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 user to access their accounts from anywhere around the world.  (Better) Netscape Navigator allows users to access their accounts from anywhere around the world.