Writing skills common writing errors
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This document discusses common writing errors including sentence fragments, comma splices, fused sentences, and subject-verb agreement issues. It provides examples and explanations of each error type as well as recommendations on how to correct them such as using conjunctions, semicolons, or separating clauses into individual sentences. Subject-verb agreement errors may occur with compound subjects, collective nouns, or when intervening phrases create confusion around the true subject.
Writing skills common writing errors
- 1. Writing Skills Common Writing Errors
- 2. Common Writing Errors • Complete sentence versus sentence fragment • A complete sentence or main clause contains a subject and a verb and is not a subordinate clause • A sentence fragment lacks one or both of the essential elements of a sentence: • lacks a predicate or verb • lacks a subject or noun • is a subordinate clause not attached to a complete sentence
- 3. Common Writing Errors • Complete sentence versus sentence fragment • Very often the subject is missing (like writing in bullets): Interviewed the candidate. (Missing the subject, not a sentence) The president interviewed the candidate (A complete sentence) • Test your sentences for completeness • Find the verb • Find the subject • Make sure the clause is not subordinate
- 4. Common Writing Errors • Comma Splices/ Comma Fault • A comma splice, or comma fault, is when a sentence that contains two main clauses has no coordinating conjunction, only a comma The author wrote many stories for children, she also wrote a number of historical novels. • Each clause could stand independently
- 5. Common Writing Errors • Three ways to address this type of error: 1. Use a coordinate conjunctions after the comma The author wrote many stories for children, and she also wrote a number of historical novels. 2. Use a semicolon instead of a comma between the two independent clauses The author wrote many stories for children; she also wrote a number of historical novels. 3. Punctuate the two independent clauses as two simple sentences The author wrote many stories for children. She also wrote a number of historical novels.
- 6. • Fused Sentences/ Run-on Sentence • A fused sentence (run-on sentence) is a sentence that contains two main clauses but neither punctuation nor conjunction are used Money provided by stockholders has helped the company purchase equipment and supplies it has also enabled the company to expand its production. • Check your writing and separate independent thoughts expressed Money provided by stockholders has helped the company purchase equipment and supplies. It has also enabled the company to expand its production.
- 7. Common Writing Errors • Subject / Verb Agreement • Subjects and predicates do not match in meaning, case or tense • Grammatical use of phrases changes mid-sentence • Parts of sentences, such as subjects, are repeated • A verb must agree with the subject in person and number • If the subject is singular, the verb is singular • If the subject is first person, the verb is first person He doesn’t know the answer. (Subject and verb are third person) You don’t know the answer. (Subject and verb are second person)
- 8. Common Writing Errors • Subject / Verb Agreement • Compound Subjects • Subjects that are connected by and • Subject is plural and takes a plural verb Mary and Jane attend every meeting. • Collective Nouns • Nouns that represent a group or collection of objects • Singular if sentence has group acting as a unity The committee is opposed to the plan. • Plural if individuals of group acting independently The family have given their contributions.
- 9. Common Writing Errors • Subject / Verb Agreement • Intervening phrases often create confusion • Check the sentence for the true subject and determine the verb A package of books was delivererd today. Materials for the building were shipped. Important papers, as well as a contact number, were found in his desk.