The 20 Most Common E rrors in Writing

The 20 Most Common Errors in Writing Part I

PresentedbyThe Regent University Writing Center Adapted from “The Everyday Writer” Author: Andrea Lunsford St. Martin’s Press http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everyday_writer3e/20errors/default.asp

Contents PART 1: • Commas • Pronouns • Possession, Contractions, and Plural PART 2: • Words and Word Endings • Tense and Person • Prepositions • Sentence Structure • Subject-verb agreement

Error #1: Missing comma after introductory element

Definition • An introductory element can be a word, a clause, or long phrase that modifies the rest of the sentence in some way. It comes before the subject and the verb of the sentence and needs to be followed by a comma.

Examples of Introductory Elements • Therefore, Thus, However, Nevertheless, Correspondingly, Contrastingly, Consequently, Furthermore, Moreover • In addition, Also, On the other hand, For instance, First, Finally, In sum, As a result • In the end, Then, Now, Besides, As a result, For example, Next, Of course, Otherwise, Still

Examples of Error #1:Missing comma after introductory element • X After the movie we went to the park. •  After the movie, we went to the park. • X Later Peter came to pick me up. •  Later, Peter came to pick me up. • X Under the table that came from my grandmother the dust slowly built up. •  Under the table that came from my grandmother, thedust slowly built up.

Error #2: Missing comma in a compound sentence

Definition • When two sentences are joined together by a coordinating conjunction (such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so. . . “f-a-n-b-o-y-s”), there must be a comma before the conjunction.

Examples of Error #2:Missing comma in a compound sentence • X Tina read Frankenstein but she didn’t enjoy it as much as The Scarlet Letter. •  Tina read Frankenstein, but she didn’t enjoy it as much as The Scarlet Letter. • X Frank’s parents emigrated from Europe and his stepfather came from Australia. •  Frank’s parents emigrated from Europe, and his stepfather came from Australia.

Error #3: Missing comma with a non-essential element

Definition • A non-essential element is a phrase or a clause that elaborates on the noun preceding it but does not significantly change the meaning of the sentence. It is offset by commas.

Examples of Error #3:Missing comma with a non-essential element • X Peter the oldest child enjoys listening to the radio. •  Peter, the oldest child, enjoys listening to the radio. • X The train which rattled past the window woke up the whole family. •  The train, which rattled past the window, woke up the whole family. • X My aunt introduced her best friend whose name is Sarah. •  My aunt introduced her best friend, whose name is Sarah.

Error #4: Lack of comma in a series

Definition • In academic writing, there is a comma before the last item in a series of three or more.

Examples of Error #4:Lack of comma in a series • X My favorite speakers at Regent University have been Ravi Zacharias, Father Francis McNutt, Bob Biehl and Alan Keyes. •  My favorite speakers at Regent University have been Ravi Zacharias, Father Francis McNutt, Bob Biehl, and Alan Keyes. • X At the Writing Center, coaches help students with topic selection, organization, sentence structure, grammar, proofreading and style. •  At the Writing Center, coaches help students with topic selection, organization, sentence structure, grammar, proofreading, and style.

Error #5: Unnecessary comma with an essential element

Definition • An essential element is a phrase or clause that elaborates on or defines the preceding noun. The essential element is NOT offset by commas because it significantly changes or enhances the meaning of the sentence, and using commas indicates that it is not essential.

Examples of Error #5:Unnecessary comma with an essential element • X The pizzas, that had only cheese, were on sale. •  The pizzas thathad only cheese were on sale. • X The bike, that cost $2000, was left out in the rain. •  The bike that cost $2000was left out in the rain.

That vs. Which • Essential (that): • The pizzas thatare on sale are the ones to buy. The sentence above indicates a specific kind of pizza is to be purchased. • Non-essential (which): • The pizzas, which are on sale, are the ones to buy. The sentence above indicates that pizzas—as opposed to other foods—should be purchased. The fact that they’re on sale is incidental (non-essential). Non-essential information is “by the way” information, or FYI information.

An Addendum to Error#5: Subordinate Clauses

Definition • A main clause makes a complete statement and can stand alone as a sentence. (These appear on the Sentence Variety Chart as SV.) • A subordinate clause is just like a main clause except that it begins with a subordinating word (i.e. after, although, as, because, even though, since, so that, unless, where, while, whose, etc.). (LB Brief, p. 213)

Examples of Subordinate Clauses The Comma Rule: 1. SV sub SV. or2. Sub SV, SV. • We changed this PowerPoint whenwe saw how students struggled. • Whenwe saw how students struggled, we changed this PowerPoint. • Even though he knew it was wrong, he placed a comma there. • He placed a comma there even though he knew it was wrong.

