The Writing Centre HyperGrammar

• The Parts of Speech
  • What is a Verb?
  • What is a Noun?
  • What is a Pronoun?
  • What is an Adjective?
  • What is an Adverb?
  • What is a Preposition?
  • What is a Conjunction?
  • What is an Interjection?
  • Review: Parts of Speech?
• The Parts of the Sentence
  • Subject and Predicate
  • Objects and Complements
  • Review: the Subject
  • Review: the Predicate
  • Review: Parts of the Sentence
• Punctuation
  • The Comma
  • Review: The Comma
  • The Semicolon
  • The Colon
  • End Punctuation
  • Quotation Marks
  • The Apostrophe
  • The Dash
  • Review: Indentifying Punctuation Errors
  • Review: Adding Punctuation
• Using Pronouns
  • Pronoun Reference
  • Review: Pronoun Reference
  • Tricky Points of Pronoun Usage
• Using Verbs
  • Compound Verbs
  • Auxiliary Verbs
  • Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
  • Review: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
  • Linking Verbs
  • Review: Linking Verbs
  • Verbals
  • Forming and Using Verb Tenses
  • Review: Verb Tense
  • Frequently-Confused Verbs
  • Review: Frequently-Confused Verbs
  • Using Verb Tenses
  • Using Verb Tenses in Sequence
  • Using Verb Moods
  • Review: Verb Mood
• Modifiers
  • Using Adverbs and Adjectives
  • Using the Comparative and Superlative
  • Review: Adverbs and Adjectives
  • Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
  • Review: Identifying Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
  • Review: Fixing Misplaced Modifiers
• Building Phrases
  • The Function of Phrases
  • Review: Phrase Functions
• Building Clauses
  • Recognising Clauses
  • Review: Identifying Clauses
  • Using Clauses as Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs
  • Review: Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses
• Building Sentences
  • Why Sentence Structure Matters
  • The Structure of a Sentence
  • Review: Sentence Structure
  • The Order of a Sentence
  • The Purpose of a Sentence
  • Review: Sentence Usage
• Writing Paragraphs
  • Start with an Outline
  • Writing Topic Sentences
  • Review: Topic Sentences
  • Dividing your Argument
  • Review: Dividing your Argument
  • Developing Unified and Coherent Paragraphs
  • Review: Paragraph Development
• Diction
  • Catch Phrases
  • Connotations and Denotations
  • Review: Diction
• Spelling
  • Spelling words with "ei" and "ie"
  • Review: "ei" and "ie"
  • Spelling final "y" before a suffix
  • Review: final "y" before a suffix
  • Final Silent "e"
  • Review: Final Silent "e"
  • Spelling Words with Double Consonants
  • Review: Double Consonants
• Miscellaneous Topics
  • The Thesis Statement
  • Word Formation
  • Apposition
  • Noun and Pronoun Characteristics
• Copyright and Terms of Use

Decide whether the highlighted word or phrase in each of the following examples is appropriate for use in an academic essay.

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1. Bleeding-heart liberals have caused Canada's debt problems.

   1. This phrase is appropriate
   2. This phrase is inappropriate

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2. The "sacred heart" is a common depiction of Jesus.

   1. This phrase is appropriate
   2. This phrase is inappropriate

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3. The Internet has become very successful over the past two years.

   1. This phrase is appropriate
   2. This phrase is inappropriate

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4. In 1812, General Brock was the hero of the day.

   1. This phrase is appropriate
   2. This phrase is inappropriate

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5. The government will slash spending by three billion dollars.

   1. This phrase is appropriate
   2. This phrase is inappropriate

 

Written by David Megginson

 

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