Self-Study Guide
Avoiding Usage Errors
​in Engineering and Science
​

Usage refers to the way that we use words. For example, when is it proper to use affect as opposed to effect? Likewise, when should you select continual and when you choose continuous? With technical reports and journal papers, another challenge for usage concerns the correct verb tense--for instance, whether to select "The results showed..." as opposed to "The results show...." Still another important aspect of usage for engineers and scientists is whether to use numerals or to write out numbers. 
If you selected all of the correct answers on the Kahoot, congratulations. You have finished the guide​. However, if you missed questions, work through the films and quizzes below. Note: On a retake of the diagnostic, you should add a "2" to your Kahoot name.​
If you did not know the proper usage of some words in the Kahoot, then use the usage guide [4] to learn how to use those words. Afterwards, take the two review quizzes on word choices.
Commonly Confused Words
affect             effect
amount         number
compose       comprise
continual      continuous
​farther          further
fewer             less
its                   it's
lead                led
principal       principle
that                which
Words Often Used Incorrectly
hopefully       does not mean "it is hoped that"
plethora         means "too many"
​simplistic       means "too simple"
​
Nonsensical Expressions
center around              should be "center on"
irregardless                   should be "regardless"
​is comprised of            should be "is composed of"
peaked my interest     should be "piqued my interest" 
If you struggled with questions on either verb agreement or verb tense, view Films 8 and 9 and then take the review quiz on verb agreement and tense.

Film 8. Verb agreement in scientific writing.


Film 9. Verb tense in scientific documents.
If you struggled with the questions on expressing numbers, view Film 10 and take the review quiz on expressing numbers.

Film 10. Expressing numbers in scientific documents.
If you struggled with questions on possessives, view Film 11 and then take the review quiz on possessives.

Film 11. Possessives in scientific writing.
Picture
Penn State students can earn a credentialing
badge with this guide (click badge for details).
Acknowledgments

This self-study guide was made possible by funds provided by the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Providing technical assistance on the films is the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College of Engineering at Penn State. 
Role
Name
Department
Institution
Faculty Editor
Professor Michael Alley
College of Engineering
Penn State
Film Editor
Casey Fenton
Office of Digital Learning
Penn State
Film Editor
Elaine Whitmer
Office of Digital Learning
Penn State
Student Editor, 2022
Olivia Brencovich
Mechanical Engineering
Penn State
Website Editor, 2021-22
Marissa Beighley
Computer Science
Penn State
​References
  1. Peg Tyre, "The Writing Revolution," The Atlantic Monthly (October 2012), pp. 99-100.
  2. Catherine Walker, "Time to Stop Avoiding Grammar Rules," The Guardian (September 2012).
  3. Tessa Schlesinger, "Why Grammar Matters," Owlcation (7 September 2017). 
  4. Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (New York: Springer, 2018), Appendices A, B, and C.
  5. Cheryl Glenn and Loretta Gray, The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, 5th ed. (Boston: Cengage Learning, 2012).
  6. William A. Sabin, The Gregg Reference Manual: A Manual of Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting, 11th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010).
  7. Theodore Bernstein, The Careful Writer, 2nd ed. (New York: Free Press, 1995).
Please feel free to provide comments, questions, and suggestions for the films, text, and quizzes of this website. To help us understand your feedback, please let us know whether you are a student or faculty member (or other professional).