Timed Writing Errors

Number Reference Chart

Instructions:
1. Read your in-class timed writing.
2. Use the Number Reference Chart below to identify your errors.
3. Complete the Error Frequency Log (post on Canvas).
a. Identify your 3 most frequent errors and highlight them on your Error Frequency Log.
b. Count your total number of errors, divide that by the total number of words, multiply by 100, and document your final error percentage. (# of Errors/# of
words x 100 = Error %)
4. Open your original timed writing from Canvas and turn on “Track Changes." Correct and revise your errors and turn in a second draft of your timed writing using
“Track Changes” (post on Canvas).
a. If you are unsure how to correct the error, try your best.
b. If you are curious about an error that you cannot solve, come see me or email me.
c. If you don’t understand what an error number means, do your own research (Google it – “FANBOYS grammar” gets about 200,000 hits).

# Error Examples
Verb Tense Yesterday, I go went.
1 I studied have studied English since I was 10.
Life would be difficult if the internet were had not been invented (if conditionals)
2 Verb Form I going am going.
Word Choice Older people had better should learn to use computers if they want to get a job. (modals)
After drinking all night, his condition was not good he had a hangover/he was sick. (idioms/phrases)
3 There are a great amount a lot of people who use Facebook. (better word, style, formality, awkward)
I got bought cookies. (more appropriate for written English)
Sometimes technology can make life more complication complicated. (wrong part of speech)
4 Word Form Internet technological technology is expanding rapidly. (wrong part of speech)
5 Subject-Verb Agreement Many people has have never been there.
These person people like coffee. (singular/plural)
6 Singular/Plural or Count/Non-Count There has been many researches much research done on the internet. (count/non-count)
Articles/Determiners/Possessive (a, an, the, or no article, this/that, these/those, his/hers/ours, etc.)
7 Pronouns/Possessive Nouns The internet has been the greatest invention in the last 100 years.
Writing will help us improve us our English.
(Correct: SVC, and SVC. Never start a sentence with a FANBOYS)
8 Coordination And for this reason, people should learn to use the internet.
Subordination Because the internet is so widespread, people around the world can keep in touch.
People around the world can keep in touch because the internet is so widespread.
9 (Correct: SVC because SVC. Because SVC, SVC.)
(adverbial clauses, noun clauses, adjective clauses, etc.)
Fragment (Incorrect: SC; VC; And SVO; i.e. incomplete sentence)
Writing is fun. (SC = missing verb)
10 He Likes soccer. (VC = missing subject)
Incorrect: And the internet is great. (sentence started with FANBOYS)
Incorrect: Because the internet is great. (subordination with only one clause)
I like apples, but he likes bananas.
11 Run-On Sentence Incorrect: SVC and SVC (run-on sentences need commas between clauses)
12 Comma Splice Incorrect: SVC, SVC (needs coordination or subordination)
13 Spelling I liked there their presentation. Spell out contractions! He didn’t not know it.
14 Capitalization Paris, fFrance is my favorite place to visit. She told me iI was a good writer.
General Punctuation For example, male cardinals are red. Male cardinals, for example, are red. Male cardinals are red, for example.
(commas surround transitions in an independent clause)
The internet allows you to do many things, such as socialize, research, and shop. (comma before such as)
15 The second reason is clear; however, the first reason is unclear. The second reason is clear. However, the first reason
is unclear. (semicolon or period when using transitions with 2 independent clauses – including for example)
I love Paris, France.
16 Lists Writing is important, valuable, and fun. (comma before and in Kelly’s class)
Extra Verb, Subject, or Object Writing is can be fun. (extra verb)
17 Missing Verb, Subject, or Object Is important to be a good writer. (missing subject, add It)
He likes soccer him. (extra agent)
Intelligence, humor, and having a great sense of humor are three great skills. (items in a list must match
18 Parallelism grammatically)
Pronoun Reference Writing is important. He It is good for my future. (wrong referent)
People must know how to use the internet these days because everything you people do is online. (consistent
19 referent)
Ann borrowed her sister’s car, but she her sister/Ann wasn’t happy about that. (unclear referent)
Hackers have been accused to of stealing (phrasal verbs)
20 Preposition The internet was invented on in 1970.
Seldom do we do hear about such occurrences. (inversion)
21 Word Order The Internet greatly has greatly improved our lives. (adverb order)
I don’t mind to do it doing it.
22 Gerunds/Infinitives It is irresponsible allowing to allow children to use the internet freely.
23 Formatting Indention at the beginning of paragraphs, double spacing, size 12 font, margins, etc.