MODULE 3

COMMON ERRORS IN ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING

 Part of effectively communicating in English is ensuring that you properly follow and apply rules of grammar that
govern language. Good grammar enables individuals to communicate clearly and effectively. However, rarely is it
perfected. Even professionals occasionally commit grammatical errors. It is hence advisable to train yourselves
early in terms of spotting grammatical errors in the English language.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (SVA)

1. Use a singular verb to a singular subject and a plural verb to a plural subject.
Examples: Sarah reads different books to expand her vocabulary.
The students need to read the materials for the next lesson.
2. Two or more singular subjects joined by and are always plural.
Example: Jonas and his team supply photos for the magazine.
3. Two singular subjects pertaining to the same person or thing are considered singular.
Example: The famed writer and photographer is expected to contribute an article for the next edition of the
magazine.
4. For singular subjects joined by either/or or neither/nor, consider the form of the noun closest to the verb.
Examples: Either Sarah or Ana is going to be the rapporteur for the symposium.
Neither the host nor the judges were informed of the final results before the announcement of
winners.
5. Subjects that come with the words each or every, along with pronouns like someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, or no
one, are considered singular.
Examples: Each perspective has its own merit depending on context.
Somebody sees your hard work.
6. Subjects with the phrase a number are plural.
Example: A number of studies suggest that eating guyabano can help lower glucose levels.
7. Subjects with the phrase the number of are singular.
Example: The number of COVID positive cases is indeed staggering.
8. Units of measure or time often require a singular verb.
Example: At least 30 minutes of exercise is needed for good blood circulation among adults.
9. Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., none, some, most, all) are either singular or plural. When used with uncountable nouns,
they take the singular form of the verb. When used with countable nouns, they take a plural verb.
Example: Some of his salary is allotted for investments.
Some of his expenses are unnecessary.

PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT
 Pronouns, or words used in place of nouns, and antecedents, the nouns pronouns replace, should also agree with
each other to ensure that messages are conveyed clearly.
 As a basic rule, a pronoun should agree with its antecedent in terms of number, gender, and person. This means
that singular pronouns should replace a singular noun, and plural pronouns should replace plural nouns.

VERB TENSES
  Verb tenses indicate when the action in the sentence is completed. There are three main tenses:
1. Past Tense: pertains to actions completed in the past or are already done;
2. Present Tense: pertains to actions happening in the present, but is mostly used to state facts or habits
3. Future Tense: pertains to actions to be completed in the future or are just about to be done.
 These three tenses can further be classified into the following:
1. Simple: used for the basic tenses (past, present, and future);
2. Perfect: used for actions that were or will be completed prior to other actions; and
3. Progressive: used for continuing actions.

PARALLELISM

 Parallelism is using the same structure for related words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. Maintaining
 The first rule on ensuring parallelism is to identify elements present in the sentence. The second rule is to analyze
their function. Third is to convert any incorrectly structured element, so it syntactically agrees with the rest.
Examples:
(wrong) Writing songs, playing hockey, and to cook are some of Scout's hobbies.
(correct) Writing songs, playing hockey, and cooking are some of Scout's hobbies.
(wrong) To little Kai, well-baked oatmeal cookies are soft, has moisture, and chewy.
(correct) To little Kai, well-baked oatmeal cookies are soft, moist, and chewy.

MODIFIER USE
 In grammar, modifiers pertain to words or phrases that function as adjective or adverb to describe another word or
phrase in the sentence. If misplaced, that is, improperly separated from the word or phrase they modify, modifiers
could alter a sentence's meaning and confuse the readers. It is thus important to remember the basic rule that a
modifier should be placed next to the word it describes.
Examples:
(wrong) After watching the match, the chairs were rearranged.
(correct) After watching the match, we rearranged the chairs.

(wrong) Patrick picked a song from the selection that is sad.

(correct) Patrick picked a sad song from the selection.

WORD USE
Another common mistake in grammar is misusing words, because they sound very similar with other words. Key here is to
familiarize yourself with what the words actually mean and how they should be properly used
Examples:
(wrong) They furnished there house according to there liking.
(correct) They furnished their house according to their liking.

(wrong) The committee excepted her proposal.

(correct) The committee accepted her proposal.

Written Activity no.5

A. Identify whether the following statements apply to common grammatical errors in academic and professional
writing. If they do, write Yes on the space provided; if not, write No.
_______ 1. All indefinite pronouns are considered singular.
_______ 2. Errors in structure cause problems on comprehension more than errors in grammar.
_______ 3. Perfecting grammar and sentence structures is possible.
_______ 4. Misplaced modifiers commonly concern adjectives.
_______ 5. Parallelism only concerns structure, not meaning.

B. Answer the following questions.

1. Apart from the points covered in the module, what other common error in grammar can you cite. Give three.
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2. Aside from the points tackled already in the module, what other common error in sentence structures can you identify?
Give three
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3. What additional rules in SVA do relevant sources offer? Cite three.

