Answers to Owl Chemistry Online

Answers to Owl Chemistry OnlineFor anyone who wishes to learn about the owl chemistry online class, there are a number of things that they need to know. The best way to learn anything is by actually doing it. Owls are a very common symbol in many parts of the world, but it has also become more popular over the last couple of years. There are many reasons for this including the fact that they are considered lucky and well represented on Halloween.The owl can be seen as a creature of grace and is an important symbol in modern culture. Since so many people have taken to this, there are now a lot of different types of owl related tattoos available. They are just one of the many symbols of the owl. These are not only intended to represent the animal in question, but they have also become associated with luck, good fortune and security.One tattoo that many people choose is the owl tattoo on their arm. This is the most common choice, as it has become a great symbol in so many different cult ures. For those who enjoy the older style tattoos, this is also a popular choice. For those who prefer more modern designs, this is also an option.There are many owl tattoos available to choose from. For those who are interested in more traditional designs, they will often find a bird tattoo suitable. Some of the most common tattoo designs include the owl. In addition, they may also find a dragon and many other options. They are also often found with tribal or Celtic artwork.There are many benefits to choosing an owl tattoo as a tattoo. Not only are they symbolic, but they also help to remind people that they are in tune with nature. They are often said to look at the world in an owl's eyes. This is thought to be a symbol of wisdom and can even provide agreat mindset when engaging in certain situations. These tattoos are very popular as they offer such benefits.Those who are interested in learning about the owl chemistry online class will need to make sure that they spend a lot of t ime working on their tattoo before they get it done. There are some tattoo shops that offer lessons, however this is not always the best option. If you are planning on getting a tattoo done, then this is something that you should take care of right away. It should not be rushed.When looking to learn about the owl chemistry online class, there are a number of questions that you will need to ask yourself. First of all, you will need to determine which method will work best for you. There are also a number of different choices that you will need to consider. Remember, the most important thing is to just get the tattoo done so that you can begin to learn about the owl.

3 Steps to Maximize Your Practice Tests

3 Steps to Maximize Your Practice Tests If youre taking the SAT, ACT, GRE, or another standardized test, practice tests are an extremely helpful way to get ready for the actual test day. Practice tests help you become more familiar with the test format, question types, time allotted, and so on. But they are only as effective as you make them out to be! Here are a few ways you can maximize your practice tests. 1. Plan a schedule Map out how youre going to study leading up to the actual test, including and beyond practice tests. Its a great idea to set your test date first so you can work backwards from there. Six weeks of study is common, but you may want to study more or less depending on your study habits, personality, and amount of content on the test at hand. Then, youll want to plan out when to take your practice tests. When you first start out, you may not want to take a full practice test in one sitting. Try a few sections or half of the test to build your stamina. Then, later, plan on taking a whole practice test on a free morning or afternoon. Because they may last up to two or three hours, blocking out a weekend morning works great, as you will have relaxed and rested up. 2. Mimic test center conditions Practice tests are most useful when you are able to simulate the actual test day experience. This will help prepare your mind and body for the real test day. Specifically, follow the time guidelines and dont give yourself more or less time than allotted; youll get a sense of how you work under a certain time pressure. It can be tempting to snack during a practice test, but hold off until the mid-test break that would be scheduled during the real exam, and be sure to eat a good breakfast beforehand (as you also should on test day!). Finally, arrange your environment so that its quiet and orderly: clear a table or desk space, put away all distracting screens, and let any family members know youll be out of touch for a few hours. If desired, you could even go to your local library to take the test, as some libraries have designated quiet rooms that are great for this purpose. 3. Review your answers After finishing a practice test, youll probablyand deservedlyfeel spent. But its still important that you take the time right away to go over skipped or wrong answers, and try to figure out why they ended up that way. Reviewing answers is a great way to figure out what you did wrong, which will ultimately help solidify the correct logic in your mind. If you feel too tired to carefully review everything immediately after the practice test, dont force yourself to keep going. Instead, mark the questions youd like to go over later and then spend the adequate time with them the following day or day after. Dont wait too long to do this, however, as itll be most effective when the test is still fresh in your mind. Test prep is like working on any new skill toward a goal. Youll want to give it the appropriate amount of attention required, make the effort to go the extra mile, and ensure you have practiced to your best potential. The above steps can help you maximize your practice tests and ultimately assist you in reaching those test day goals. (If youre preparing for the SAT or ACT, consider going through some additional lessons and practice problems in the Varsity Tutors SAT Prep Book and ACT Prep Book)!

