1. Illogical Shifts
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2. What are shifts? Shifts are inconsistencies in writing.
To avoid shifts, make sure that all the verbs in a sentence that describe actions happening at the same time are in the same tense: all in the present, all in the past, or all in the future. This is consistent tense.
INCONSISTENT:
Jason played hockey until he breaks his leg.
CONSISTENT:
Jason played hockey until he broke his leg.
[Both verbs are now in the past tense.]
© 2016 by Bedford/St. Martin’s

3. What are shifts? (continued)
Also, all nouns and pronouns in a sentence should be consistent in person, or point of view: first person (I/we), second person (you), or third person (he/she/it/they).
INCONSISTENT:
Students find Professor Bell’s class difficult, but you can succeed if you try.
CONSISTENT:
Students find Professor Bell’s class difficult, but they can succeed if they try.
[The sentence stays in the third person instead of shifting from third person to second person.]
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4. Fix the shift in the following sentence:
Job applicants should make sure that his résumé is up-to-date.
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5. Answer:
Job applicants should make sure that their résumé is up-to-date.
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6. Fix the shift in the following sentence: (continued 1)
To surprise Ed, I jumped out of the bushes as he walks by.
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7. Answer: (continued 1)
To surprise Ed, I jumped out of the bushes as he walked by.
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8. Fix the shift in the following sentence: (continued 2)
Whether a person is young or old, they can still enjoy the benefits of exercise.
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9. Answer: (continued 2)
Whether a person is young or old, he or she can still enjoy the benefits of exercise.
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10. Fix the shift in the following sentence: (continued 3)
Although I liked my classes, I changing my major to something more practical.
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11. Answer: (continued 3)
Although I liked my classes, I changed my major to something more practical.
© 2016 by Bedford/St. Martin’s