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RHETORICAL SKILLSCORRECT:In designing the new science building, thearchitects overlooked the venting system.8. MISUSE OR OVERUSE OF SEMICOLONThe semicolon can be used as a "weak period" to separateclosely related sentences. It cannot be used to separatea subordinate clause or a phrase from the mainsentence.WRONG:According to the Labor Bureau; more women areworking today than ever.REVISED:According to the Labor Bureau, more women areworking today than ever.The semicolon cannot be used to introduce a series.WRONG:Most instructors have heard the standard reasonsfor not finishing a paper on time; a death in thefamily, illness, a sudden rush at the workplace.REVISED:Most instructors have heard the standard reasonsfor not finishing a paper on time: a death in thefamily, illness, a sudden rush at the workplace.Overuse of the semicolon leads to over-coordinated sentencesand ideas. Use the semicolon only to join coordinatedelements. Avoid using it too often; instead, use theprinciples of subordination.9. PROBLEMS WITH VERB TENSEThe choice of the appropriate tense usually presents fewproblems in papers of students who are native speakersof English. Those problems that do occur usually involvethe use of the present tense in a special sense or uses ofthe perfect tenses.The present tense generally signifies action at the timethe subject is speaking, as in Fritz knows the answer or /am making your eggs right this moment. It is also used ina few special cases.To indicate recurring or habitual actionThe college police generally use common sense.The train in Switzerland always runs on time.To state a universal or timeless or general truthThe sun is the source of all energy.The perfect tenses all use the helping verb have in theirformation in conjunction with the past participle of theverb. It is in the identification of the past participle thatstudents slip. Here are the principal parts of some particularlytroublesome verbs in this regard:Infinitiveto ariseto bidto chooseto speakto sinkto driveto rideto hang (suspend)to hang (execute)to tearto wearto shaketo standto stealto springto swimto throwto goto drinkto sitto setPresentTensearisebidchoosespeaksinkdriveridehanghangtearwearshakestandstealspringswim.throw90drinksitsetPastTensearosebidchosespokesankdroverodehunghangedtoreworeshookstoodstolesprangswamthrewwentdranksatsetPastParticiplearisenbidchosenspokensunkdrivenriddenhunghangedtornwornshakenstoodstolensprungswumth rowngonedrunkIf you have had trouble with verb forms in the past, practicethe use of these forms, particularly in forming perfecttenses, because that process is where most students makeverb errors.A good way to practice is to spend some time formingperfect tenses for each of the verbs listed, using the modelsbelow:PersonSingular1youhe, she, itPluralweyoutheyPRESENT PERFECT TENSEHelping VerbhavehavehashavehavehavesatsetPast ParticipleThe early bird gets the worm.To discuss or recapitulate action occurring in literature,plays, filmIn Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff really lovesCatherine Earnshaw.In the Old Testament, Abraham prepares tosacrifice his only begotten son, Isaac.To indicate future timeRemember that Spring Break comes early this year.PersonSingular1youhe, she, itPluralweyoutheyPAST PERFECT TENSEHelping Verb Past Participlehadhadhadhadhadhad