Exercise 26

No.1

(Worse) Communicators must share a common language or protocol so that we can easily understand each other.

(Better) Communicators must share a common language or protocol so that they can easily understand each other.

No.2

(Worse) A computer mouse needs some available workspace and even the beginning user can operate them with very little difficulty.

(Better) A computer mouse needs some available workspace and even the beginning user can operate one with very little difficulty.

No.3

(Worse) Execute the program commands and the iteration steps must be repeated.

(Better) Execute the program commands and repeat the iteration steps.

No.4

(Worse) The supervisor asked her employees if the assignment was ready and could it be handed in tomorrow.

(Better 1) The supervisor asked her employees if the assignment was ready and could be handed in tomorrow.

No.4 (cont.)

(Better 2) The supervisor asked her employees if the assignment was ready to be handed in tomorrow.

No.5

(Worse) The instructor made the class assignment and a follow up quiz was given by him.

(Better) The instructor made the class assignment and gave a follow up quiz.

No.6

(Worse) For the user to clean the inside of a keyboard, you must remove the screws on the back of the keyboard with a very small screwdriver.

(Better 1) For the user to clean the inside of a keyboard, he or she must remove the screws on the back of the keyboard with a very small screwdriver.

No.6

(Better 2) The user can clean the inside of a keyboard by removing the screws on the back of the keyboard with a very small screwdriver.

No.7

(Worse) The rewritable recorder is designed to use one CD over and over and cost approximately $400.

(Better 1) The re-writable recorder is designed to use one CD over and over and costs approximately $400.

No.7 (cont.)

(Better 2) The re-writable recorder is designed for one CD to be reused and costs approximately $400.

No.8

(Worse) The consumer should know the pros and cons of a compact disk recorded when purchasing them.

(Better) The consumer should know the pros and cons of a compact disk recorded when purchasing one.

No.9

(Worse) The company decided to update the operating systems on the engineering department computers so they can more easily access the mainframe.

(Better 1) The company decided to update the operating systems on the engineering department computers so the engineers can more easily access the mainframe.

No.9

(Better 2) The company decided to update the operating systems on the engineering department computers to more easily access the mainframe.

No.10

(Worse) The lecturer indicated that the role of telecommunications was increasingly common in daily life.

(Better) The lecturer indicated that the role of telecommunications is increasingly common in daily life.

[Note 7.16]

Although it is important to maintain a consistent verb tense, one exception to the rule is when the writer is stating a fact, situation or assumption.

Since telecommunications in daily life is increasingly common is a fact, present tense should be used.

Under this circumstance, shifting verb tenses in a sentences is acceptable.

No.11

(Worse) The new cartridges are large and should last a long time, making it more attractive than the older ones.

(Better) The new cartridges are large and should last a long time, making them more attractive than the older ones.

No.12

(Worse) The college will purchase more computers in the near future so that you can communicate with your teachers on-line.

(Better) The college will purchase more computers in the near future so that students can communicate with your teachers on-line.

No.13 (Worse) Space is needed to allow movement

since a mouse is needed to move to perform its functions.

(Better 1) Space is needed to allow movement since a mouse needs to move to perform its functions.

(Better 2) Space is needed to a mouse to perform its functions.

No.14

(Worse) Netscape Navigator allows the e-mail user to access their accounts from anywhere around the world.

(Better) Netscape Navigator allows e-mail users to access their accounts from anywhere around the world.