Top 10 Student Writing Mistakes
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="4"]Top 10 Student Writing Mistakes[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Spelling mistakes[/B]
Many spelling mistakes occur when incorrect homophones (words with the same pronunciation, such as “right,” “rite,” and “write”) are used in a sentence.

[B]Incorrect:[/B] Watch you’re words! Spell-check may not sea words that are miss used because they are spelled rite!

[B]Correct:[/B]Watch your words! Spell check may not see words that are misused because they are spelled right!

[B]2. Run-on sentences (no comma before a coordinating conjunction)[/B]
A coordinating conjunction connects two clauses that could be sentences on their own. You can use the acronym FANBOYS to remember the most common coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Unless the clauses are very short and closely related, you need a comma before the conjunction. If you forget to put a comma before the conjunction, it becomes a run-on sentence.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]My dog barks at the mailman but she’s too lazy to chase him.

[B][I]Solution:[/I][/B] Check to see if the clauses before and after the conjunction could be sentences on their own. If so, insert a comma before the conjunction.

[B]Correct:[/B]My dog barks at the mailman, but she’s too lazy to chase him.

[B]3. Sentence fragments[/B]
A sentence fragment is a sentence that’s missing a subject (the thing doing the action) or a verb (the action).

[B]Incorrect:[/B]An epic all-nighter!

[B][I]Solution:[/I][/B] Add a subject or verb to the fragment, as needed.

[B]Correct:[/B]I pulled an epic all-nighter!

[B]4. No comma after an introductory phrase[/B]
An introductory phrase provides some background information and is usually followed by a comma. The comma is optional when the phrase is very short.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]While a Thanksgiving commercial played on the TV she was at the library trying to study for her final exams.

[B]Correct:[/B]While a Thanksgiving commercial played on the TV, she was at the library trying to study for her final exams.

[B]Correct:[/B]At long last I made it home. OR: At long last, I made it home.

[B]5. Wordiness[/B]
A sentence is wordy if it uses more words than necessary to convey meaning. Wordiness often makes writing unclear.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]Jessica ended up having to walk all the way home due to the fact that she missed the last train leaving Central Station.

[B][I]Solution:[/I][/B] Identify long phrases that can be replaced with a single word. Eliminate words that have the same meaning. Eliminate weak words, such as “basically” and “sort of.” Eliminate nonessential information.

[B]Correct:[/B]Jessica walked home because she missed the last train.

[B]6. Comma splicing[/B]
A comma splice occurs when you use a comma to connect two clauses that could be sentences on their own.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]He bought back-to-school clothes, his mom bought a scarf.

[B][I]Solution: [/I][/B]Add a coordinating conjunction (remember: FANBOYS) after the comma, or change the comma to a period, semicolon, or colon.

[B]Correct:[/B]He bought back-to-school clothes, and his mom bought a scarf. OR: He bought back-to-school clothes. His mom bought a scarf.

[B]7. Comma misuse (inside a compound subject)[/B]
A compound subject uses a conjunction to connect more than one noun phrase.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]My roommate, and his brother, went to see a movie.

[B]Correct:[/B]My roommate and his brother went to see a movie.

[B]8. No commas around interrupters[/B]
Interrupters are phrases that break the flow of a sentence to provide additional detail. Put commas around interrupters.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]It was unfortunately the end of winter vacation.

[B]Correct:[/B]It was, unfortunately, the end of winter vacation.

[B]9. Squinting modifiers[/B]
A squinting modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that could modify the word before it or the word after it.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]Students who study rarely get bad grades.

[B][I]Solution:[/I][/B] Put the modifier next to the word it should modify.

[B]Correct:[/B]Students who rarely study get bad grades. OR: Students who study get bad grades rarely.

[B]10. Subject-verb agreement[/B]
Singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.

[B]Incorrect:[/B]Michael study at the library every day.

[B]Correct:[/B]Michael studies at the library every day.

[B][CENTER]______________________________________[/CENTER][/B]