College Tuition Hikes Easing

College Tuition Hikes Easing With $50,000 colleges and beyond, it only appears as if the cost of college is absolutely skyrocketing. However, new research actually suggests that the total net cost of college (tuition minus scholarships/aid) is decreasing slightly, according to an article in the Washington Post. In the previous few years, colleges have hiked tuition at record rates. But now, colleges are announcing much smaller tuition increases for the 2011-2012 school year. Tuition costs increased rapidly during the Great Recession, but costs are now starting to level out. Tuition costs are decreasing partly because colleges previously received a lot of criticism for record-breaking tuition hikes. Also, colleges are growing increasingly more concerned about their tuition costs, competing with one another to offer a quality education at the best price. Many state governors and colleges board of trustees are opposing significant tuition hikes; some are opposing any tuition increases at all. Other governors and board of trustee members are placing tuition increase or total cost increase caps at certain percentages, meaning they are mandating that colleges cannot increase tuition higher than a certain percentage. The average, national college tuition increase from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012 is 4.5%, marking one of the lowest tuition increases in the past 20 years. Also, financial aid is now increasing faster than tuition prices, which is how the net price of college is decreasing slightly. College may not cost any more for students entering in 2011 than it did five years ago. Stanford University, one of the nations most expensive colleges, recently approved a 3.5% tuition increase for the 2011-2012 school year, increasing its fee to $52,341, with $40,050 of it for tuition. George Washington University, another one of the nations most expensive colleges, announced a 2.9% tuition increase for the 2011-2012 year, and its board of trustees capped the total cost-of-attendance increase at 2.7%.

The 5 Food Groups

The 5 Food Groups Nutrition and the 5 Food Groups ChaptersCarbohydrates or CarbsProteinFatsFruit and VegetablesDiaryLet food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food                                                                                                                   Hippocrates  There is a lot of information out there about nutrition: what we should eat when we should eat it, and what we should avoid, but the wealth of information, especially online, is often confusing.We are constantly bombarded with the latest diet or superfood, and the nutrition we require for our bodies to function at its best seems to change with the latest trend. With so much choice on supermarket shelves today, it is sometimes easy to forget the basics of nutrition. What are the staple nutrients? How much should we eat? Should we buy into the latest superfood? It is okay to feel a little lost and need a little help with the basics.To provide some basic information and help answer these quest ions we can begin with simple government advice.The British Nutrition Foundation lays out the five food groups that, when consumed in the right quantities, means that our bodies will gain the right variation of nutrients. Last updated in March 2016, the government’s Eatwell Guide can act as a foundation to nutrition, helping us to understand how foods are divided and the proportion of carbohydrates, fats, protein, fruit and vegetables, and dairy (although debated) the body needs.There is conflicting advice on whether all the foods depicted in this guide are necessary or as healthy as we are led to believe but here is a breakdown of all the five food groups and possible alternatives that can serve as a simple basis to healthy living.The Eatwell Guide: the 5 food groups important for nutrition (Source: The British Nutrition Foundation)Foods such as nuts, avocados, seeds and unrefined oils are considered good fats and great for our overall health.Fruit and VegetablesThis is the food group that should be eaten in equal measure to carbohydrates. The general advice is to consume five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, but the more you eat, especially in place of unhealthy sugary or salty snacks, the better your overall, general health will be.This food group contains the most diverse source of vitamins and minerals, and sticking to a diet rich in fruit and vegetables will help the body thrive. Fruits and vegetables also keep the immune system strong, helping to protect the body from illness and disease.Let Superprof help you find nutrition courses!DiaryThis food group and the consumption of dairy products has become more and more debated. Dairy is a separate food group due to the body’s need for calcium, a nutrient for healthy teeth and bones. Dairy is rich in calcium and still considered by many as the best source for this nutrient.However, recent research has found that although these products contain calcium, they can also contain high amounts of satur ated fat. Dairy is also the cause of many intolerances and allergies. Consuming large quantities of dairy-based foods including milk, cheese and yoghurt can be harmful to our bodies and overall health in the long term. There is also an ethical debate surrounding dairy farms.Although milk is still a staple in many diets in the UK, people are starting to change their habits. (Source:  Peter Lewicki on Unsplash)Instead, dairy can be replaced by plant-based alternatives even richer in calcium but without the negative impact. Foods such as soy or nut-based milk, seeds, beans and pulses, as well as vegetables including kale and okra, all contain enough calcium to avoid dairy altogether.It is not always easy to understand what our bodies need but having a basic knowledge of the food groups provides a starting point about health and general well-being.Do not forget, these food groups are a guide and finding the perfect quantities to eat is much more subjective. Diet can depend on the lifest yle we lead, our likes and dislikes, and how our bodies react to certain foods.It is also important to read the labels on the back of food packets as the nutritional information is always provided and includes the fat, protein and carbohydrate content as well as any vitamins and minerals it contains. It is also a legal requirement for food manufacturers to show the amount of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt content a product contains on the front of all food packaging.Always try to eat a variety of foods. Do not be afraid to add different herbs and spices to every dish as this not only improves flavour and creates colour, but also provides extra health benefits.Understanding basic nutrition can help us to make healthier choices. (Source:  Brooke Lark on Unsplash)Finally, it is important to eat at least three meals a day to maintain energy; skipping meals will only confuse the body’s process and slow down its metabolism. Healthy snacks such as seeds, nuts and fruit can are great for giving our bodies that extra boost during those busy days.Once we understand the basics of nutrition, we can create meals that not only match our dietary needs but also our taste buds. Don’t be afraid to experiment with food, look up recipes, research cooking methods and have fun in the kitchen; enjoy eating with friends and family.If you want to know more about food and nutrition, why not find a tutor with Superprof. Take a cooking course in your favourite cuisine or just learn the basics. Whatever you want to learn, Superprof has the right tutor.I found a great Superprof nutritionist near me; you can too!

