20 Common Errors in Student Writing

Overview

• Focus on common writing errors to help with peer reviews and personal editing.

1. Wrong Word Error

• Using a word that doesn't mean what you think or doesn't fit the context.
• Example:
  • Wrong: He makes an illusion to modern technology.
  • Correct: He makes an allusion to modern technology.
• Tip: Double-check word meanings in context.

2. Missing Comma After Introductory Element

• Needed to clarify where an introductory word, phrase, or clause ends.
• Example:
  • Without comma: Determined to make their flight on time they rose at dawn.
  • With comma: Determined to make their flight on time, they rose at dawn.

3. Incomplete or Missing Documentation

• Failing to properly cite sources leads to issues like plagiarism.
• Different styles like MLA, APA, etc.
• Essential to cite both direct quotes and paraphrased ideas.

4. Vague Pronoun Reference

• Pronouns like he, she, it should clearly refer to a specific noun.
• Example:
  • Vague: If you put this handout in your binder it may remind you...
  • Clear: If you put this handout in your binder, the handout may remind you...

5. Spelling Errors

• Common despite spellcheckers missing things like homonyms, compound words, and proper nouns.
• Always proofread.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Everywhere she walked she was reminded of him.
  • Correct: Everywhere she walked, she was reminded of him.

6. Mechanical Error Within a Quotation

• Misusing quotation marks and punctuation.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Virginia Wolf argues, "A woman must have money in a room of her own if she's to write fiction.
  • Correct: Virginia Wolf argues, "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she's to write fiction."

7. Unnecessary Comma

• Adding commas where they aren't needed, causing confusion.
• Tips:
  • Don’t use commas around essential information.
  • Don’t use commas to separate subjects and verbs, verbs and objects, or prepositions and objects.

8. Unnecessary or Missing Capitalization

• Misusing or neglecting capitalization rules.
• Capitalize proper nouns, adjectives, the first word of a sentence, important words in titles, and some words for directions/family relationships.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Financial Aid is a pressing concern for many university students.
  • Correct: Financial aid is a pressing concern for many university students.

9. Missing Word

• Omitting words accidentally.
• Tip: Read your work aloud.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Soccer fans the globe rejoiced when...
  • Correct: Soccer fans around the globe rejoiced when...

10. Faulty Sentence Structure

• Switching structures mid-sentence, causing confusion.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: The information that families have access to is what financial aid is available and thinking about...
  • Correct: Families have access to information about financial aid, class availability, and registration.

11. Missing Comma With Non-Restrictive Element

• Failing to set off extra, non-essential information with commas.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: David who loved to read history was the first to head...
  • Correct: David, who loved to read history, was the first to head...

12. Unnecessary Shift in Verb Tense

• Inconsistent tense within a sentence without reason.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Martin searched for a great horned owl, he takes photographs...
  • Correct: Martin searched for a great horned owl, he took photographs...

13. Missing Comma in a Compound Sentence

• Forgetting a comma before a conjunction joining two independent clauses.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Miranda drove her brother and her mother waited at home.
  • Correct: Miranda drove her brother, and her mother waited at home.

14. Missing or Unnecessary Apostrophe

• Misplacing or omitting apostrophes in possessives or contractions.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: Doctors immune systems...
  • Correct: Doctors' immune systems...

15. Fused or Run-On Sentence

• Joining two independent clauses without proper punctuation or connection.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: The house was flooded with light the moon rose above the horizon.
  • Correct: The house was flooded with light because the moon rose above the horizon.

16. Comma Splice

• Joining two independent clauses only with a comma.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: The students rushed the field, they tore down the goals.
  • Correct: The students rushed the field, and they tore down the goals.

17. Lack of Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

• Pronouns should match their antecedents in number and gender.
• Example:
  • Incorrect (now acceptable): Every guest left their shoes...
  • Correct: Every guest left his or her shoes...

18. Poorly Integrated Quotation

• Inserting quotations abruptly, without smooth transitions.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: An award-winning study of friendship, "..."
  • Correct: According to an award-winning study of friendship, "..."

19. Missing or Unnecessary Hyphen

• Misplacing or omitting hyphens in compound adjectives or nouns.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: 18th Century Theater
  • Correct: 18th-Century Theater

20. Sentence Fragment

• Incomplete sentences due to missing subject, verb, or complete thought.
• Example:
  • Incorrect: The American colonists resisted British taxation and started the American Revolution.
  • Correct: The American colonists resisted British taxation and started the American Revolution.