Common Errors in Thesis/Dissertation Writing

Abhijit A. Gosavi

©2013 by Abhijit Gosavi. All rights reserved.

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Errors in number:

Incorrect Correct
Many a times Many a times time
One of the algorithm can be applied here. One of the algorithms can be applied here.
The two firms had transactions worth $5000. The two firms had transactions worth $5000. Out
Out of this, only 1% accounted for Product X. of these, only 1% accounted for Product X. (Note:
these refers to the transactions.)
Let X denotes a random variable. Let X denotes denote a random variable.
equipments; aircrafts equipments; aircrafts (Note: plural of
aircraft/equipment is also aircraft/equipment)
Does 500 tons of steel satisfy their demand? Does Do 500 tons of steel satisfy their demand?
(Note: the verb “do” is related to tons, not steel.)
The five-years-old project The five-years-old project five-year-old project
(Note: we say the project is five years old, but
when it becomes an adjective, “years” become
“year”.)

Incorrect use of article/missing article:

One rule of thumb: A noun used in the singular is usually preceded by “a” / “an” or “the.” When used in
plural, usually, “the” is not used. And then, of course, sometimes these rules don’t work.

Incorrect Correct
This area of research is at the crossroads… This area of research is at the a crossroads…
Most important point made by the supply chain The most important point made by the supply
manager was the lack of communication with the chain manager was the lack of communication
suppliers. with the suppliers.
During the World War II During the World War II
During Second World War During the Second World War
It depends on how market responds to this It depends on how the market responds to this
strategy. strategy.
The focus here is on critical issues with algorithm. The focus here is on (the) critical issues with the
algorithm.
This is not in investor’s interest. This is not in investors’ interest. OR This is not in
the investor’s interest.

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 Our firm has rejected the Ford group’s proposals. Our firm has rejected the Ford group’s proposals.
(Note: Usually, when there is the noun in the
plural and it has a qualifier (or adjective) like Ford
group’s, the article “the” before the qualifier is
dropped.)
These two nations have large volume of trade These two nations have a large volume of trade
worth millions of dollars. worth millions of dollars OR The two nations have
large volumes of trade worth millions of dollars.
The firm reported income of $25,000. The firm reported an income of $25000.
National Science Foundation has announced… The National Science Foundation has
announced…
The firm has approved investment of $50,000. The firm has approved an investment of $50,000.
The NSF has announced… The NSF has announced…
The inventory turns index of the Smith Industries The inventory turns index of the Smith Industries
was 3.5. was 3.5. (Note: Smith Industries is a unique firm,
not some type of firm. It would be okay to use
the “the” before “software industries” for
instance.)
NSF Chairperson has announced a new program. The NSF Chairperson has announced a new
program.
The report does not provide break-up of the The report does not provide a break-up of the
revenues by category. revenues by category.

Incorrect use of prepositions:

Incorrect Correct
He has described about the algorithm’s working He has described about the algorithm’s working
mechanism. mechanism. (You worry “about” something, but
you don’t describe “about” or discuss “about”
something; you describe/discuss something.)
He has questioned about the validity of this He has questioned about the validity of this
algorithm. algorithm. (Note: it is correct to say: He has
questions about the validity of this algorithm.)
This phenomenon is called as oscillation. He This phenomenon is called as oscillation. (note:
called the joint venture as unethical. “known as” instead of “called as” would be
correct here). He called the joint venture as
unethical.
Managers found out raising prices of the product Managers found out that raising prices of the
needed an accompanying improvement of product needed an accompanying improvement
quality. of quality. (Note: You can even remove the “out”
here, but “out” can’t play the role of “that.”
“That” is needed here.)
Responsibility of our actions Responsibility of for our actions (usually, I’ve
seen “for” being used, and “of” sounds awkward
here.)

2
 This agency has noticed a declining trend for this This agency has noticed a declining trend for this
brand since the last five years. brand since for the last five years.
The article stresses on the need for… The article stresses on the need for …
The complaint was disposed off unceremoniously The complaint was disposed off of
by the firm. He decided to wash his hands off the unceremoniously by the firm. He decided to
firm. wash his hands off of the firm.

Loose/Lose; affect/effect

Incorrect Correct
The algorithm will loose its effectiveness at such The algorithm will loose lose its effectiveness at
small step sizes. such small step sizes.
The affects of this phenomenon are not well- The affects effects of this phenomenon are not
known. well-known.
This technique is known to effect the process. This technique is known to effect affect the
process. (Note: “effect” is a noun, while “affect”
is a verb)

Miscellaneous:

Incorrect Correct
The company executive has directed all The company executive has directed all
employees to show up for work at 8 AM employees to show up for work at 8 AM
tomorrow. He has planned this in advance. tomorrow. He had planned this in advance.
(Note: it is perfectly acceptable to have two
successive sentences within the same paragraph
in different tenses.)
The survey shows that not more than 10% of the The survey shows that not no more than 10% of
respondents use the bus service. respondents use the bus service.
The unpardonable long shutdown of machines The unpardonable unpardonably long shutdown
caused the firm to miss many deadlines. of machines caused the firm to miss many
deadlines. (Note: in order to use the word
“unpardonable” as an adjective for shutdown,
one would have to say “long, unpardonable
shutdown.” Alternatively, “unpardonable” must
describe “long” here, and must become
“unpardonably.” Alternatively, you can say
“unpardonable and long shutdown,” but that
means something else; the word “unpardonable”
does not have anything to do with “long” here.)
There is no service road in most part of the There is no service road in most part much of the
section connecting X to Y. section connecting X to Y.

