Writing Errors and Their Ways: Correction Strategies for the 21st Century - Hardcover

by Philip J. Skerry (Author)

This book examines errors in writing from several different perspectives. The most important perspective is contextual: what may be an error in one kind of writing may not be an error in another kind. Another perspective is a hierarchical one: some errors are more significant than others. A third perspective deals with genres such as fiction vs. nonfiction, written vs spoken language. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on Standard Written American English (SWAE), which is presented as the gold standard of writing. Other factors that affect writing errors are examined in detail, such as the role of social movements and trends. Examples are drawn from the LGBTQO community and the roles of social media. Throughout the text, errors are presented, along with grammatical explanations and correction strategies. The book takes into consideration that language and language standards change, as exemplified by the upheaval in pronoun usage tied to dramatic changes in gender roles and identities.

Author Biography

Philip J. Skerry, PhD, is Emeritus Professor at Lakeland Community College, where he taught English and Film classes for over forty years. Dr. Skerry has written several books on Alfred Hitchcock and is the author of the Rowman and Littlefield book, The Rules of The Game: A Guide to Writing in Standard English (2019).