Frequent Grammar & Writing Errors

1. Frequent Grammar & Writing Errors Business Communication, MGT309 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred

2. Grammar • List of Common Errors: • Letter and space omission • Punctuation errors • Spelling errors • Subject and verb agreement • Word missing • Capitalization errors • Reversed numbers in figures • Incorrect details: dates, telephone numbers, email addresses

3. Punctuation • Missing comma after introductory Incorrect: After I read Ms. Smith’s email I retrieved the document from the file cabinet. Correct: After I read Ms. Smith’s email, I retrieved the document from the file cabinet.

4. Punctuation • Misplaced punctuation with quotes Incorrect: The speaker said, “That every leader is to walk their talk”. Correct: The speaker said, “Every leader is to walk their talk.”

5. Punctuation • Missing comma in a series Incorrect: I need to bring my lunch my book bag and my cell phone to school tomorrow. Correct: I need to bring my lunch, my book bag, and my cell phone to school tomorrow.

6. Punctuation • Comma splice Incorrect: Yesterday Jim turned in his 10 page paper to his professor and his professor said the paper was well organized. Correct: Yesterday Jim turned in his 10 page paper to his professor, and his professor said the paper was well organized.

7. Punctuation • Possessive apostrophe error Incorrect: Dr. Patricia Sullivan, the schools seventh Chancellor, retired in 2008. Correct: Dr. Patricia Sullivan, the school’s seventh Chancellor, retired in 2008.

8. Punctuation • Misuse of semi-colon, colon or period. Incorrect: John invited Tim to the meeting: however, he was not able to attend. Correct: John invited Tim to the meeting; however, he was not able to attend.

9. Word Choice • Misuse of • it’s, its • you’re, your • there, their, they’re • to, two, too

10. Word Choice Correct use of who, that and which Remember that who refers to people and that and which can refer to people or objects. Use commas around which. Do not use commas around that. Salvatore Lacone, Write to the Point.

11. Word Choice which (nonrestrictive) vs. that (restrictive) The blue car, which has been driven 120,000 miles, is for sale. This sentence focuses on the blue car for sale. The blue car that has 120,000 miles on the odometer is for sale. This sentence points more directly to a particular car.

12. Word Choice • who (direct) vs. whom (indirect) “Who needs a soda to drink? “To whom does this soda belong?”

13. Overused Words there it because lot very and while this

14. Pronouns • Singular versus plural Incorrect: If one is tense, they should try to relax. Correct: If one is tense, he or she needs to relax.

15. Pronouns • Pronoun agreement error Incorrect: The young man and his father knew that he was in trouble. Who is in trouble...the boy…the father…some other person? Correct: The young man and his father knew Jason was in trouble.

16. Word Choice • “this” without its modifier Incorrect: This is very comfortable. Correct: This desk is very comfortable.

17. Passive to Active • Overuse of passive voice Passive: The project was discussedby the supervisors. Active: The supervisors discussed the project.

18. Subject/Verb • Tense shift Incorrect: When we went to the store; I buy some office supplies. Correct: When we went to the store, I bought some office supplies.

19. Subject/Verb • Subject-verb agreement Incorrect: Eight people is in the meeting. Correct: Eight people are in the meeting.

20. Sentence Structure • Dangling or misplaced modifier Incorrect: If your car is parked here while not during office hours, it will be towed away. Correct: Your car will be towed away if parked here during office hours.

21. Sentence Structure • Sentence fragment Incorrect: Susie having to go work early. Correct: Susie had to go work early.

22. Sentence Structure • Run-on sentence Sentences that run on forever, they are sentences that ought to have been two or even three sentences but the writer didn’t stop to sort them out, leaving the reader feeling exhausted by the sentence’s end which is too long in coming. www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/grammar.shtml

23. Sentence Structure • Poor parallelism Incorrect: Everyone on the team was asked to bring their suggestions, plenty of paper to write on, and plans. Correct: Everyone on the team was asked to bring suggestions, paper, and plans.

24. Control Paragraph Length “Although no rule regulates the length of paragraphs, business writers typically use paragraphs of 8 or fewer lines. Long, solid chunks of print appear formidable.”

25. Avoid Zig-Zag Writing • I appreciate the time you spent with me in our interview last week, and I have enrolled in a Photoshop course. • I appreciate the time you spent with me in our interview last week. As a result of your advice, I enrolled in a Photoshop course.

26. Developing Unity • Our insurance plan is available in all the states and provinces, and you may name anyone as a beneficiary for your coverage. • Our insurance plan is available in all the states and provinces. What’s more, you may name anyone as a beneficiary for your coverage.

27. Writing Mistakes • Vague or weak thesis • Poor organization/flow • Not varying sentence starts • Intro missing setup or thesis or hook • Body weak in details (completeness)

28. Writing Mistakes • Fails to stay on focus/topic • Conclusion stating a new idea • Conclusion not restating differently the thesis/main idea • Poor transitioning

29. Correction Strategies • Proofread! • Seek Writing Center support • Peer review • Read it out loud. State the punctuation. • Always spell check. • Check your sentence starts.

30. Writing “If I went back to college again, I’d concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important that the ability to communicate effectively.” Gerald Ford