Data Analysis Methods

Data Analysis Methods Everything You Need to Know to Perform an Empirical Analysis ChaptersHypothesis Testing: The Difference Between a Hypothesis and a Null HypothesisMultivariate Methods of AnalysisDependence Multivariate MethodsInterdependence Multivariate MethodsHow to Interpret the R Squared and P-ValueHow to Structure your Analytic ReportIn statistics, there are a vast array of data analysis methods. Data analysis itself is defined by collecting, exploring, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data. This guide will focus on exploratory and modeling methods - meaning, it will give insight on how to get familiar with various types of data in order to decide which tests to perform on your data set.Once your data has been collected, the first step in any sort of analysis of data should be understanding what each of your variables mean and whether they are quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data and qualitative data should be tested and interpreted differently, so it is important to define your variables beforehand. Most statistical software, like SPSS, wil l do this for you automatically. However, it is important to go through each variable yourself to determine what each variable is and why it is of interest to your analysis.One way to help you do this is to conduct an exploratory analysis. The most common way of starting to explore your data is to extract some descriptive statistics. Note that you can get such extraction knowledge from a statistics course. Descriptive statistics can either be reported numerically or by some helpful visualizations. Some examples of numerical reporting can be found in computing the mean, median, and standard deviation. On the other hand, you can also report descriptives visually. Graphical representations of raw data can include bar graphs, pie charts, and correlation tables.Once you’ve conducted this exploratory analysis, you should check if your data meets the assumptions that each test requires. This is a necessary step: understanding the descriptives of your data will help you understand which t ests are appropriate to perform.Data visualization can help you understand your data AisvaryaData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdeyemiData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdenikeData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThanushanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GokhanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OlawaleData Analysis Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AisvaranData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Muhammad umairData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHypothesis Testing: The Difference Between a Hypothesis and a Null HypothesisAs a researcher, there are many approaches to start analyzing your data. Data collection can be a vital part of your project - however, in order to start f orming a research design, it is important to first form a research question based on your observation of a specific population. Most commonly, this research question is given as a hypothesis. Hypothesis testing as we know it today was popularized by statisticians Jerzy Neyman and Egon Pearson in the 1930s. Hypotheses in statistics are normally a statement about a set of data, where hypothesis testing is a research method that tests whether the probability of that statement is true.Coupled with any hypothesis is what is known as a null hypothesis. A null hypothesis is a statement about the sample population that generally states that the different groups you are testing have no relationship with each other.Depending on whether you are performing a quantitative data analysis or a qualitative data analysis, both the hypothesis and null hypothesis will change. In order to decide what question you will ask, it is important to decide which variables are of interest to you.For example, if you are performing an analysis of variance, or ANOVA, your hypotheses would be:H1: the mean of the dependent variable is not the same across all groupsH0: the mean of the dependent variable is the same across all groupsIt might be helpful to test your level in statistical analysis by looking at some online practice problems!Multivariate Methods of AnalysisThere are many different methodologies that can be used when performing multivariate hypothesis testing. The methodology chosen will depend heavily on what type of question you want to solve and what types of variables you have. Depending on what strategy you apply, the objective of your analysis will change. By comparing these different methods, you will be able to choose the right type of statistical test to employ. Where dependence multivariate methods involve hypotheses, interdependence multivariate methods do not deal with hypothesis testing.Analyzing data using multivariate statistical tests AisvaryaData Analysis Teacher 5.0 0 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdeyemiData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdenikeData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThanushanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GokhanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OlawaleData Analysis Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AisvaranData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Muhammad umairData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDependence Multivariate MethodsDependence multivariate methods are powerful analyses that seek to describe the relationship between one or more dependent variables that several independent variables. The most common dependence multivariate methods are:MethodObjectiveHypothesisVariablesMultiple