The Most Common Errors Students Make
The Deadly Sins of Writing
Sentence Structure Deadliest Sins Indicate Weak Knowledge of How
Sentences Work Grammar
Range From Dangerous to Annoying Mechanics
Includes Spelling, Punctuation and Proofing
Types of Errors
Comma Splices Dangerous but not always deadly More than 5 can lower grade
Run-on Sentences Deadlier than comma splices More than 5 can lower grade a couple of
levels Fragments
Deadliest of all More than 5 can result in a failing
grade.
Sentence Structure Errors
Two complete sentences joined by a comma You knew the two sentences belonged
together. But you chose the wrong method to join
them
Comma Splices
I was hungry, I made lunch. Two independent clauses joined by a
comma Commas generally join something that is
a sentence to something that is not.
Comma Splice Example
Find a comma Place finger over comma Read what comes before and after
comma If both are complete sentences, you have a
comma splice. Repeat the process
Shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.
How to Find Comma Splices
Make two sentences Join with semicolon Join with semicolon and connecting wordCoordination Subordination
Comma Splice Fixes
I was hungry. I made lunch Structurally correct
Simplest solution Use as fallback if nothing else works or
comes to mind Not usually the best choice
Can make your writing choppy Can give bad impression
That your sentences lack sophistication. That your sentences lack variety.
Two Sentences
I was hungry; I made lunch. Structurally correct
Ideas must be closely related May not be the best choice
Like periods, semicolons separate rather than join
Semicolon
I was hungry; therefore, I made lunch. Structurally correct Transitional word helps join the
sentences. Better than semicolon alone
Semicolon with Connecting Word
I was hungry, so I made lunch. Use a conjunction to join the two
sentences. If there is a complete sentence on either side
of a conjunction, you must use a comma before the conjunction.
The conjunction coordinates between two equals (independent clauses)
Coordination
Because I was hungry, I made lunch. I made lunch because I was hungry.
One of the sentences has been turned into a dependent clause
If the dependent clause comes first, you will need a comma.
Subordination
I was hungry I made lunch. The fender-bender of writing
Two sentences jammed together without any punctuation whatsoever
Raises doubts about your understanding of how sentences work
Run-On Sentences
Read out loud Gets ear involved
Ear expects certain cues at end of sentence Changes in pitch
Watch out for pauses If you have to stop to figure out what is
going on, there is most likely a problem.
Finding Run-On Sentences
Same as fixing comma splices Two separate sentences Semicolon Semicolon with connecting word Coordination Subordination Throw away and write something
completely different
Fixing Run-On Sentences
Sentences that aren’t all there Missing subject Missing verb Missing complete verb
Lacking auxiliary Missing subject and verb
Fragments
Dependent clause Which Others
Common Types of Fragments
I made lunch. Because I was hungry. A dependent clause cannot stand alone
as a sentence. Often begins with Because Must be connected to an independent
clause
Dependent Clause Fragment
I made lunch. Because I was hungry. Usually can be fixed by connecting to
the sentence before or after it. I made lunch because I was hungry.
Or Because I was hungry, I made lunch.
Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments
He was very hungry. Which is true. Which introduces parenthetical material
If used properly, which will have a comma before it.
Which Fragments
Easy to spot Unless it’s a question, if a sentence
begins with which, it is a fragment. Which car is yours? is okay. Which was true. is not.
Finding Which Fragments
Join to sentence before Don’t forget the comma.
He was very hungry, which is true.
Fixing Which Fragments
Missing subject Went to the store. He went to the store.
Missing verb He very hungry. He is very hungry.
Missing subject and verb At the store. He is at the store.
Other Fragments
Coordination Subordination Series Interrupter Parenthetical Expression
Comma Rules
Uses comma with conjunction that joins independent clauses For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So are
the conjunctions. Think FANBOYS
Coordination
I was hungry, so I made lunch. Use comma if there is a complete
sentence on either side of the conjunction.
I washed the dishes and took out the garbage. Complete sentence on only one side of
the conjunction. Do not use a comma.
Coordination, Continued
Adds conjunctive adverb to an independent clause Turns into dependent clause
Dependent clause must be joined to an independent clause (complete sentence). If dependent clause is left to stand by
itself, it will be a fragment
Subordination
Because I was hungry, I made lunch. The word because turns “I was hungry”
into a dependent clause. If the part that cannot stand alone
(dependent clause in this case) comes first, it must be followed by a comma. Short prepositional phrases are an
exception.
Subordination
I made lunch because I was hungry. If the part that cannot stand alone
(dependent clause in this case) comes last, do not use a comma.
Subordination
Use commas to separate items in a series. I went fishing with Bob, Mary, and Ted.
The comma before the last item is optional. But be consistent.
Series
Is inserted into an otherwise perfectly good sentence. Test: If you remove the interrupter, you
should have a complete sentence left over.
Interrupter
Mary, unfortunately, was drunk last night. Word unfortunately is inserted as a
comment into the middle of a sentence. If you take out unfortunately, you will still
have a complete sentence left: Mary was drunk last night.
You must use a comma on both sides of the interrupter.
Unless at beginning or end
Interrupters
Do you remember, Mary, how drunk you were last night? Interrupters are also used when you
write or speak directly to someone. Again, take out the interrupter, and you
still have a sentence left over: Do you remember how drunk you were last night?
Interrupters
Dates and addresses are also interrupters. On October 6, 1989, Mary Louise Smith
was born. Living in Lillington, NC, has its benefits. His address is 123 Elm Street,
Greensboro, NC, 28325. In every case, a complete sentence is left
over after you remove the interrupter.
