Key to Common Writing Errors

1. Run-on sentence – when two complete sentences are strung together without a conjunction.

· Example: It’s really hot today I should have worn shorts.

· Correction: It’s really hot today, so I should have shorts.

2. Comma splice – a run-on sentence where a comma is used to string together two complete sentences without a conjunction.

· Example: It’s really hot today, I should have worn shorts.

· Correction: It’s really hot today, so I should have worn shorts.

3. Sentence fragment – a sentence that lacks either a subject or a verb.

· Example: 1) Trees so tall they seemed to touch the sky. 2) Running down the hill as fast as she could.

· Correction: 1) The trees were so tall they seemed to touch the sky. 2) She was running down the hill as fast as she could.

4. Missing comma – when a comma is necessary to clarify the meaning of the sentence

· Example: Marcia Uncle George’s daughter was never on time for anything.

· Correction: Marcia, Uncle George’s daughter, was never on time for anything.

5. Unnecessary comma – when a comma is not necessary and confuses the meaning of a sentence

· Example: Rachel, went shopping last week and bought a new dress.

· Correction: Rachel went shopping last week and bought a new dress.

6. Possessive/plural confusion – incorrectly using the possessive form of a noun to indicate a plural noun, or vice versa

· Example: 1) There are three grocery store’s in this neighborhood. 2) It was Kurts turn to take out the trash.

· Correction: 1) There are three grocery stores in this neighborhood. 2) It was Kurt’s turn to take out the trash.

7. Possessive noun error – incorrect placement of the apostrophe and/or “s” in using possessive nouns

· Example: 1) Charles’ hat was on the floor. 2) The boys’s hats were on the floor.

· Correction: 1)Charles’s hat was on the floor. 2) The boys’ hats were on the floor.

8. Its/It’s confusion – mixing up the contraction “it’s” with the plural “its”

· Example: 1) Its amazing how many people make this mistake. 2) The dog dropped it’s bone and started growling.

· Correction: 1) It’s amazing how many people make this mistake. 2) The dog dropped its bone and started growling.

9. Capitalization error – incorrectly capitalizing (or not capitalizing) a word.

· Example: 1) The girl was very Excited to be going to the movies. 2) She invited marcus to go with her.

· Correction: 1) The girl was very excited to be going to the movies. 2) She invited Marcus to go with her.

10. Subject-verb agreement error – when the subject (or noun) and the verb do not agree in number.

· Example: Mary’s children and their toys is always messing up the front yard.

· Correction: Mary’s children and their toys are always messing up the front yard.

11. Noun-pronoun agreement error – when nouns and pronouns do not agree in number.

· Example: Each student should bring their book to class.

· Correction: Each student should bring his book to class. (or: Each student should bring her book to class.) – This is a very common error when the noun (in this case “student”) lacks a specific gender – writers tend to use the plural pronoun (“their”) to avoid having to choose “his” or “her” or the awkward “his/her.”

12. Wrong word – when one word is confused with another.

· Example: 1) Students should bring there books to class. 2) Grace is prettier then Jessica is. 3) The movie effected me more than I expected it to.

· Correction: 1) Students should bring their books to class. 2) Grace is prettier than Jessica is. 3) The movie affected me more than I expected it to.

13. Tense shift – tenses must be consistent within sentences and paragraphs; PRESENT TENSE should be used in analysis.

· Example: The protagonist chooses to marry the dentist, but then she decided it was the wrong decision.

· Correction: The protagonist chooses to marry the dentist, but then she decides it is the wrong decision.

14. Wordiness – using more than the necessary number of words to say what needs saying.

· Example: The fact of the matter is that the protagonist was more than a little bit upset about the way just about everyone wasn’t paying her very much attention.

· Correction: The protagonist was upset that she wasn’t getting much attention.

15. Vague pronoun reference – when pronouns used in a sentence could refer to more than one noun, or to no one at all.

· Example: Allison and Tyffany decided to go to the mall and she told her they had to be back before nightfall.

· Correction: Allison and Tyffany decided to go to the mall and Allison told Tyffany they had to be back before nightfall.

16. Spelling error – when a word is misspelled

17. Typo or formatting problem – when uncaught formatting errors detract from your essay (the result of failure to proofread!)