Difference between revisions of "Most Common Writing Errors"
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:*''Incorrect'': '''Someone''' parked a car in the "no-parking zone" simply because '''they''' were too lazy to walk from a legitimate parking space. | :*''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. | :*''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. | ||
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*[[comma splice]]--connecting two [[independent clause]]s with a comma and no [[semicolon]] or [[coordinating conjunction]]: | *[[comma splice]]--connecting two [[independent clause]]s with a comma and no [[semicolon]] or [[coordinating conjunction]]: | ||
Revision as of 03:50, August 25, 2013
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 clauses with a comma and no semicolon or coordinating conjunction:
- Incorrect: Liberals are deceitful, conservatives are trustworthy.
- Correct: Liberals are deceitful; conservatives are trustworthy.
- Also correct: Liberals are deceitful, but conservatives 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 correct meaning, below)
- Correct: God loves Christians more than He does non-Christians.