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4. What additional rules on verb tenses do relevant sources mention? Share three.
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5. Does good grammar mean powerful communication? Explain in two to three sentences.
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C. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT: Underline the proper form of the verb that should go with the subject.
1. Erica always (do, does) her homework on time.
2. The person in charge of projects (is, are) also often responsible for budgeting tasks.
3. Because the family has several members, it frequently (fail, fails) to make ends meet.
4. Jan and Jean (is, are) brother and sister.
5. Writing (is, are) her bread and butter.
6. Spices, along with select herbs, (make, makes) dishes tastier.
7. Messaging through social media platforms (is, are) sometimes off.
8. Consistency, not repeated promises, (make, makes) one honorable.
9. On the bakery display (is, are) delicious-looking cookies.
10. Like any other rose, this one (has, have) thorns.
11. Every setback (is, are) said to bring you closer to realizing your goal.
12. Eight hours of sleep every night (is, are) recommended for optimum health.
13. A number of researchers (claim, claims) that their funders are hesitant to hear about negative results.
14. Some (believe, believes) that the souls of our departed loved ones find their way back to us.
15. Political alliances, just like partisan divide, (cause, causes) discordance.

D. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT: Choose the correct pronoun. Underline your answer.

Elmo is an engineering freshman who advocates for clean and affordable energy. 1. (He, She, It) has been explaining to 2.
(his, her, them) mother that they could invest in solar panels to practice sustainability. 3. (His, Her, Their) mother, however,
is not sold on the idea; 4. (he/she) thinks solar power costs too much for a middle-class family like 5. (his, hers, theirs). 6.
Although, (he, she, it) agrees on unplugging appliances not in use to save energy. Because 7. (his/her) advocacy proves
challenging to achieve, Elmo primes 8. (himself, herself, themselves) to innovate clean cooking technologies and
expanding 9. (its, his, their) potential as renewable energy. This, 10. (he, she, they) believes, is an active move to reduce
air pollution and other environmental problems.

E. VERB TENSE: Underline the proper verb tense to use in the following sentences.
1. Because of the pandemic, Maria now only (leaves, left) the house once a month.
2. The heart (is, was) the center of the circulatory system.
3. Rice (remains, remained) a cultural and political crop.
4. As the rain falls, the wind also gently (sweeps, swept) the leaves off the ground.
5. Coffee beans (make, made) some small towns known in the 1990s.
6. Not often enough, we (remember, remembered) praying for the dead.
7. Practice (makes, made) perfect.
8. Just a few minutes ago, a scruffy cat (lies, lay) across the room.
9. Ana's shirt (shrink, shrank) a few inches since she bought it.
10. Constant affirmation (constitutes, constituted) happy relationships.
11. By tomorrow, Shaun would (have finish, have finished, had finished) the novel.
12. The researcher (has miss, has missed) one step in the experiment.
13. We (are, were) baking the pizza when you knocked on our door.
14. I (am, was) seeing Shane this evening.
15. Currently, Sheena (is, was) often on time for assemblies.

F. PARALLELISM: Rewrite the following sentences to ensure parallel structure.

1. Hoping, praying, and to work hard are all she could do to survive.
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2. Now is a good time to strengthen values such as diligence, agility, and being flexible.
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3. To speak truly, sincerely, and in a direct manner would help you on your relationship.
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4. Planning, organizing, and to launch projects properly are her strengths.
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5. Converting a client, convincing a jury, and win votes are just some of rhetoric's influences.
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G. MODIFIER USE: Rewrite each sentence to correct the misplaced modifiers.

1. She almost drove her kids to school every day.
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2. Covered in chocolate, she ate the strawberries.
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3. She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
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4. I only want to study math for one hour.
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5. She wore a hat on her head that was too big.
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H. WORD USE: Underline the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. Are these (your, you're) keys?
2. (Your, You're) expected to arrive on time.
3. (They're, Their, There) behaving oddly, right?
4. Pablo and Paulo are such innovative brothers; (they're, their, there) latest prototype could save millions of lives!
5. (They're, Their, There) should be enough policies on reproductive health in this city.
6. It goes to show that sharing is not in (they're, their, there) nature.
7. Cut her some slack; she has been through (a lot, allot).
8. (A lot, Allot) of stories in the Bible would tell you to forgive and love your enemy.
9. Evidence suggests that stress has a direct (effect, affect) on the heart and brain.
10. To (effect, affect) positive change is one of her goals.
11. Given current circumstances, it really would be nice to have a (breath, breathe) of fresh air.
12. (Breath, Breathe) deeply, I was told.
13. A (lose, loose) translation in Filipino of the word snow is niyebe.
14. Everything that we (lose, loose) has a way of coming back to us in the end.
15. Best prepare yourself; he's (to, too, two) far gone.