Write a 300-350 word letter reflecting on how you will apply what you learned in the attachments.
novakingwai
frequent_grammar_erros1.pptxFrequent Grammar & Writing Errors
Business Communication, MGT309
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred
You wear you language like you wear your clothes.
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Grammar
List of Common Errors:
Letter and space omission
Punctuation errors
Spelling errors
Subject and verb agreement
Word missing
Capitalization errors
Reversed numbers in figures
Incorrect details: dates, telephone numbers, email addresses
2
Punctuation
Missing comma after introductory
Incorrect: After I read Ms. Smith’s email I retrieved the document from the file cabinet.
Correct: After I read Ms. Smith’s email, I retrieved the document from the file cabinet.
3
Punctuation
Misplaced punctuation with quotes
Incorrect: The speaker said, “That every leader is to walk their talk”.
Correct: The speaker said, “Every leader is to walk their talk.”
4
Punctuation
Missing comma in a series
Incorrect: I need to bring my lunch my book bag and my cell phone to school tomorrow.
Correct: I need to bring my lunch, my book bag, and my cell phone to school tomorrow.
5
Punctuation
Comma splice
Incorrect: Yesterday Jim turned in his 10 page paper to his professor and his professor said the paper was well organized.
Correct: Yesterday Jim turned in his 10 page paper to his professor, and his professor said the paper was well organized.
6
Punctuation
Possessive apostrophe error
Incorrect: Dr. Patricia Sullivan, the schools seventh Chancellor, retired in 2008.
Correct: Dr. Patricia Sullivan, the school’s seventh Chancellor, retired in 2008.
7
Punctuation
Misuse of semi-colon, colon or period.
Incorrect: John invited Tim to the meeting: however, he was not able to attend.
Correct: John invited Tim to the meeting; however, he was not able to attend.
8
Word Choice
Misuse of
it’s, its
you’re, your
there, their, they’re
to, two, too
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Word Choice
Correct use of who, that and which
Remember that who refers to people and that and which can refer to people or objects.
Use commas around which.
Do not use commas around that.
Salvatore Lacone, Write to the Point.
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Word Choice
which (nonrestrictive) vs. that (restrictive)
The blue car, which has been driven 120,000 miles, is for sale.
This sentence focuses on the blue car for sale.
The blue car that has 120,000 miles on the odometer is for sale.
This sentence points more directly to a particular car.
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Word Choice
who (direct) vs. whom (indirect)
“Who needs a soda to drink?
“To whom does this soda belong?”
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Overused Words
there
it
because
lot
very
and
while
this
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Some are Fillers.
Pronouns
Singular versus plural
Incorrect: If one is tense, they should try to relax.
Correct: If one is tense, he or she needs to relax.
14
Pronouns
Pronoun agreement error
Incorrect: The young man and his father knew that he was in trouble.
Who is in trouble...the boy…the father…some other person?
Correct: The young man and his father knew Jason was in trouble.
15
Word Choice
“this” without its modifier
Incorrect: This is very comfortable.
Correct: This desk is very comfortable.
16
Passive to Active
Overuse of passive voice
Passive: The project was discussed by the supervisors.
Active: The supervisors discussed the project.
17
Subject/Verb
Tense shift
Incorrect: When we went to the store; I buy some office supplies.
Correct: When we went to the store, I bought some office supplies.
18
Subject/Verb
Subject-verb agreement
Incorrect: Eight people is in the meeting.
Correct: Eight people are in the meeting.
19
Sentence Structure
Dangling or misplaced modifier
Incorrect: If your car is parked here while not during office hours, it will be towed away.
Correct: Your car will be towed away if parked here during office hours.
20
Sentence Structure
Sentence fragment
Incorrect: Susie having to go work early.
Correct: Susie had to go work early.
21
Sentence Structure
Run-on sentence
Sentences that run on forever, they are sentences that ought to have been two or even three sentences but the writer didn’t stop to sort them out, leaving the reader feeling exhausted by the sentence’s end which is too long in coming.
www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/grammar.shtml
22
Sentence Structure
Poor parallelism
Incorrect: Everyone on the team was asked to bring their suggestions, plenty of paper to write on, and plans.
Correct: Everyone on the team was asked to bring suggestions, paper, and plans.
23
Control Paragraph Length
“Although no rule regulates the length of paragraphs, business writers typically use paragraphs of 8 or fewer lines. Long, solid chunks of print appear formidable.”
24
Avoid Zig-Zag Writing
I appreciate the time you spent with me in our interview last week, and I have enrolled in a Photoshop course.
I appreciate the time you spent with me in our interview last week. As a result of your advice, I enrolled in a Photoshop course.
25
Developing Unity
Our insurance plan is available in all the states and provinces, and you may name anyone as a beneficiary for your coverage.
Our insurance plan is available in all the states and provinces. What’s more, you may name anyone as a beneficiary for your coverage.
26
Writing Mistakes
Vague or weak thesis
Poor organization/flow
Not varying sentence starts
Intro missing setup or thesis or hook
Body weak in details (completeness)
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Writing Mistakes
Fails to stay on focus/topic
Conclusion stating a new idea
Conclusion not restating differently the thesis/main idea
Poor transitioning
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Correction Strategies
Proofread!
Seek Writing Center support
Peer review
Read it out loud. State the punctuation.
Always spell check.
Check your sentence starts.
29
Writing
“If I went back to college again, I’d concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important that the ability to communicate effectively.”
Gerald Ford
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