Common Grammer and Usage Problems

Punctuation Problems:

1. Missing comma after introductory element.

Though I gave advice for revising, his draft became only worse.

2. Missing comma in a compound sentence, or unnecessary comma in a simple sentence.

I love working in the Writing Center and going to meetings. (no comma)

I love writing center meetings, and I wish we had more of them.

3. Unnecessary comma with a restrictive element or missing comma with a nonrestrictive element.

Yeats's poem "Sailing to Byzantium" is difficult to understand. (no comma)

Juan, who works in the Writing Center, helped me get an A on my paper.

4. Comma splice

We work hard for our money, the Writing Center doesn't pay all that well. (wrong)

We work hard for our money; the Writing Center doesn't pay all that well.

We work hard for our money, but the Writing Center doesn't pay all that well.

5. Missing comma in a series.

The most important qualities of a good essay are the thesis, topic sentences, and clear examples.

6. Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe and its/it's confusion.

It's = It is

Its = possessive

person's = singular possessive

workers' = plural possessive

people's = plural possessive (word is already plural)

Usage Problems

1. Vague pronoun reference

The student forgot to do his term paper because Survivor was on the night before.

This is why he failed the class. (wrong)

This missing assignment is why he failed the class.

Huan said that Jon showed up on time to work.

He is always on time. (wrong)

Jon is always on time.

2. Unnecessary shift in verb tense

In the story, Janie married Joe Starks and then goes to Eatonville with him.

In the story, Janie marries Joe Starks and then goes to Eatonville with him.

3. Lack of subject-verb agreement

A central part of my life goals have (has) been to learn to write well.

Each of the students write (writes) a paper independently.

4. Unecessary shift in pronoun

When one reads Keats for the first time, you are (one is) amazed by his linguistic power.

5. Lack of agreement between pronoun and antecedent

When one reads Keats for the first time, they are (he is) amazed by his linguistic power.

6. Misplaced or dangling modifier

The student only wrote one page for a three-page assignment. (only should be after wrote)

Walking to class, the books fell from my arms. (books cannot walk to class)

7. Sentence fragment

Writing a paper is a difficult task. One of the most difficult tasks a student must perform. (Wrong)

Writing a paper is a difficult task; it is one of the most difficult tasks a student must perform.

Things for writers to know:

1. Subject and verb always has to agree.

2. Do not us a foreign term when there is an English quid pro quo.

3. It behooves the writer to avoid archaic expressions.

4. Do not use hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it effectively.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague.

6. Mixed metaphors are a pain in the neck and should be thrown out the window.

7. Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.

8. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

9. Consult a dictionary frequently to avoid misspelling.

10. Don't be redundant.

11. Don't repeat yourself or say what you have said before.

12. Remember to never split an infinitive.

13. The passive voice should not be used.

14. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

15. Don't use no double negatives.

16. Proofread carefully to see if you have any words out.

17. Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

18. Never use a long word when a diminutive word will suffice.

19. Avoid colloquial stuff.

20. Remember to finish what you...