokers’ health = They affect smokers’ health are
grammatically equivalent.

Correct: Cigarettes affect smokers’ health. They also affect the health of
bystanders.
Correct: Cigarettes affect smokers’ health; they also affect the health of
bystanders.
Incorrect: Cigarettes affect smokers’ health, they also affect the health
of bystanders.

9. Two consecutive clauses should not both begin with a

coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, so) or a subordinating
conjunction (e.g., although, while, as)

Correct: Although e-commerce has many benefits, it also poses a threat to many
small businesses.
Correct: E-commerce has many benefits, but it also poses a threat to many small
businesses.
Incorrect: Although e-commerce has many benefits, but it also poses a threat to
many small businesses.

10. Modal verb (e.g., can, should, might, must) + bare infinitive

(Exception: ought + full infinitive)

Correct: Technology can help society in many ways.

Incorrect: Technology can helps society in many ways.
Incorrect: Technology can to help society in many ways.
Incorrect: Technology can helped society in many ways.

11. Request, recommend, and suggest + (that) + subject + bare

infinitive

Correct: The technician suggested (that) my friend restart the laptop.

Incorrect: The technician suggested my friend to restart the laptop.
Incorrect: The technician suggested my friend restarts the laptop.

12. Present Perfect:

Since + Starting Time

Correct: Since the early 2000s, the Internet has played an increasingly prominent
role in many people’s lives.
Incorrect: Since the early 2000s, the Internet plays an increasingly prominent role
in many people’s lives.

For/Over + Duration
Correct: For/Over the past century, antibiotics have played a crucial role in
preventing and curing many common infections.
Incorrect: For/Over the past century, antibiotics play a crucial role in preventing
and curing many common infections.
Incorrect: For/Over the past century, antibiotics played a crucial role in preventing
and curing many common infections.

13. Simple Past vs. Past Perfect

Simple past (single-word past, e.g., went, said, ate) = finished action
Past perfect (had + verb, e.g., had gone, had said, had eaten) = finished action
that came before a second action

Use the simple past with a “limiting” date or time (e.g., yesterday, last
year, 2007).
Correct: I am unable to attend the meeting because I was in a car accident this
morning.
Incorrect: I am unable to attend the meeting because I have been in a
car accident this morning.

Past Perfect = finished action that came before a second action

Correct: The shop clerk claimed that the coat had been cleaned thoroughly, but
when I arrived home, I saw that it was still dirty.
Incorrect: The shop clerk claimed that the coat had been cleaned thoroughly, but
when I had arrived home, I saw that it was still dirty.

14. Will vs. Would

Will = future
Would = hypothetical actions; polite form, used for requests

Future
Correct: I will read the report tomorrow morning.
Incorrect: I would read the report tomorrow morning.
BUT:
Correct: I would read the report tomorrow morning, BUT I will be in a meeting until
1pm.

Request
Correct: I would like to request some information regarding scholarships.
Incorrect: I will like to request some information regarding scholarships.

15. When or if + present-tense verb, not future tense

Correct: When I will go to Canada next year, I will visit Toronto and Montreal.
Incorrect: When I go to Canada next year, I will visit Toronto and Montreal.
16. 3rd-person singular verbs end in -s; 3rd-person plural verbs
do NOT end in -s

Correct: Genetic engineering is beneficial because it it allows parents to prevent

their children from being born with a serious hereditary disease.

Incorrect: Genetic engineering is beneficial because it it allow parents to prevent

their children from being born with a serious hereditary disease.

Errors often occur when the verb immediately follows that. The verb must agree
with the noun before that.

Correct: Genetic engineering is a technology (sing.) that allows (sing.) parents

to prevent their children from being born with a serious hereditary disease.

Incorrect: Genetic engineering is a technology (sing.) that allow (pl.) parents

to prevent their children from being born with a serious hereditary disease.

Know also:
• Gerunds (-ing forms) = singular, e.g., Reading magazines is one of my
hobbies.
• Indefinite pronouns with any, every, and no = singular,
e.g., Everyone knows that people must consume fewer calories in order to
lose weight.

17. One + singular noun; One of the + plural noun

Correct: One effect of global warming is the disappearance of many plant and
animal species.
Correct: One of the effects of global warming is the disappearance of many plant
and animal species.
Incorrect: One of the effect of global warming is the disappearance of many plant
and animal species.
18. It and They

Singular noun = it; Plural noun = they

Correct: The iphone is among the world’s most popular devices: it can be found
virtually everywhere on the planet.
Incorrect: The iphone is among the world’s most popular devices: they can
be found virtually everywhere on the planet.

Correct: Fad diets are very popular, but they can also be quite dangerous.
Incorrect: Fad diets are very popular, but it can also be quite dangerous.

It’s = it is; Its = possessive form of it

Correct: The laptop worked perfectly for several hours, but
then its screen suddenly went blank.
Incorrect: The laptop worked perfectly for several hours, but then it’s (=
it is) screen suddenly went blank.

19. No comma before or after that

Correct: Some people believe that consumers should make more of an effort to
buy from independent shops.
Incorrect: Some people believe, that consumers should make more of an effort to
buy from independent shops.
Incorrect: Some people believe that, consumers should make more of an effort to
buy from independent shops.

20. Indirect questions:

• “Question” word such as who, what, why appears in the middle of the
statement
• Uses a period/full stop
• Verb follows subject

Correct: It is unclear why some people are able to eat an unhealthy diet without
gaining weight.
Incorrect: It is unclear why are some people able to eat an unhealthy diet without
gaining weight?

21. Nouns acting as adjectives are never made plural

Correct: One of my favo(u)rite dishes is lentil soup.

Incorrect: One of my favo(u)rite dishes is lentils soup.

22. Comparatives and Superlatives:

• 1-syllable adjectives & 2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: -er/-est

• All other adjectives: more/most + adjective

Correct: My new apartment is larger than my old one.

Incorrect: My new apartment is more large than my old one.
Incorrect: My new apartment is more larger than my old one.

23. Advice, furniture, information, infrastructure, research =

uncountable

• Not used with a(n)

• Not made plural

Correct: Whenever I have a problem, I ask my best friend for help because he
always gives good advice.
Incorrect: Whenever I have a problem, I ask my best friend for help because he
always gives a good advice.

Correct: In my opinion, governments should devote more money to improving and

developing infrastructure.
Incorrect: In my opinion, governments should devote more money to improving
and developing infrastructures.

24. Fewer, many modify countable nouns; less, much modify

uncountable nouns
Correct: Today, many people prefer to do their shopping online.
Incorrect: Today, much people prefer to do their shopping online.

In addition, much cannot modify an adjective; use so or very + adjective.

Correct: I was so happy to hear that you were coming to visit.
Correct: I was very happy to hear that you were coming to visit.
Incorrect: I was so much happy to hear that you were coming to visit.

25. Prepositions/Idioms:

I’m looking forward to + -ing form

Correct: I’m looking forward to receiving your response!
Incorrect: I’m looking forward to receive your response!
Note that to functions as an independent preposition rather than part of an
infinitive. As a result, the -ing form can be used.

On + day or next + day, NOT on next + day

Correct: I’d love to come to the party next Saturday, but unfortunatelyI already
have plans.
Incorrect: I’d love to come to the party on next Saturday, but unfortunately I
already have plans.

Considered (to be) + noun

Correct: Pelé is considered (to be) one of the greatest football players in history.
Incorrect: Pelé is considered as one of the greatest football players in history.