Common Errors

1. Common Errors In Writing

2. Most Common Errors • Point of View • Shifts in Point of View and Tenses • Pronoun Antecedent Agreement • Pronoun Reference • Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions

3. Point of View POV Focus • 1st person I On Writer • 2nd person You On Reader • 3rd Person Nouns On Subject

4. Shifts • Point of View Shifts I: The most important decision I make is my career choice. You need to pick a career that you like. C: The most important decision I make is my career choice. I need to pick a career that I like.

5. Shifts • Tense Shifts • I: Telephone marketers always call when we were eating. • C: Telephone marketers always called when we were eating. • C: Telephone marketers always call when we are eating.

6. Pronoun/Antecedents • Pronouns take the place of nouns(antecedents) • Pronouns must agree in person and number (singular or plural) I: A teacher should explain their assignments. C: Teachers should explain their assignments.

7. Pronoun Reference • Avoid Vague Pronouns • This, that,or which - should have a specific noun that it replaces • You, it, or they - should have a specific noun that it replaces I: In Hollywood, they don’t know what movies to make. They = ? Movie directors I: It is well known that sunscreen prevents skin cancer. It = ?

8. Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions • FANBOYS - For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so • These words connect two independent clauses. • Always us a comma before a coordinating conjunction. • I like ice cream, and I eat it everyday.