While in a university or a college, every student must write different forms of academic papers. It can be essays, term papers, or any other related papers. Some students find it hard to write the best essays because of several errors that happen during writing. However, other students have done such essays severally and are used to them. Even if you are an expert in writing, some mistakes happen naturally, and if not corrected, they can lead to failure. Some of these errors are pretty common, including irrelevant punctuation, misspells, poor grammar, among many others. The question now arises, how can students avoid such mistakes? Read below to unleash more.
- Comma splices
There are instances that a student has to join two sentences instead of splitting them apart. Such an incidence is known as comma splices. When on a sentence, the comma splices work together. Let us take the example below:
- She was extra hungry, she ate the whole burger
- She was extremely hungry. She ate the whole burger
- She was extra hungry, so she ate the whole burger
Splicing means connecting two sentences. The comma plays a significant role and not joining two sentences. When writing an essay, you must understand the comma’s purpose and differentiate it from semicolons. When using words such as but, and, so, especially, among others, there must be a comma somewhere if you aren’t sure, check with the dictionary or ask for help.
- Incorrect verb forms
This is one of the grammar errors my student fails to understand. Sometimes, even native speakers experience challenges handling verb forms in a sentence. Examples of standard verb conjunction errors include the following.
- I seen the series last week instead of I saw the series last week (seen and saw)
- I been to the hospital instead of I have been to the hospital. (I been and I have been)
- I don the job instead of I did the job (done and did)
There are many other examples that you must put into consideration. Always understand the timing you are writing such phrases.
- Subject-verb disagreement
Whenever writing any document, the subject must align as required with the verb conjunction. Understand the nature of the sentence. Are you talking on a singular or plural basis? Once you can define this, you are good to go.
- Run-on sentences
Experts in grammar suggest that most students often commit this error when writing academic work. A run-on sentence implies two or more phrases that can stand on their own in one sentence. The common run-on mistakes students commit are disregarding a comma before words like or, but, and (coordinating conjunction), among others
- Pronoun-antecedent disagreement
Whenever including pronouns in your writing, ensure the reader understands what you mean in the context. Examples include the use of him and her. Let us take the example below.
- Ben had a lunchbox for Ray but couldn’t deliver it because he was in her way
- Ben had a lunchbox for Ray but couldn’t deliver it because Peter was in Ray’s way.
Instead of using the pronouns like her or him, give the reader exact names. For instance, in the first sentence, the reader isn’t sure who the second is. However, in the second sentence, the reader can see that the second is Peter.