Key to Instructor's Notes

For more discussion and examples, consult a college English handbook such as Troyka, Quick Access: Reference for Writers.  

Symbol        Problem            Solution

APE        Apostrophe. Eliminate or add apostrophe sign. Except for acronymns (ATMs), the apostrophe does not form plurals. It  forms the possessive.  Here, the pronoun is already possessive and needs no apostrophe: Clytie thinks about the village and its inhabitants.

AGR    Subject-verb or pronoun-antecedent should agree in person and number. Problem: A group of  residents watch Clytie. Solution: A group of  residents watches Clytie. Note: the subject is the singular noun group. Problem:  Each resident has their own attitude towards Clytie. Solution: All the residents have their own attitudes towards Clytie. 

AWK    Awkward sentence structure or phrasing. Problem: As far as  theme, the story is like "I don't want to be alone."  Solution: The story's theme is loneliness.

BC        Be Concise. Eliminate words or rephrase more concisely. Problem:  In Welty's story called "Clytie," she develops the theme of identity. Solution: Welty's story "Clytie" develops the theme of identity.

CD       Comma Delete. Omit comma. Welty's story entitled,  "Powerhouse" re-creates the world of blues music. No comma after long subject: Welty's short story about a woman imprisoned in rural isolation, is called "Clytie."

CL         Use colon.  Problem: Clytie has many mouths to feed; Solomon and Gerald, for example.  Use the colon to introduce a list or statement. Do not use the semi-colon between and independent and dependent clause. Solution: replace  semi-colon with colon (or with comma).

CN        Comma Needed. Problem: Cash is therefore, a new hope for Clytie. Solution: Cash is, therefore, a new hope for Clytie.

CS        Comma Splice.  Problem: Welty's eponymous character Powerhouse is independent; he creates his band's spiri. Solution: Welty's eponymous character Powerhouse is independent; he creates his band's spirit. To correct a comma splice, replace the comma with a semi-colon.

FG        Sentence fragment. Problem: Clytie sees truth in the rain barrel. Although she may not understand at first. Solution: Clytie sees truth in the rain barrel, although she may not understand at first. 

PR        Pronoun Reference. Make sure your reader knows what the pronoun refers to. Problem: Clytie and Olivia depend on each other. She needs her  help. Solution: Clytie and Olivia depend on each other. Olivia needs her help.

RD        Redundant. Says same thing twice. Problem: continue on, grab hold of, go ahead and enter your PIN. Solution. Cut out unnecessary words: continue, grab, enter your PIN.

T            Keep tenses consistent. Problem: Olivia wants to control Clytie; she told Clytie what to eat. Solution Use the historical present tense: Olivia wants to control Clytie; she tells Clytie what to eat.

VGE     Vague, general, and thus not clear.  This is a story about certain shifts in events, causing the main  character to make life adjustments.

WC      Word choice. Problem: Eudora Welty was a notorious Mississippi writer. Solution:  Eudora Welty was a well known Mississippi writer.  

?          What? Reader cannot understand this section. You will need to rephrase until you know that the  reader will understand you.