Write for Business - Blog

Shift in person is improperly mixing first, second, or third person within a sentence.

Customers can pay for the items when ordering or when you receive them.
(The sentence shifts from third person, customers, to second person, you.)

You can pay for the items when ordering or when you receive them.
(Both subjects remain in second person.)

Customers can pay when ordering or when they receive the items.
(Customers, a third person plural noun, requires a third person plural pronoun, they.)

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 326, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 76)

Shift in number is using both a singular and plural pronoun to refer to the same person or group.

When people get special training, he or she should share what they have learned with their coworkers.
(The sentence shifts from the single pronouns he or she to the plural pronoun they.)

When people get special training, they should share what they have learned with their coworkers.
(The sentence now contains the plural forms people and they.)

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 326, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 76)

Waist is the part of the body between the rib cage and the hips. As a verb, waste means "to use carelessly" or "to cause to lose energy." As a noun, waste refers to either a worthless by-product or an act of wasting.

"Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both."
- Benjamin Franklin

One's waist size is largely a function of diet and exercise.

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 301, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 51)

Vary is a verb meaning "to change"; very is an adverb meaning "to a high degree."

When you vary the speed like that, you take a very great risk.

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 301, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 51)

A shift is an improper change in structure midway through a sentence. This includes such things as shifts in number, shifts in person, shifts in tense, shifts in voice, and unparallel construction. Watch for future posts detailing each.

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 326, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 76)