Looking for a workshop to compliment your knowledge of writing rules? Wonder if the amount of mistakes in your s really do effect the way readers’ view you? COMMON MISTAKES OF COLLEGE WRITERS Sarah Liggett CxC

SOURCE OF ERROR Why do you make mistakes? Why do you make mistakes? Lack knowledge Misinterpret rule Too much faith in technology Fail to proofread

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Mechanics and Punctuation No comma after introductory clause After she learned she’d gotten the job, she headed to the BMW dealership. No comma in compound sentence She got the job, so 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.

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. ;

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Mechanics and Punctuation No comma(s) in a non-restrictive (non-essential element) Bananas have lots of K. Apples which are green are often not sweet. my favorite fruit,, Bananas have lots of K.

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Pronoun Errors Vague Pronoun Reference 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.

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Pronoun Errors Pronoun Agreement Error Everybody has their own opinions. Everybody has his or her own opinions. Everybody has opinions.

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Usage An or a LSU student? A lot or a lot? Amount or number? Few or less? Between or among? Its or it’s? Criterion or criteria

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

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Verb Form Errors Wrong Tense 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. His boss had spoken very highly of him. Wrong Verb She lays in bed all day. She lies in bed all day.

FREQUENT ERRORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS Spelling and Homophones Separate or seperate? Receive or recieve? Cite or site? Could of or could’ve? Your or you’re

AN EDITING EXERCISE

PROOFREADING TIPS Take a break between writing and proofreading. Get out your list of frequent errors. Change your font to 14 point; put a return after every sentence. Work from a printed copy. Read the paper aloud. Cover the paper with a ruler or another paper or scroll down so you see only one line at a time. Circle subjects, locate verbs. 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

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.