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