Interrupters
Parenthetical expressions contain extra, non-vital information. Also known as nonrestrictive clauses Parenthetical expressions must be set
off by commas on both sides. Unless at the beginning or end of the
sentence
Parenthetical Expressions
Bob, who is 21, wrecked his car yesterday.
Two-part test: If expression is removed, there must be
a complete sentence left. Removing the expression must not
change the fundamental meaning of the sentence.
Parenthetical Expressions
The man who stole my car was arrested. Passes part one of the test.
There is a complete sentence left over when you remove the expression: The man was arrested.
Does not pass part two: Removing the expression changes the
meaning of the sentence. Therefore, do not use commas.
Parenthetical Expressions
Use pronoun who to refer to people. Who is used for both parenthetical and
nonparenthetical expressions. Use that or which to refer to nonpersons.
Use that for nonparentheticals Use which for parentheticals
Parenthetical Expressions
Semicolons Colons Question Marks Quotation Marks
Other Problem Punctuation
When in doubt, cut it out No rule that requires them
Correct usage is simple Only use where you would otherwise use
a period. Ideas in two sentences must be closely
related. Correct: I was hungry; I made lunch. Incorrect: I was hungry; I bought a new
pair of shoes.
Semicolon
Also used in complex series Where one or more of the items contains
a comma I went fishing with Bob, who is 21; Mary,
who is 18; and Fred, who is 30. In this case you must use a comma before
the last item in the series.
Semicolons
Do not capitalize the first word that follows the semicolon. Proper nouns are an exception Bob was hungry; he made lunch.
Capitalization with Semicolons
Introduces something to follow Could be series
But does not have to be Could be a single item
Must have complete sentence before the colon
Colon
I went fishing with: Ted, Mary and Bill. This use of the colon is incorrect.
There is not a complete sentence before the colon
I went fishing with the following people: Ted, Mary and Bill. Correct usage
Complete sentence before the colon
Colon
Capitalization depends on what follows the colon If what follows is a complete sentence,
capitalize the first word. I found the source of the leak: A pipe
was broken.
Capitalization with Colons
If what follows is not a complete sentence, do not capitalize the first word. With the exception of proper nouns I found the source of the problem: a
broken pipe.
Capitalization with Colons
Go at the end of questions Sin of omission
Proofread out loud! Two types of questions
Direct: What time is it? Requires a question mark
Indirect: I wonder what time it is. This is a statement, not a question
Should be followed by a period
Question Marks
In American English, periods and commas always go inside quotation marks “I’m hungry,” Bob remarked. “I’m not
going to wait for dinner.” “I just read Poe’s ‘Annabelle Lee.’”
Quotation Marks
Colons and semicolons always go outside of quotation marks. Mary said she was “too tired”; I think
she was making excuses. There are two reasons I like the poem
“love is”: It captures the essence of love, and it does so by using words we would never associate with love.
Quotation Marks
Location of question marks depends on where the question is located If quoted material is a question,
question mark goes inside. “Where is the restroom?” Bob asked.
Quotation Marks
If question is part of a larger sentence that contains the quote, question mark goes outside. Who said, “It’s hot in here”?
Same rule applies to exclamation points
Quotation Marks
Vague pronouns Pronoun too far from antecedent Pronoun itself is vague
Pronoun–antecedent agreement Pronoun must agree in number with its
antecedent
Pronoun Errors
A substitute noun. He, She, It, They, Them, Their, I, Me,
Mine, You, Yours, etc. Otherwise, you would find yourself saying,
“David woke up and put on David’s slippers, went to David’s bathroom, and brushed David’s teeth.”
Antecedent is noun pronoun refers to Relationship must be clear
What Is a Pronoun?
Pronoun-antecedent relationship unclear Pronoun could refer to more than one
person Mary told her mother that she hated her
hair. Pronoun could be too far from antecedent
Use a noun form every second or third sentence
Vague Pronouns
Watch out for this. A demonstrative pronoun Used when you can point to an object.
This is a pencil. Don’t use this to refer to an abstract
concept. Welfare fraud is a growing problem.
Something must be done about this.
Vague Pronouns
Pronoun, antecedent must agree in number. Each student should turn their work in
on time. Antecedent (student) is singular Pronoun (their) is plural
Make both singular or both plural Students should turn their work in on time. Each student should turn his or her work in
on time.
Pronoun Agreement
Subject and verb must agree in number. One of the boys are going to bed.
Subject (one) is singular. Verb (are) is plural.
Subject-Verb Agreement
One of the boys are going to bed. Prepositional phrase gets in the way
Noun in prepositional phrase is often right next to the verb.
Subject and verb are never in a prepositional phrase.
Say sentence without prepositional phrases. One is going to bed.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Refers back to a noun Cannot be used by itself Myself is the biggest culprit The tickets were given to Dana and
myself. Usage is incorrect because myself does not
refer back to a noun. I hurt myself.
Usage is correct because myself refers back to a proper pronoun I.
Reflexive Pronouns
Taking long way around Subject of sentence becomes object.
Active Voice: I read the book. Subject is I Verb is read Object is the book
Passive Voice: The book was read by me. Object has become subject Sentence picks up two extra words
Passive Voice
Not necessarily bad—unless overused Watch for excess numbers of
present participles Was going, is going, am going, were
going, etc. Avoid using too many prepositional
phrases in a single sentence. Prepositional phrases start with preposition
and end with noun In the car, under the table
Passive Voice
Items in a series must have same grammatical structure. Incorrect: When I grow up I want to be a
doctor, lawyer or teach English. Correct: When I grow up I want to be a
doctor, lawyer or teacher.
Parallel Structure
Trick is to become familiar with the words you misspell Then you can look them up If a dictionary is not available,
substitute a word you can spell. Keep a list of misspellings
Probably won’t be more than 20 words Read over list frequently.
Spelling
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