French Proofreading and Editing Tips for Key Problems

French Proofreading and Editing Tips for Key Problems Whether youre checking over French homework, proofreading an essay, or verifying a translation, there are certain key problem areas to watch out for. This is not a definitive list by any means, but it indicates areas of confusion and common mistakes caused by differences between French and English and includes links to more detailed explanations and examples. Before you turn anything in, check the following areas of your work. Vocabulary Watch out for differences in meaning and/or spelling. AccentsMissing and incorrect accents are spelling mistakes. ExpressionsDouble-check your idiomatic expressions. False CognatesMany words are similar in spelling but not in meaning. Spelling EquivalentsStudy these differences between English and French spelling. True CognatesThese words are identical in spelling and meaning. Grammar An endless topic, but here are some typical areas of difficulty. AgreementMake sure your adjectives, pronouns, and other words agree. ArticlesDont forget -   these are more common in French. Clauses    * Conjunctions Use the right kind of conjunction.    * Relative Clauses Be careful with relative pronouns.    * Si Clauses Check that these are set up correctly. GenderMake a real effort to use the correct gender. NegationBe sure to use the best negative structure. QuestionsAre you asking them correctly? Verbs    * Conjugations Ensure that each  conjugation matches its subject.    * Modal Verbs These are quite different in French.    * Prepositions Be sure to follow each verb with the right preposition.    * Tense Mood Are your tenses consistent? Do you need the subjunctive? Word OrderAdjectives, adverbs, negation, pronouns cause positioning problems. Mechanics Written conventions can be very different in French and English. Acronyms/AbbreviationsMake sure you write them the French way. CapitalizationCareful - this is much less common in French. ContractionsThese are optional in English, but required in French. Punctuation NumbersFollow French spacing rules and use the correct symbols.

Proportionate vs. Proportional

Proportionate vs. Proportional Proportionate vs. Proportional Proportionate vs. Proportional By Maeve Maddox Both of these adjectives are based on the noun proportion. The noun proportion can mean â€Å"a part, portion, amount, or percentage† of something. For example, â€Å"He miscalculated the proportion of water to alcohol in the solution.† Proportion can also refer to a balance between two things. For example, â€Å"The king rewarded the knight in proportion to his merit.† Outside certain scientific contexts, the words tend to be used interchangeably. Both mean â€Å"in proportion.† Nevertheless, some speakers perceive a difference between proportional in reference to â€Å"amount or percentage† and proportionate to mean â€Å"comparable, equivalent, or analogous.† The US Senate would be proportional in terms of the US population if it were made up of 50 men and 50 women. When someone initiates an attack against you, a proportionate response will be one that equals but does not exceed the original attack in severity. Here are some recent examples from the Web: Benin’s Military Manual (1955) requires respect for the principle of proportionality. According to the manual, â€Å"a military action is proportionate if it does not cause loss or damage to civilians which is excessive in relation to the expected overall result.† A windmills noise is directly proportional to the speed of its rotor tips.   Your  proportionate  share of production from a well is calculated based on the net acres you own in the spacing unit. Unlike a real roulette wheel the sections are different sizes, proportional to the individuals fitness, such that the fittest candidate has the biggest slice of the wheel and the weakest candidate has the smallest.   The adverbs for proportionate and proportional are proportionately and proportionally. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Email EtiquetteHow to Punctuate Introductory Phrases