3
 The organization is in a crisis due to machine The organization is in a crisis due to machine
breakdowns on one end and the senior breakdowns on one end (“hand” sounds better
management ignored this for years on the other. than “end”) and the senior management having
ignored this for years on the other.
This is a real good outcome. This is a real really good outcome.
The company has high cash reserves… The company has large cash reserves… (Note: we
do say “record high cash reserves,” but the “high”
there is associated to “record”)

Wrong Use of Commas, Hyphens, and Dashes:

When there are two objects with a joining “and,” a comma is NOT used. When there are three
objects to be joined, a comma is used after each object in American English. In British English,
you can drop the last comma.

Incorrect: The algorithm, and its working mechanism are complicated.

Incorrect: The contributions of this paper are twofold: a new algorithm, and its applications in
engineering.
Correct: The contributions of this paper are twofold: a new algorithm and its applications in
engineering.
Also correct: The contributions of this paper are threefold: a new algorithm, its applications in
engineering, and the software programs needed for running the algorithm.

Incorrect: The algorithm, its working mechanism and its code were discussed (Note: this is
correct in British English).
Incorrect: The algorithm, its working mechanism, and its code were discussed.

Compound sentences: When you have two or more independent (standalone) sentences joined
by “and,” you need a comma.

Very common error:

Incorrect: Unfortunately, product quality is often unobservable and typically a consumer survey
plays the role of a valuable tool for potential buyers.

Correct: Unfortunately, product quality is often unobservable, and typically a consumer survey
plays the role of a valuable tool for potential buyers. (Note: if and only if the sentence is very
short, you can drop the comma before “and.”)

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 Sometimes a comma is needed in order to help the reader:

Incorrect: At a time when there are questions about the independent viability of US Airways and
Green Airlines have gone bankrupt, CEOs of small airlines need to take a deep breath and bring
new ideas.

Correct: At a time when there are questions about the independent viability of US Airways, and
Green Airlines have gone bankrupt, CEOs of small airlines need to take a deep breath and bring
new ideas.

When commas are used as separators with “when,” “which,” “who,” “where” etc:

Incorrect: The table’s first row, which contained the actual figures was full of errors.
Correct: The table’s first row, which contained the actual figures, was full of errors. (Note: If you
want to drop the comma, drop both commas, but that usually makes the sentence more difficult
to read.)

When “that” is used, usually separating commas are not used:

Incorrect: The table’s first row, that contained the actual figures, was full of errors.
Correct: The table’s first row that contained the actual figures was full of errors.

Appositive: When you have a phrase renaming someone/something, that phrase is usually
placed within separating commas:

Incorrect: Thomas Black, the CEO of the organization provided the figures to the press.
Correct 1: Thomas Black, the CEO of the organization, provided the figures to the press.
Correct 2: The CEO of the organization, Thomas Black provided the figures to the press.

(Note: “CEO of the organization” is an appositive for Thomas Black. If the appositive appears
after the noun it is renaming, the comma is needed before and after the appositive (see Correct
1); if the appositive appears before the noun it is renaming, there is no comma after the noun
(see Correct 2).)

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 Use of commas within and after adjectives made of dates:

Incorrect: The September 11, 2001, attacks disrupted the airline business for a long time.
Correct: The September 11, 2001 attacks disrupted the airline business for a long time.

Use of dashes: Usually, dashes like separating commas go in pairs (unless the fragment is the
last part of the sentence):

Incorrect: For an in-depth discussion on these issues – which, by the way, can be time
consuming you can also read the latest book on this topic.

Correct: For an in-depth discussion on these issues – which, by the way, can be time consuming
– you can also read the latest book on this topic.

Compound adjectives and hyphens: Usually compound adjectives are connected via hyphens
(although many Britishers don’t care for hyphens):

one to one correspondence → one-to-one correspondence

So called method → so-called method

Use and placement of verbs in sentences that end with question marks:

Present tense: Oftentimes does/do is missing:

Incorrect: Why the manager seeks to implement a new policy?

Correct: Why does the manager seek to implement a new policy?

Past tense: Verb is often misplaced:

Incorrect: Where the CEO was when the ratings from JD Power & Associates were going south?

Correct: Where was the CEO when the ratings from JD Power & Associates were going south?