RegressionTo find the relationship between two or more v ariables and use this information to estimate the value of the dependent variable.Hypothesis: the dependent variables have an effect on the independent variable Null Hypothesis: the dependent variables have no effectOne dependent scale variable with multiple scale independent variablesMultivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA)To see if two categorical variables have an effect on two scale variables.Hypothesis: There is an effect of one or both categorical variables on the scale variables. Null Hypothesis: there no effectTwo dependent scale variables and two categorical variablesDiscriminant AnalysisTo identify whether one or more groups are different and on what variables the groups are most different.Hypothesis: the groups are different in terms of the dependent variable Null Hypothesis: the groups are not different in terms of the dependent variableOne dependent categorical variable and two or more independent scale variablesInterdependence Multivariate MethodsInterdependent multi variate methods seek to interpret a set of variables as a group. No distinction is made here between whether one variable is independent or dependent. The most common interdependence multivariate methods are:MethodUseVariablesFactor AnalysisTo condense information if there are many variables in order to reduce many individual variables into a few dimensionsScale or ordinal variablesCluster AnalysisTo assign characteristics to groups of variables so that each group is similar with respect to those characteristics, and the groups themselves are distinctScale or categorical, but interpretation will be more difficult with a mix of variablesHow to Interpret the R Squared and P-ValueWhen dealing with the interpretation of hypotheses, it is important to understand the type of test you have performed. Typically, interpreting the results will follow the way in which the output of your statistical software has displayed the results. Usually, they will summarize these results in tabular form.L et's take multiple linear regression as an example, with weight as the dependent variable and income, diet, and height as the independent variables. The most important reporting values can be found in the R squared value and p-value. Take a look at the table below to see how to interpret each.AspectResultInterpretationHypothesisMultiple Regression where: j represents the number of the dependent variable B signifies the coefficient H1 is Bj does not equal 0 for at least one j H0 is Bj=0H1: Income, diet and height do have an effect on weight H0: Income, diet and height do not have an effect on weightR Squared ValueR2 = 0.6868% of the variability in weight is explained by the independent variables - income, diet and height - in the modelP-valuep = 0.0001With a p-value less than 0.05, at 0.0001, we retain the hypothesis and reject the null hypothesisIt is important to note that, when dealing with the different multivariate methods, the world correlation rarely crops up outside of corre lation tables. Make sure to use the word correlation in your report or paper appropriately.Describe your research methodology in your reportHow to Structure your Analytic ReportWe've all been there: trying to write a conclusion can be surprisingly difficult. However, this frustration can be avoided by structuring your report correctly. Normally, an abstract comes first, which is normally a short summary of the research process written after the research and analysis has taken place.An introduction to your project should follow, as this will provide the contextual framework for your paper. Not only should you describe what your goal is, but also cite other papers rooted in grounded theory. The validity of these papers are important with regards to your own experiment because, by citing these papers, you will be able to provide a content analysis of your own work.Next, if you were the researcher in this process, meaning that you were involved in data collection it is necessary to stat e your methodology. Methodological collection of raw data is varied and can include anything from surveys, tests in a laboratory, or from online databases - which is why it is important to detail how you attained it.The analysis portion of your data will involve everything discussed previously. This section will include the exploratory analysis through structured graphs and tables, as well as the different statistical methods employed on your data. You should state clearly whether or not your variables pass all of the assumptions of the tests you utilize.This portion, where you analyze the results attained from your data, is the core of any paper you write and should be written in an organized and clear manner. Any assumption that is violated or any transformation of a variable should be noted either here or in an appendix, depending on your audience.One easy way to lay this portion out is by making sure to differentiate the most important parts of your analysis from the rest of the paper. This can be done by either highlighting, underlining, or putting these phrases in bold.The last portion of your report should be dedicated to a conclusion. This portion should involve not only a summary of the results from your tests, but also an evaluation of the report itself. Meaning, the report should look at the different ways it could have handled the research process differently and what it could do differently next time. It is also important to add how further research can be performed if and when somebody else wants to run a similar test.If you're looking for some extra explanation or help on this subject, check out some webinars online or search for a tutor!

