Common Mistakes of College Writers

1. Looking for a workshop to compliment your knowledge of writing rules?  Wonder if the amount of mistakes in your emails really do effect the way readers’ view you? Common Mistakes of College Writers Sarah Liggett CxC enligg@lsu.edu

2. Source of error Lack knowledge Misinterpret rule • Why do you make mistakes? Why do you make mistakes? Fail to proofread Too much faith in technology

3. Frequent errors of college students • Mechanics and Punctuation No comma in compound sentence No comma after introductory clause She got the job, so she headed to the BMW dealership. After she learned she’d gotten the job, she headed to the BMW dealership. FAN BOYS—for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so She got the job and headed straight to the BMW dealership.

4. Frequent errors of college students • Mechanics and Punctuation Comma splice She got the job, she headed to the BMW dealership. She got the job she headed to the BMW dealership. ;

5. Frequent errors of college students • Mechanics and Punctuation No comma(s) in a non-restrictive (non-essential element) , Bananas have lots of K. my favorite fruit , Bananas have lots of K. Apples which are green are often not sweet.

6. Frequent errors of college students Vague Pronoun Reference • Pronoun Errors Robert enjoyed his work at the zoo last summer, and this may be his career choice. Robert enjoyed his work at the zoo last summer, and a career as a veterinarian of exotic animals may be in his future. Ann told Sarah that she had ridden her bike to the park. Without permission, Ann rode Sarah’s bike to the park.

7. Frequent errors of college students Pronoun Agreement Error • Pronoun Errors Everybody has their own opinions. Everybody has his or her own opinions. Everybody has opinions.

8. Frequent errors of college students Criterion or criteria • Usage A lot or a lot? An or a LSU student? Few or less? Amount or number? Between or among? Its or it’s?

9. Frequent errors of college students Subject/verb Agreement Errors • Sentence Structure Errors is The life span too long for me. of cockroaches are Dangling or misplaced modifier After running the stop sign, the car failed to stop to help the injured. After running the stop sign, the drunk driver failed to stop to help the injured. While shopping at the mall, a crook stole Dave’s wallet. . While shopping at the mall, Dave had his wallet stolen by a crook. Karen was told that she was fired by her immediate supervisor. Karen’s immediate supervisor fired her. Karen was told that she was fired by her immediate supervisor.

10. Frequent errors of college students Wrong Tense • Verb Form Errors In the first chapter, the author identified Boris, who I thought would be the main character, but in the second chapter Boris dies. In the first chapter, the author identifies Boris, who I thought would be the main character, but in the second chapter Boris dies. Wrong Form His boss had spoke very highly of him. Wrong Verb His boss had spoken very highly of him. She lays in bed all day. She lies in bed all day.

11. Frequent errors of college students • Spelling and Homophones Receive or recieve? Separate or seperate? Cite or site? Could of or could’ve? Your or you’re

12. An editing exercise

13. Proofreading tips • Take a break between writing and proofreading. Read the paper aloud. Get out your list of frequent errors. Change your font to 14 point; put a return after every sentence. Work from a printed copy. Circle subjects, locate verbs. Cover the paper with a ruler or another paper or scroll down so you see only one line at a time. Circle pronouns, locate the nouns to which they refer. If you tend to overuse commas, give the rule for each one you use. Use find/replace for passive voice, wordy phrases, vague pronouns. Use a handbook, the Purdue OWL, on-line grammar guides. Basic Sentence Patterns

14. So. . . • Know the mistakes you make most often. • Understand why you make them and how to fix them. • Proofread just for the common mistakes. • Proofread once again.