Food for Thought • Subordinate Clauses are connected to essential clauses becausethe sentences are essentially connected by the subordinating term. As such, the audience needs both aspects to comprehend the author’s full intent. • Can you see the point asit’s been stated? Now, can you reverse the structure of the underlined sentence with the correct punctuation?

Error #6: The comma splice (also known as “the big No-No”)

Definition • A comma splice is the joining of two sentences with only a comma and no conjunction, subordinate clause, or transitional phrase. In this case, a semi-colon or period would be an appropriate form of punctuation.

Examples of Error #6:The comma splice • X There was a bend in the road, the driver hit the brakes. •  There was a bend in the road; the driver hit the brakes. • X The cat jumped, the dog barked. •  The cat jumped. The dog barked. • X The professor handed out the exam, the students took out their pencils. •  The professor handed out the exam, and the students took out their pencils.

Error #7: Vague pronoun reference

Definition • A pronoun* is vague when it does not clearly refer to a person or object preceding it. *Example: he, she, it, they, them, her, him, etc.

Examples of Error #7:Vague pronoun reference • X Hal and Jacob camped out in his backyard. •  Hal and Jacob camped out in the backyard. • X They announced that their time was up. •  The teachers announced that the students’ time was up. • X As the plane landed on the aircraft carrier, its crew cheered. •  As the plane landed on the aircraft carrier, the flight crew cheered.

Error #8: Pronoun agreement error

Definition • This error occurs when a pronoun does not agree in case and/or number with the noun to which it refers.

Examples of Error #8:Pronoun agreement error • X The traveler sunbathed near the ocean while their friends surfed nearby. •  The traveler sunbathed near the ocean while his friends surfed nearby. • X While people should avoid speeding, you sometimes have to in order to make it to work on time. •  While people should avoid speeding, they sometimes have to in order to make it to work on time. • X When dealing with depression, one should seek counseling even though they may feel awkward at first. •  When dealing with depression, one should seek counseling even though he or she may feel awkward at first.

Error #9: It’s v. Its error

Definition • Be careful to use the correct word. Its shows possession, whereas It’s is a contraction for it is. Contractions should not be used in academic writing.

Examples of Error #9:Its/It’s error • X The dog, uncertain of how to behave in front of an audience, started to howl and chase it’s tail. •  The dog, uncertain of how to behave in front of an audience, started to howl and chase its tail. • X Its cruising past my window right now. • It’s/It is cruising past my window right now.

Error #10: Possessive apostrophe error

Definition • An apostrophe can be used to show possession and to indicate a missing letter in a contraction.

Examples of Error #10:Possessive apostrophe error • X A sea turtles’ speed on land is nothing compared to a cheetah. • A sea turtle’s speed on land is nothing compared to a cheetah. • X Jame’s car collided with Tess minivan. • James’car collided with Tess’minivan. • X The tourists itinerary included an evening at the opera. •  The tourists’itinerary included an evening at the opera.

End of Part I

Error #11: Incorrect word choice

Definition • This occurs when writers use a word that closely resembles another word in spelling or pronunciation.

Examples of Error #11:Incorrect word choice • X Grandma was strongly effected by the movie. •  Grandma was strongly affected by the movie. • X The war film dealt with a soldier’s loss of innocents. •  The war film dealt with a soldier’s loss of innocence.

Error #12: Wrong/missing inflected ending

Definition • An inflected ending consists of a letter or letters added to the end of a word to show various characteristics. The most common examples are –s endings on nouns, which make them plural, and –ed and –ing endings on verbs.

Examples of Error #12:Wrong/missing inflected ending • X I was suppose to write an email to my mother. •  I was supposedto write an email to my mother. • X I am use to long trips. •  I am usedto long trips. • X I go run twice per week. •  I go runningtwice per week.

Error #13: Wrong/missing preposition

Definition • Using the wrong preposition* changes the meaning of the sentence or the relationship between the subject and object of the sentence. *A preposition is a word that identifies direction, placement, or the relationship between the subject and object of the sentence. Some examples of prepositions include on, in, under, through, around, with, for, to, from, by, etc.

Examples of Error #13:Wrong/missing preposition • X We should not take credit from other people’s work. • We should not take credit forother people’s work. • X The students decided to live at the dorms on campus. • The students decided to live inthe dorms on campus.

Error #14: Wrong tense or verb form

The 20 Most Common E rrors in Writing