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 1)

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 1) Improving Academic Performance This is the first in a series of articles about what makes for an effective private tutoring experience. The series will be written such that we assume most of the onus is on the tutor to create a positive experience. And certainly, when a parent or student invests $60, $70, $80, $90 or more per hour for private tutoring, they should expect a mentor and guide throughout the tutoring process. The tutor should certainly be the expert telling the student / parent what to do and providing clear advice. That said, always remember that working with a private tutor is not a silver bullet. You, the student, are still responsible for taking ownership over the relationship, buying into the approaches, strategies, and tactics, putting in the hard work, and ultimately performing well in the class or on the standardized test. At the end of the day, it really is on you, not on the tutor, to perform in the class or on the test. CEOs of huge companies hire high priced private consultants all the time to provide them with advice and ideas, but they are obviously responsible for the performance of the company. No investor, employee, or customer ever really gives credit or blame to a consultant. Similarly, you should expect a lot of focus, ideas, advice, and guidance from a tutor, but you should not plan on giving them much credit or blame if you succeed or fail. The tutoring process is driven by the student’s desire to work hard and improve. So what should you expect when investing in a relationship with a private tutor? Of course, a private tutor should be an expert in the academic area in which you are struggling. Or, at least, they should be an expert relative to your current level of understanding. If you are struggling in pre-calculus, they should have a clear mastery of pre-calculus. I hope this is obvious. But an effective private tutor should be much more than a master of the content, and there are a range of behaviors and actions a parent and/or a student should expect when working with a private tutor. In this article, we’ll share some “best practices” around the tutoring experience. These best practices should double as reasonable “expectations” for a student or parent investing their time and money in working with a private tutor. In my experience, most tutors do not follow each one of these guidelines. But, we try to ensure MyGuru tutors do, or at least try, to follow a clear majority of them. Before the Session Communication and logistics You should expect that the tutor (or tutoring company) gets back to you within 24 business hours of every email you send, text message you write, or phone call you make. In 2017, with the pace of most people’s lives and the ubiquity of smart phones and lap tops, you should not have to wait 48 or more hours in between email responses. If the tutor is unsure of his or her schedule or the company is still in the process of coordinating, you should be receiving an update every day or so. The tutor should be clear in his or her communications about his near and medium-term availability and travel limitations. It is fair to assume that the tutor should accommodate your schedule and, if you are seeking in-person tutoring, travel very close to you. That said, it’s also reasonable to expect that you might need to be flexible on timing and location as well. You shouldn’t be caught off guard that he’s on vacation for a week (as an example). You should be presented with the option to do the session in your home or in a public location. Unless the tutor is clear about travel or logistics limitations, the session should be in a location that’s convenient and comfortable to you. The tutor should initiate the exchange of cell phone numbers and be clear about the exact time, place, and location of the session, as well as his or her physical appearance so you can identify the tutor. You should not feel stress about figuring out where to meet or who to meet on the day of the session. If either party needs to cancel the session, at least 24 hours of notice should be provided. It wreaks havoc on everyone’s schedule when a session is cancelled on short notice. At MyGuru, we have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If the student cancels within that timeframe, they can be charged for the session. If the tutor cancels on very short notice, it’s often reasonable to expect a free session. Preparation and objectives While the tutor should have clear mastery of the material, they should also ask about your assignments, materials, syllabus, and teacher’s approach etc. in advance such that they can familiarize themselves and prepare. Every teacher or professor is different, and reviewing the material, at least briefly, in advance is key to understanding it completely and delivering an effective lesson. It may even be appropriate, as the tutoring experience progresses, for some interaction between the tutor and the teacher to take place, even if indirectly through the student or parent, such that key concepts or approaches can be clarified and explained to the student by the tutor in line with the teacher’s perspective. This understood.org article addresses the importance of tutor, parent, and teacher interaction. The tutor should ask you about your expectations for the session, and proactively establish objectives in advance. You are probably paying by the hour. So, within reason, students shouldn’t spend an entire 1-2 hour tutoring session reviewing only 10% of the questions in their homework. At the same time, if you are missing core conceptual or foundational knowledge to excel in the class, the tutor should communicate this clearly and explain why he or she needs to go slowly. For standardized test prep, objectives can vary widely. Are we diagnosing strengths and weaknesses and focusing on exploring what you need to know for the test, such that we can write out a customized study plan? Or, do you have three specific concepts and a list of missed problems you want to review? Speaking of the development of customized study plans, they are almost always a critical component of a tutoring relationship and a very important objective to be met. Unfortunately, helping students develop customized study plans is a skill that few tutors have really mastered. We too often hear something along the lines of “the sessions were great. But I left without a clear understanding of what to do next on my own. There was no structured plan to follow.” Particularly when it comes to tutoring for standardized tests, a core objective should be to walk away from the session with a study plan. Here is an article that does a good job of discussing the importance of developing a quality study plan. In our next article, we’ll cover what you should expect from a tutor during a session.

