The Most Common Major Errors

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The Most Common Major Errors in University Level
Writing
Adapted from The Writing Centre, Ryerson
University
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Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular / Plural)
These tend to occur if the subject is separated
from the verb by some descriptive words.
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Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular / Plural)
EXAMPLE The process of tabulating these
results were begun by inputting the values into
the spreadsheet.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular / Plural)
CORRECTED The process of tabulating these
results was begun by inputting the values into
the spreadsheet.
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Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular / Plural)
EXAMPLE In 1820, there was new plans proposed
for the site.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular / Plural)
CORRECTED In 1820, there were new plans
proposed for the site.
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Sentence Fragment. Part of a sentence is
punctuated as a complete sentence.
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Sentence Fragment.
EXAMPLE During this planning time, when the
final choice of a computer system is made.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Sentence Fragment.
CORRECTED During this planning time the final
choice of a computer is made. (You may also
correct this by finishing the incomplete
sentence.) During this planning time, when the
final choice of a computer system is made, you
should consult with all the potential users.
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Sentence Fragment.
EXAMPLE They came with a proposal. A proposal
too good to refuse.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Sentence Fragment.
CORRECTED They came with a proposal, a proposal
too good to refuse.
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Comma Splice or Run-on Sentence Two separate
sentences are joined with a comma, or run
together without any punctuation.
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Comma Splice or Run-on Sentence
EXAMPLE The new buildings would be expensive,
the estimated cost of renovating existing offices
was half as much.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Comma Splice or Run-on Sentence
CORRECTED The new buildings would be expensive.
The estimated cost of renovating existing
offices was half as much. or The new
buildings would be expensive and the estimated
cost of renovating existing offices was half as
much.
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Comma Splice or Run-on Sentence
How do you fix it?
,

• You can use
• period
• semi colon
• comma plus and or but (a joining word)

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Misuse of the Semi-Colon The semi-colon ()
joins two sentences into one, without an and or
but. This can be a very effective construction,
but you must have a complete sentence on either
side of the Therefore and however frequently
begin the second sentence.
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Misuse of the Semi-Colon
EXAMPLE In 1886, 36,000,000 tonnes of cargo
moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway in
contrast to the average of 11,000,000 tonnes in
the 1950s.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Misuse of the Semi-Colon
CORRECTED In 1886, 36,000,000 tonnes of cargo
moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway in
contrast, an average of only 11,000,000 tonnes
moved through in the 1950s.
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Dangling Modifier This occurs when a sentence
begins with a verb form ending in -ing or -ed.
This -ing or -ed word should refer to the
subject of the sentence, which will usually
follow the comma.
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Dangling Modifier
EXAMPLE By spending time with their children in
play, the children can develop their language
ability.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Dangling Modifier
CORRECTED By spending time with their children
in play, parents can help them develop their
language ability. (It is the parents who are
spending the time.)
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Pronoun Errors - Agreement Pronouns refer to
nouns. Errors often occur when a pronoun does not
agree with the noun that it is referring to or
represents.
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Pronoun Errors Agreement
EXAMPLE One of the boys who was involved
confessed to being at the scene. They said that
it was only meant to be a prank.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Pronoun Errors I or me? Often writers
confuse the proper use of I or me in the
predicate of a sentence.
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Pronoun Errors I or me?
EXAMPLE John went to the movie with Ann and I.
Whats wrong? How do you fix it?
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Pronoun Errors I or me?
CORRECTED John went to the movie with Ann and me.
Hint Split the compound phrase Ann and
me John went to the movie with I. versus John
went to the movie with me.)
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Word Confusion Some common examples
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Word Confusion Some common examples
where / were Where are you? Where
asks about location. They were angry. Were
is the past form of the verb to be.
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Word Confusion Some common examples
there / their / theyre
There is a . . . There indicates something
exists. Put it there. There indicates
location. (Hint Remember where and there
both refer to place and both have the same
ending.) They argued their case. Their
indicates possession. Theyre going out
together. There is short for They are.
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Word Confusion Some common examples
Then / than Then she went to the store.
Then indicates time. He is
faster than his friend. Than indicates
comparison.
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Word Confusion Some common examples
too / to Try to sleep. To is the infinitive
form of the verb. Go to the store. To
is a preposition. He came too. Too
means also. It was too late. Too is
the comparative form.
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Word Confusion Some common examples
its / its Its not right its it is
The apostrophe means a
letter is omitted. (Hint Think of his, her,
its as a group. No apostrophe.)
The dog found its bone. Its refers to
possession.
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Word Confusion Some common examples
would have / would of I would have
come. Would of doesnt exist. Its just our
slurring of have when we speak. wanna I wanna
learn English. wanna is not a word! I want to
learn English