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Common Writing Errors

The document describes 18 common writing errors and provides examples to illustrate each error. It discusses issues like incomplete sentences, subject-verb agreement, misspelled words, passive versus active voice, use of contractions, singular versus plural nouns, misplaced modifiers, ambiguous terms like "very" and "significant", and others. It emphasizes the importance of proofreading and following submission guidelines when preparing manuscripts for publication.

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Abdul Rohim
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66 views24 pages

Common Writing Errors

The document describes 18 common writing errors and provides examples to illustrate each error. It discusses issues like incomplete sentences, subject-verb agreement, misspelled words, passive versus active voice, use of contractions, singular versus plural nouns, misplaced modifiers, ambiguous terms like "very" and "significant", and others. It emphasizes the importance of proofreading and following submission guidelines when preparing manuscripts for publication.

Uploaded by

Abdul Rohim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common

Writing
Errors
ERROR # 1
Incomplete Sentences

 Incorrect: The two extractions were


combined. Then dried for five hours.
 Correct: The two extractions were combined
and then dried for five hours.
 More correct: The two extracts were pooled
and dried by evaporation on a rotary
evaporator.
ERROR # 2
Subject-Verb Agreement
If the subject is singular (or plural) the verb must
match appropriately.
In the following defective sentence, the noun is plural
while its verb is singular.

 Incorrect: Our results indicates the significance of


intracellular signaling systems.

 Correct: Our results indicate the significance of


intracellular signaling systems.
ERROR # 3
Misspelled Words

This requires no explanation, other than to say the


professional price paid for chronic misspellings
can be very embarrassing (or worse).
ERROR # 4
Passive vs. Active Voice
The active tends to make the writing tighter, more
personal, and introduces action early in the sentence.
Passive: The theory is supported by the results.
Active : The results support the theory.

Passive: Attempts were made by the researchers to


assess the project.
Active: The researchers attempted to assess the project.
ERROR # 5
When to use "et al.“
The phrase "et al." is used when citing a technical
reference of three or more authors.
Examples:
 Smith et al. (1983) found that... (indicates that this
reference had at least three authors, the first of
whom was Smith).
 Smith and Jones (1999) found that... (indicates that
this reference had two authors).
ERROR # 6
Affect vs. Effect
 "Affect" is a verb, "effect" is a noun. Remember
"NEVA" (noun effect verb affect)
Examples:
 The effect of the medication was noticeable.

 Medication rates affect the level of hypertension.


ERROR # 7
Use of contractions (its vs. it's or weren’t
vs. were not)

"It's" is the contraction of "it is". In general, avoid using any


contractions in scientific writing.

 Incorrect: Results didn't differ among treatment groups.


 Correct: Results did not differ among treatment groups.
ERROR # 8
Data vs. Datum
"Data" is plural, "datum" is singular.

Examples:
 The data are ....

 The datum is...


ERROR # 9
Significant
 "Significant" is a key word in science and is usually
reserved for discussion of statistical results.
When statistical analyses are not being discussed,
use a synonym such as "substantially".
 Not good: Increases in cancer rates in Gage County
may be especially significant.
 Better: Increases in cancer rates in Gage County
were substantial.
 Differences in the treatment means were significant
(p < 0.5).
ERROR # 10
Writing numbers less than 1.0
(.78 vs. 0.78)

When writing a number that is less than 1.0, always


place a zero to the left of the decimal.

 Incorrect: .454, .8, etc.


 Correct: 0.454, 0.8, etc.
ERROR # 11
Writing Numbers
(5 vs. five, Fifteen rupees vs. 15 rupees)
 Use words for numbers less than ten or if starting a sentence.
 Chickens have two legs.
 Fifteen chickens crossed the road
 There are 16 balls in the box.

 Use numerals when with a unit of measurement.


 Most tissue samples weighed less than 15 grams.
 Several tissue samples weighed less than 4 grams.
 The audience included 3 students, 8 instructors, and 13 parents.
ERROR # 12
Since vs. Because
"Since" should be restricted to making time comparisons.

 Incorrect: Since they have rich soil, tallgrass prairies were


rapidly converted to row crop agriculture.

 Correct:
Because of its rich soil, tallgrass prairies were rapidly
converted to row crop agriculture.
Since settlement by Europeans, tallgrass prairies have
largely disappeared.
ERROR # 13
e.g. vs. i.e.
"e.g." means "for example", and
"i.e." means "in other words".

Organisms living in water (e.g., fish and alligators)


often perish (i.e., die) when exposed to air for
significant periods of time.
ERROR # 14
Misplaced Modifiers
 Be cautious about the use of "with", "using", and
other modifiers. Note problems with the following
example:
 Not good: Using ANOVA, animals were .....
(This implies that the animals were somehow able
to perform a statistical analysis!)
 Better: Statistical analysis showed that animal
groups ...
ERROR # 15
Very
 In general, avoid using the word "very" anywhere
in your manuscript. Rather, be precise and exact.
Not good: Individuals from seacoast populations
consumed very high concentrations of omega-3
fatty acids compared to individuals from inland
populations.
 Better: Individuals from seacoast populations
consumed 3.2 times more omega-3 fatty acids than
individuals from inland populations.
ERROR # 16
That vs. Which
 The pasta sauce, which came from KFC, was a
crowd favorite.
 The pasta sauce that came from KFC was a crowd
favorite.

The traditional approach is to use


"that" with restrictive clauses
and
"which" with nonrestrictive clauses
ERROR # 16 (Contd)
 The birds, which were singing, had arrived earlier
in the spring.

 Only birds that were singing were considered to be


reproductively active.

 She had a dog, which was incredibly smart, that


she brought to the competition.
ERROR # 17
Among vs. Between
"Among" refers to three or more objects or groups.
"Between" refers to exactly two objects or groups.

 Not good: There were no significant differences


between the five treatment groups.
 Better:
There were no significant differences among the
five treatment groups.
ERROR # 18
Use of Spell Checkers
 Blind use of spell checkers does not identify
correctly spelled words that are used incorrectly.
 Incorrect: Students choose there own seating
arrangements.
 Correct: Students choose their own seating
arrangements.
Wrapping the Package
 Request guidelines before submitting work
(review author guidelines of a journal)
 Submit your work in the standard manuscript
format, unless otherwise directed by the editor
 Cover letter that explains why the journal should
consider your manuscript and declares any
competing interest.
 Be patient with the editor in waiting for a
response (If after four weeks you hear nothing,
drop a friendly little mail and ask about the status
of your work)
 If the editor accepts your manuscript for
publication, return any information they give
you as soon as possible
 If you receive any comments from Editor, revise
your manuscript accordingly
 Keep a copy of the work you submit
Take Home Message

If you’re truly a writer, rejection won’t stop you,


for if you want success badly enough, you’ll
persist and, ultimately, you’ll succeed.

(Barbara Bretton,1996)

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