Possessive S or OF Learn which to use and why

Possessive S or OF Learn which to use and why English second language learners find this grammar point difficult. The reason is that possessive s is a relatively infrequent form in written English, compared to more frequent forms such as plurals and past tense forms. Infrequent forms are harder to learn. Another reason that possession rules are difficult to learn is that we seem to have a choice between two possible forms: s and of. Possessive s or possessive of When should we use apostrophe + s (s) and when should we use a phrase with of? Many ESL/EFL textbooks provide this simple but unreliable rule: Use s for human nouns and of for nonhuman nouns. according to The Grammar Book, Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999) But this simple rule does not explain why it is more common to hear The works of Shakespeare or Concordia Universitys Applied Linguistic Department. Shakespeare is a human and Concordia University is not. Possessive Form Rules Based on Native Speaker Preferences Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999) address this quandary with research conducted by Khampang (1973) which tested native speakers preferences of the two forms. Here are the rules. RULE: Use the possessive s for animate and of for inanimate nouns (not always reliable) This is the rule that most people learn from their textbooks. Animate means alive. Inanimate means not alive. My wifes sister (animate and therefore correct)The sister of my wife (incorrect)The foot of the bed (inanimate and therefore correct)The beds foot (incorrect)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) The animate/inanimate rule is not always reliable because categories of animate and inanimate are flexible and subject to our impressions and desire to sound informal. RULE: Use a possessive s as the informal form Use the possessive s when you wish to sound less formal. Shakespeares sonnets (informal)The sonnets of Shakespeare (formal)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) When you want to make an institution sound more human-like, use the possessive s form. Concordias Applied Linguistics Department is the best. (less formal)The Applied Linguistics Department of Concordia University was founded (more formal) RULE: Use the possessive s for inanimate nouns doing an action When an inanimate thing acts like an animate being because it is performing an action, you should use the possessive s form. The trains arrival was delayed. (preferred)The arrival of the train was delayed. (not preferred)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) RULE: Use the possessive s for short double possessives Johns sisters boyfriend (preferred)The boyfriend of Johns sister (not preferred)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) RULE: Use the possessive of for longer noun phrases and double possessives He is the son of the well-known politician. (preferred)He is the well-known politicians son. (not preferred)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) What can I do for the husband of Dr. Smiths daughter (preferred)What can I do for Dr. Smiths daughters husband? (not preferred)Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999, p. 315) Use the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker to check your writing for errors. For a list of common errors, try this page. Please follow and like us: