College Essay Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb

College Essay Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb

Ah, the college essay. There will be many dozens of these in your future as a college or university student. So the best plan is to learn some simple tricks (rules) that will keep you from looking dumb when you write them!

• It’s or Its? This is the number one mistake that students make on their college essays. Hard to believe, right? Its true! (Did you catch it? It’s true!). Your computer spell check is NOT going to catch this one either. So learn this: “It’s” is a contraction for it is. Try reading your sentence out loud and substituting it is for your word. If it sounds goofy, then chances are good the correct choice is “Its.”
• Your or You’re? Another example of confusing a possessive pronoun with a contraction in your college essays. “Your” goes in front of something you own – “your computer” or “your essay.” “You’re” is a contraction for you are. Do the read out loud trick. If you are not sure which one to use, you will hear which one is correct.
• There or Their? Sometimes this mistake in college essays is simply a typo. All the more reason to rely on your brain rather than the spell check! “There” can be used in many ways. However, “their” always means more than one person and they own something. For example, “They went there on vacation, and spent all their money.”
• Effect or Affect? This is a tough one even for the most seasoned writers. Despite the propensity of the media and others mixing these two, there is a distinct difference. “Effect” is a noun. Think back to elementary school and recall that a noun is a person, animal, place, thing, or idea. If that fits your sentence, then “effect” is the correct choice. “Affect” is a verb. Flashback again and recall that verbs indicate an action, event or state.

Learn these four simple points and the scores you receive on your college essays will improve. If you are not sure, ask someone. A tutor, professional writer, or even your professor can assist with these and other types of mistakes. Avoid them and you won’t look dumb!