NAME______PD______DATE______RTW

COMMON GRAMMATICAL ERRORS

fragment
run on
fused sentence
(a type of run on)
comma splice
(a type of run on) / Sentences must express a complete thought and must not be too wordy. Structure sentences properly as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
On my way to the park. Fragment
If I have a homework assignment I try to do it right away when I get home from school and I try to have my work done before I have practice. wordy, run on, fused sentence
A comma cannot be used to connect sentences! Structure properly as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
The assignment was easy, students’ work was completed before class was over. comma splice
misplaced modifiers
dangling modifiers
* ambiguous reference* / Place all modifiers (words and/or phrases) as close as possible to the word being described.
The boy cut the grass with red hair. incorrect
The boy with red hair cut the grass. correct
Buried in the snow, Martin found the bicycle. incorrect
Martin found the bicycle buried in the snow. correct
subject/verb agreement / Subject and verb must agree in number—singular subject requires a singular verb; plural subject requires a plural verb.
Students in my class writes well. incorrect
Students in my class write well. correct
The book have torn pages. incorrect
The bookhas torn pages. correct
Adjective clauses—“that” or “who”? / Use “that” for animals and things; use “who” for people.
Anyone that knows the answer should raise his hand.
Anyone who knows the answer should raise his hand.
We visited the man that lives across the street.
We visited the man who lives across the street.
The car that I drive gets good gas mileage.
Eat all the food that is on your plate!
faulty pronoun reference / Every pronoun must have a clear antecedent.
Each student completes their own work. incorrect
Each student completes his or her own work. Correct
Pronouns should refer clearly to a specific noun. Don’t be vague or ambiguous.
Although the motorcycle hit the tree, it was not damaged.
(Is “it” the motorcycle or the tree?)
I don’t think they should show violence on TV.
(Who are “they”?)
parallelism / Keep the wording within a sentence consistent and balanced.
Incorrect I like reading books, playing games, and to eat tacos.
Correct I like reading books, playing games, and eating tacos.
Incorrect She asked for his name and where he lives.
Correct She asked for his name and his address.
Incorrect I like receiving letters much better than to write them.
Correct I like receiving letters much better than writing them.
consistent verb tense
BE CAREFUL—Do not shift
verb tense! / Effective writing maintains consistent verb tense, i.e., past, present, or future.
Today started like any other. I got up, eat breakfast and sit down to read the paper. As I was reading my dog comes into the room and starts to bark. Not his usual “I’m hungry, feed me” whine, but he is really upset about something! I run to the window to look out but I saw nothing.
Today started like any other. I got up, ate breakfast and sat down to read the paper. As I was reading my dog came into the room and started to bark. Not his usual “I’m hungry, feed me” whine, but he was really upset about something! I ran to the window to look out but I saw nothing.
Active/passive voice
BE CAREFUL—Do not shift voice! / Effective writing uses action verbs in the active voice.
The lumberjack cut down the large oak tree. ACTIVE
The large oak tree was cut down by the lumberjack. PASSIVE
In the active voice, the subject is doing the action.