1. Common Errors

2. Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies in order to avoid confusion.
Ex:
Misplaced: We rented a recorder from the music store with an instruction booklet.
Corrected: At the music store, we rented a recorder with an instruction booklet.
Misplaced (Dangling Participle): Walking toward the house, the tree on the lawn looked beautiful to Elizabeth.
Corrected: Walking toward the house, Elizabeth admired the beautiful tree on the lawn.

3. Faulty Parallelism
Parallelism in the placement of equal ideas in words, phrases, or clauses of similar type.
Parallel Words
The camp has excellent facilities for riding, hiking, and swimming.
Parallel Phrases
Jennings had gone to the country to rest, to think, and to catch a few fish.
Parallel Clauses
A news story should tell what happened, when it happened, and who was involved.

4. Correcting Faulty Parallelism
Correct a sentence containing faulty parallelism by rewriting it so that each parallel idea is expressed in the same grammatical structure.
Ex:
Incorrect: The manager protested loudly and with emotion.
Parallel: The manager protested loudly and emotionally.
Incorrect: Mr. Darling liked weeding his garden, mowing his lawn, and to putter around his house.
Parallel: Mr. Darling liked weeding his garden, mowing his lawn, and puttering around his house.