Saint Martin's University

It is our belief that professionalism must begin now. Students who hand in class assignments that have sloppy or hand- written corrections, faulty grammar, incorrect APA style, typographical errors, and so on, will continue to present themselves poorly after graduation. And, when it comes time to prepare evaluations, write letters to courts or other agencies, and send out billing, these students will submit the same quality of material as they hand in as students. Nothing will magically change.

Consequently, we do no student a favor by allowing careless or shoddy work on class assignments. Over years of grading thousands of papers, we have found the same errors again and again (and usually inconsistently within the same paper). We believe that one of our primary responsibilities is to hold students to a high standard of professionalism while in the MAC program. To do less would be irresponsible.

The parent discipline for the MAC Program is, of course, psychology. Consequently, we follow the style guidelines of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. While none of the teachers are consumed by detail, this book is a good guide to ensure standardization of how to present solid psychological ideas in written form. A copy of this manual can be found and consulted in the MAC Office. If you have any questions, feel free to discuss them with any of the MAC faculty.

Below is a list of some of the most common errors we encounter on almost every student paper we read (most examples below were taken from actual student papers).

It becomes difficult to read for content if we are correcting grammar and style errors in every paragraph. We strongly encourage you to consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (without becoming a slave to it). Then, when the paper is as polished as you can make it, ask a fellow student to look your paper over carefully before you hand it in.

Here is the list of common style and grammar errors. You can refer to this (or a printable version) as you prepare your papers and other assignments.

1. Double space everything.

Please don't even hand in anything if it is single spaced. APA style requires all material, including titles and bibliography, to be double spaced (unless otherwise requested by the SMU faculty member). Assignments that are single spaced will immediately lose one letter grade and will be returned to the student to be retyped before further grading.

2. Be consistent in always using a comma before "and" in a series of three or more nouns. Although other styles call for leaving the comma out, APA style calls for commas. (Note that most students use both styles, inconsistently, in the same paper!)

I have a son, a daughter, and a pet - not - I have a son, a daughter and a pet.
You enjoy great food, fast action movies, sex and passion, and a good book (notice that "sex and passion" is only one paired item in a longer string).

3. Distinguish between essential and non-essential clauses. Non-essential clauses are set off with a pair of commas.

The MAC program is a course of study that is fun. (essential clause)
The MAC program, which is fun, is expensive. (non-essential clause)

4. Avoid using second person when referring to a general third person.

I believe that, in this life, people are destined to find happiness - not - I believe that, in this life, you're destined to find happiness.
One (or "people" or "an individual") needs to show compassion to children - not - You need to show compassion to children.
A therapist needs to be careful... - not - You should be careful...

5. Be consistent in plurality and gender. This problem has increased because of the awkwardness of avoiding gender specific references. However, this is no excuse for writing with poor grammar.

An abused child may exhibit some disturbance in his or her later life - not - An abused child may exhibit some disturbance in their later life.
In the MAC program, students are compelled to do their best - not - In the MAC program, one is compelled to do their best.
Neither a man or a woman should ever hit his or her partner - not - A man or a woman should never hit their partner.
Men should treat their wives with respect - not - Men should treat his wife with respect.
A therapist can ask family members what they see as their roles in the family - not - A therapist can ask family members what they see as their role in the family.
My philosophy is that a person needs to find his/her own path in life - not - My philosophy is that a person needs to find their own path in life.
A therapist needs to explore his or her own sexual issues - not - A therapist needs to explore their own sexual issues.
A classic example of incorrect plurality and reference was found in a November 2002 television ad for children's aspirin: "A child should take their medication unless you are specifically told not to by your doctor."
This would be better - You should give your child his or her medication unless you are specifically told not to by his or her doctor.

6. Avoid colloquial expression in technical writing.

I was overwhelmed with work - not - I was up to my butt in work. (This example was drawn from an actual MAC term paper.)
Clients with depression are painful (difficult, a challenge, etc.) to work with - not - Clients with depression are a pain in the neck to deal with.
I didn't want to reward her for angrily running away from (or disrespectfully leaving) her foster home - not - I didn't want to reward her for blowing out of her foster home.

7. Always put commas and periods within any quotation marks (APA style). Put exclamation marks and question marks within the quotes if they pertain only to the quoted material. Otherwise, put them outside the quotation marks.

She felt "locked out." - not - She felt "locked out".
The couples carried on a "dialogue." - not - The couples carried on a "dialogue".
The case study, "Night Terrors," was very interesting - not - The case study, "Night Terrors", was very interesting.
I said, "Are you there?" - not - I said, "Are you there"?
Did I say, "You are there"? - not - "Did I say, "You are there?"

8. An apostrophe in the word "it's" is a contraction for the phrase "it is" and does not show possession. This is a common error because the apostrophe often indicates possession.

Its widespread applicability - not - It's widespread applicability.
It's a problem (even better: "it is a problem") - not - Its a problem.
The mother cat fed its young - not - The mother cat fed it's young.

9. Distinguish carefully between cognition and emotions. In other words, avoid saying "I feel that" when you mean "I think (or judge, conclude, assume, believe, hope, etc.) that." Murray Bowen, an important family systems theorist, has written extensively on the mental health issues of those who are not able to discriminate accurately between a thought or cognition and an emotion. If the word "feel" can be followed by the word "that," it is usually not an emotion.

I concluded that (or "judged that," "thought that," "decided that," "assumed that," or any other word indicating a cognition) he was faced with two clear options - not - I felt that (indicating emotion) he was faced with two clear options.
I thought that this would be correct - not - I felt that this would be correct.
I decided that I should do it - not - I felt that I should do it.
I assume that you're going to argue - not- I feel that you're going to argue.

10. "Mother" (or "father," "uncle," etc.) take upper case when the word substitutes for a proper name and lower case when the word describes a social position. Avoid using "mom" or "dad" instead of "the mother" or "the father" when describing a social position.

When I was little, Mom was there for me - not - When I was little, mom was there for me.
When she was little, the mother was there for her - not - When she was little, the Mom (or even, "the mom") was there for her.
The mother ignored little Suzie - not - The mom ignored little Suzie.

11. Spell check your document before handing it in.

Students have complained that they "can't afford a word processor with a spelling program." Use the Computer Center at SMU (it's free) or, if you definitely can't get access to a computerized spelling program, open a dictionary.

Click here for a printable version of the Common Style Errors (Use your browser's print function)