Common

Common Errors
Errors
In Writing
 Most Common Errors
• Point of View
• Shifts in Point of View and Tenses
• Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
• Pronoun Reference
• Commas with Coordinating
Conjunctions
 Point of View
POV Focus
• 1st person I On Writer
• 2nd person You On Reader

• 3rd Person Nouns On Subject

 Shifts
• Point of View Shifts
I: The most important decision I make
is my career choice. You need to pick a
career that you like.
C: The most important decision I make
is my career choice. I need to pick a
career that I like.
 Shifts
• Tense Shifts
– I: Telephone marketers always call when
we were eating.
– C: Telephone marketers always called
when we were eating.
– C: Telephone marketers always call when
we are eating.
 Pronoun/Antecedents
• Pronouns take the place of
nouns(antecedents)
• Pronouns must agree in person and number
(singular or plural)
I: A teacher should explain their
assignments.
C: Teachers should explain their
assignments.
 Pronoun Reference
• Avoid Vague Pronouns
– This, that,or which - should have a specific noun
that it replaces
– You, it, or they - should have a specific noun that
it replaces
I: In Hollywood, they don’t know what movies to
make. They = ? Movie directors
I: It is well known that sunscreen prevents skin
cancer. It = ?
 Commas with
Coordinating Conjunctions
• FANBOYS - For, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so
• These words connect two independent
clauses.
• Always us a comma before a
coordinating conjunction.
• I like ice cream, and I eat it everyday.