Errors Most

Frequently
Made by
Students
Sentence
Fragment
Jamal is very athletic.
Plays a great game of
tennis.

Fragment that
lacks a subject.
Solution:
Jamal is very athletic.
He plays a great game of
tennis.

Add a subject to
the fragment to
Sabra saw a bright light
in the sky. Meteor with
brilliant colors.
Fragment that
lacks a
Solution A:
Sabra saw a bright light in
the sky. Meteor with
brilliant colors was
flashing by.
Add a complete verb or a
helping verb to make the
Solution B:
Sabra saw a bright light in
the sky – a meteor with
brilliant colors.
Combine the
fragment with
Jose often succeeds.
Because he is persistent.

Fragment
that is a
Solution A:
Jose often succeeds
because he is persistent.
Combine the
fragment with
Solution B:
Jose often succeeds. He
is persistent.
Rewrite the fragment
as a complete
sentence, eliminating
the subordination
conjunction or the
relative pronoun and
adding a subject or
Kate felt ill and left the
theater. Before the end
of the movie.
Fragment that lacks both
a subject and a verb
Run-on
Sentence
Paula told me the answer
to the riddle, I have
forgotten what she said.
Comma splice –
two main clause
separated only by
Solution A:
Paula told me the answer
to the riddle. I have
forgotten what she said.
Replace the comma
with an end mark of
punctuation, such as a
period or a question
Solution B:
Paula told me the answer
to the riddle; I have
forgotten what she said.
Place a semicolon
between the two
main clauses.
Solution C:
Paula told me the answer
to the riddle, but I have
forgotten what she said.
Add a
coordinating
conjunction.
The lights flickered a
few times then they
went out.
Two main clauses
with no
punctuation
Solution A:
The lights flickered a few
times. Then they went
out.
Separate the main clauses
with an end mark of
punctuation, such as a period
or a question mark, and begin
the second sentence with a
Solution B:
The lights flickered a few
times; then they went out.

Separate the main

clauses with a
semicolon.
Solution C:
The lights flickered a few
times, and then they went
out.
Add comma and a
coordinating
conjunction between
Ilona would like to own
a pet but she is allergic
to most animals.
Two main clauses
with no comma before
the coordinating
Solution:
Ilona would like to
own a pet, but she is
allergic to most animals.
Add comma before the
coordinating
conjunction to separate
Lack of Pronoun-
Antecedent
Agreement
An attorney must protect
his clients’ interests.

A singular
antecedent that
can be either male
Solution A:
An attorney must protect
his or her clients’
interests.
Reword the
sentence to use he
or she, him or her,
Solution B:
Attorneys must protect
their clients’ interests.
Reword the
sentence so that
both the
antecedent and the
Solution C:
An attorney must protect
every clients’ interests.

Reword the
sentence to
eliminate the
Isaiah drinks milk because
it supplies you with
calcium and protein.
A second-person
pronoun that
refers to a third-
Solution A:
Isaiah drinks milk
because it supplies him
with calcium and protein.
Use the
appropriate
Solution B:
Isaiah drinks milk
because it supplies people
with calcium and protein.
Use an
appropriate
noun instead of
Each of the mothers
brought their own child to
the zoo.

A singular indefinite
pronoun as an
antecedent
Solution:

Each of the mothers

brought her own child to
the zoo.
Don’t be fooled by a prepositional
phrase that contains a plural noun.
Determine whether the indefinite
pronoun antecedent is a singular or
plural, and make the noun agree.
Lack of Clear
Pronoun
Reference
The musicians
played, which we
enjoyed.
A pronoun
reference that is
weak or vague
Solution:

The musicians played

several old songs, which
we enjoyed.
Rewrite the sentence,
adding a clear
antecedent for the
When Nelson Gave his
father the book, he
beamed with pleasure
A pronoun that refers
to more than one
antecedent.
Solution:

When Nelson gave his father

the book, the boy beamed
with pleasure.

Rewrite the sentence,

substituting a noun for
the pronoun.
In court you are
innocent until proved
guilty.
The indefinite
use of you or
they.
Shift in
Pronoun
I like movies that
keep you guessing.
An incorrect
shift in person
between two
Solution A:

I like movies that keep

me guessing.
Replace the incorrect
pronoun with a
pronoun that agrees
Solution B:

I like movies that keep

the audience guessing.
Replace the incorrect
pronoun with an
appropriate noun.
Jan opens the can and
savored the aroma.

An
unnecessary
shift in tense
Solution:

Jan opens the can and

savors the aroma.
Use the correct
tense of the
By the time the coach
sent him in, Julius sat on
the bench for an hour.
A lack of correct shift in
tenses to show that one
event precedes or
follows another
Solution:

By the time the coach sane

him in, Julius had sat on the
bench for an hour.
Shift from the past tense to
indicate that one action
began and ended before
another past action began.