LIST OF MOST FREQUENT MISTAKES
*suggestions, additions, or any other comments are welcomed.

This list has been compiled from thousand of posts on TSQ. Although all the sections are important, please make sure to abide by Sections 1, 5 and 7. If you don’t have a spell-check program, consider downloading the one offered at: http://www.iespell.com/

1. CAPITALS
1.1
Proper nouns (sign of respect), eg. Kory, Fred…;

1.2
Personal pronoun I;

1.3
Special Operations acronyms: SEALs, BUD/S. EOD, SWCC, etc.

1.4
Days of the week: Thursday.

2. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
2.1
When you use an unfamiliar abbreviation for the first time, write the full name followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Then use only the abbreviation.

2.2
For useful Navy acronyms and definitions, check the following sites: Acronyms; Navy Speak

3. VERBS
3.1
The verb agrees with its subject: The O-course at BUD/S is not easy.

3.2
Verb is nearly always plural with a compound subject. Ex.: Nic and Kory often jog together.

3.3
Verb is mostly singular with indefinite pronouns. Ex.: Everyone on the TSQ supports the new SEAL rate.

3.4
Verb is mostly singular with collective nouns unless the meaning is clearly plurial. Ex.: The class respects the instructor.

3.5
Verb is singular with words such as mathematics, statistics, news, etc. Ex.: Mathematics is a requirement for SEALs.

3.6
Verb is singular with titles of works. Ex.:Warriors from the Deep is Book of the month for October.

4. PUNCTUATION
4.1 Comma
Use a comma between all items in a series. Ex.: On the O-course, a candidate can have a problem with the cargo net, the balance logs, or the transfer rope.

4.2 Period
A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period!

4.3 Apostrophe
Please take the time to use the apostrophe with contractions, etc., eg. don't

5. PARAGRAPH
A paragraph should be unified around a main point.

The point should be clear, and all sentences in the paragraph must relate to it.

In an essay, short paragraphs are not endorsed. It suggests inadequate development.

Note: For easy reading on the forums, keep the paragraphs short, with a hard return between each paragraph (ENTER).

Key words to show transition between paragraphs:

5.1
to show addition:
and, also, besides, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, too, first, second…

5.2
to give examples:
for example, for instance, to illustrate, in fact, specifically…

5.3
to compare:
also, in the same manner, similarly, likewise…

5.4
to contrast:
but, however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, still, yet, although…

5.5
to summarize, to conclude:
in other words, in short, in summary, in conclusion, to sum up, that is, therefore…

5.6
to indicate logical relationship:
if, so, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result, for this reason, since…

6. SPELLING
6.1
a is before a consonant; an is before a vowel

6.2
advice is a noun; advise is a verb

6.3
ain’t is non-standard. Use is not (isn’t), etc.

6.4
cite means to quote; sight means to see something, site means to situate or to locate, or the short form for website.

6.5
don’t for do not or dont.

6.6
its is a possessive pronoun; it’s is a contraction for it is.

6.7
than is a conjunction used in a comparison; then is an adverb denoting time.

6.8
there is an adverb specifying a place (going there); their is a possessive adjective (their car); the’re is a contraction of they are (they’re college students).

6.9
to is a preposition that means toward; too means also or excessively; two comes after the number one.

6.10
i before e: relieve, believe

6.11
e before i: receive, deceive

7. EXPRESSIONS TO AVOID AND OTHER
Please read the revised Code of Conduct.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lucie Piché-Cantin,