View source for Most Common Writing Errors

Here is a growing list of the most common writing errors:

*mismatch between a pronoun and its antecedent:
:*''Incorrect'': '''Someone''' parked a car in the "no-parking zone" simply because '''they''' were too lazy to walk from a legitimate parking space.
:*''Correct'': '''Someone''' parked a car in the "no-parking zone" simply because '''he''' was too lazy to walk from a legitimate parking space. ''If female:'' '''Someone''' parked a car in the "no-parking zone" simply because '''she''' was too lazy to walk from a legitimate parking space.

*[[comma splice]]—connecting two [[independent clause]]s with a comma and no [[semicolon]] or [[coordinating conjunction]]:
:*''Incorrect'':  [[Liberal]]s are [[deceit]]ful, conservatives are trustworthy.
:*''Correct'':  Liberals are deceitful; conservatives are trustworthy.
:*''Also correct'': [[Liberal]]s are [[deceit]]ful, but [[conservative]]s are trustworthy.

*misplaced modifier:
:*''Incorrect'': Completely lacking in patriotism, America is undermined by liberals.
:*''Correct'': Completely lacking in patriotism, liberals undermine America.
:*''Also correct'': Because liberals are completely lacking in patriotism, they undermine America.

*lack of conciseness:
:*''Incorrect'':  Christopher Columbus made the discovery of America.
:*''Correct'':  Christopher Columbus discovered America.

*nonparallelism:
:*''Incorrect'':  Some common liberal traits are selfishness, ignorance, and being racists.
:*''Correct'':  Some common liberal traits are selfishness, ignorance, and racism.

*unclear comparison:
:*''Incorrect'': God loves Christians more than non-Christians.  (This is not clear whether it means "more than non-Christians do" or the meaning below)
:*''Correct'': God loves Christians more than He does non-Christians.

[[Category:Grammar]]
[[Category:Homeschool Curriculum]]