The Egregious Eight

A recent study examined the “nature and frequency of error” in the writing of high school native English speakers and English language learners.

The sample included 178 essays (120 in English Language Arts and 58 in social studies) from 67 students in 10 th and 12 th grade from across 5 states (33 10 th graders and th graders; 49 native English speaking students and 18 English learners).

The eight most common errors accounted for a little more than half of all errors in the samples from both disciplines, with students making more errors in their writing for social studies.

Specifically, in English Language Arts, eight errors account for 57% of all errors in native English speakers’ writing, and 60% of all errors in English language learners’ writing. Which errors are these, Ms. Montenegro? Tell us!

The Egregious Eight 1.Spelling 2.Capitalization 3.Missing comma after introductory element 4.Incorrect word 5.Incorrect verb inflection 6.Missing word 7.Inappropriate or missing punctuation 8.Wrong form of word

Spelling SP

Capitalization CAP Largely a handwriting issue!

Missing comma after introductory element (such as a clause or phrase) MCIE Clause vs. Phrase: a clause has both a subject and a verb, a phrase does not Example: When a student turns in a piece of work that they have not created they are stealing someone else’s ideas and thought. [comma missing after created] Example: Also I was starting school that fall. [comma missing after Also]

Incorrect word WC Falls under “Word Choice” Example: She spent an incontinent amount of time on Facebook. [incontinent should be inordinate]

Incorrect verb inflection IVI This occurs when you chose the right word—in this case, a verb—but you did not use the right variant.

Incorrect verb inflection Example: Caro consistently performing quite well in class. [performing should be performs] Example: Last week he refuse to hand in his assignment. [refuse should be refused]

Missing word MW Example: It’s only when a worker stops and interacts with the product, admires and tests its utility that function and worth are born. [there should be an and after the product; the comma is unnecessary]

Inappropriate or missing punctuation

Wrong form of word WC Falls under “Word Choice” Example: In the first passage the boy was attractive by the natural world. [attractive should be attracted]

Works Cited Wilcox, Kristen, et al. “The nature of error in adolescent student writing.” Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal 07 Dec Web. 23 Jan Elliott, Rebecca. Painless Grammar. Canada: Barron’s, Print. Magistra, Bayu Jaka. Inflection in Morphology (Linguistics). Powerpoint. Slideshare. 20 Apr Web. 27 Jan