Common Errors to AVOID

Note the following errors and determine to correct them. These are from student essays this semester:

1.       Sentence Fragments:

a.       Technology has taken over the world. No matter where you are, there is always something technological around you. Whether it be in your car, home, or school. It’s useful in our everyday lives. Though maybe a little too useful.

b.      Technology today controls almost everything in our everyday lives. For example, the forms of how to communicate with people to how we travel.

c.       Technology is simple because it makes living so much easier. For example, writing a letter.

2.       Vague Pronoun Reference AND Wordiness:

a.       In the present world that one may know today, he may see the use of cellphones, computers, and television.

3.       Use of clichés (underlined, in case you don’t recognize them):

a.       History has shown that going with the flow allows you to always be up to date and on top of everything.

4.       Confusing and Illogical Syntax . . . sentences that make the reader go, “HUH?”

a.       In the future, or if they already haven’t, will eventually realize that because today’s generation is turning into a technology based world in a certain sense.

5.       How NOT to open the last paragraph (also Wordiness):

a.       In conclusion, the ever evolving technology that we know of today is only going to continue to get getter and progress

6.       Subject-Verb Agreement Errors (ARRGH!!! And Wordiness):

a.       The new generation like myself feel that technology is an awesome thing to have in this life because we was raised into new technology unlike the older generation.

7.       Comma Splice (ARRGH!!):

a.       This quote is humorous to me, it brings me back to a time when touch screen cell phones were becoming very popular.

8.        Spelling error, Faulty Verb, and RUN-ON sentence:

a.       We’ve came along way in this society when it comes to technology I remember my parents telling me that they didn’t have internet when they were growing up.

b.      Technology rules the world now everyone is either on a cell phone, computer, iPad or tablet.

9.       WRONG WORD—SPELLCHECK IS NOT ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND:

a.       Why would anyone hang their closes to dry when the dryer can do the job for them?

10.   Beginning a sentence with a VERB, but no subject; using a numeral rather than spelling out a small number less than one hundred; failure to use an apostrophe:

a.       Is like a child who is 6 knows how to work everything dealing with this new technology versus someone not knowing that much about everything and how it works.