Examples

Examples of Writing

Mistakes, and Editing or

Proofreading Corrections

The following examples show editing and proofreading corrections for some of the most common, simple writing mistakes. The program “Track Changes,” a convenient tool that is part of the MS Word program, was used to “highlight” the changes. “Track Changes” can be set to “show” or “hide” the changes that have been made, and can be easily used to accept/reject any or all changes. I will send one copy of your edited or proofread document with the “Track Changes” features and one copy that is free of “Tracked Changes” features.

1. Improper word choice (usage/definition): The anthropologist’s work was negatively eaffected by the rainy season.

2. Improper word choice (usage level – this depends on which word is appropriate in the context: the formal, middle level, casual or jargon/slang word.): “Would you please givecall the attorney a buzz?

3. Improper word choice (idiom): A meter is equal towith 39.37 inches.

4. Improper word choice (connotation): The pollution from the paper mill gave off an obnoxious odorfragrance.

5. Improper verb tense: Before the Civil War ended, devastation had visited the North and the South.

6. Lack of agreement between subject and verb: The books plus the invoice werewas sent today.

7. Lack of agreement between compound subject and verb: The painter and his agent werewas at the party.

8.  Improper change in verb tense: When I took my young daughter to her guitar lesson, she was quite well-behaved in the car. But as soon as we arrived at the instructor’s, she startedstarts misbehaving.

9. Need for the subjunctive tense (optional, depending on preference): If I werewas King for a day, I would declare ten new national holidays.

10. Improper past participle: He has lainlaid there all day.

11. The overuse of the passive form: The boss treated the employees unfairly. The employees were treated unfairly by the boss.

12. Mixed construction: My sister, she always arrives a half hour late.

13. Run on sentence: While in Rome, I saw the Coliseum. I also saw Vatican City.

14. Sentence fragment: I saw my old classmate today and we talked about old times., Mostlymostly about how we were going to change the world.

15. Lack of commas: A pretty, yellow and white, striped shirt.

16. Lack of commas: Great cuisine is a thoroughly pleasurable, though not inexpensive, experience.

17. Comma splice: The board thought the proposal to be problematic;, however, they adopted it anyway.

18. Comma splice: The directors deemed the problem to be complex, but they decided to study it further.

19. Use of an adjective where an adverb is required: The children sing beautifully.

20. Improper object pronoun: Just between you and meI, Bill is going to get the promotion.

21. Use of an object instead of subject: Joe and IMe and Joe are best friends.

22. The use of “who” instead of “whom”: To whom it may concern:

23. The double negative: He couldn’t see anythingnothing.

24. Unclear use of “this” or “that”: The Olympics will be held in Athens this year where the Greek officials have managed to surmount numerous obstacles to assure excellent security. Having the Olympics in AthensThis is just fantastic!

25. Improper spacing: The museum is closed today.(one space between sentences)Let’s go to the movies.

26. Use of a noun instead of a verb: How do you intend to decorate your new house? What are your intentions regarding decorating your new house?

27. Redundancy: They vow to defeat the present incumbent.

28. Wordiness: The one thing that really impressed him about her family was the fact that all of the members gave him the impression that, no matter what your particular problem might be, if you needed their help, they would surely do everything they could to assist you.  He was impressed by the fact that all her family seemed ready to help you in any way they could, no matter what your problem.

29. Misuse of articles: The reportReport is due out in April.

30. Improper comparison: I am taller than you are.

31. Lack of parallel structure: Next year I will finish my book, and I will also take a trip to Europe.

32. Improper possessive: The MacKenzies’MacKenzie’s family business is growing quickly.

33. Improper singular/plural: One criterioncriteria is particularly difficult to meet.

34. Awkward expression: Traveling and experiencing different cultures are very enriching to a person. Traveling and experiencing other cultures are enriching.

35. Choppy sentences: The hybrid car saves its owner a great amount of money. It does this by providing very high fuel efficiency.

36. The split infinitive: It is prudent to carefully plan one’s budget carefully.

37. The use of sexist language: DoctorsA doctor should not only treat, but should also advise, theirhis patients. Or: A doctor should not only treat, but should also advise, his or her patients. Or: A doctor should not only treat, but should also advise their patients.

38. Misspellings: We must sepaerate fact from fiction.

39. Typographical errors: A stitch in time savbes nine.

40. Misuse of quotation marks/italics: The Grapes of Wrath“The Grapes of Wrath”.

Writing Mistakes of a More General Nature

41. An improper paragraph break: two paragraphs that function better as one, or one paragraph that functions better as two, etc. 

42. An improper chapter break.

43. Problems with logic, such as drawing a conclusion that does not follow from the preceding material.

44. Organizational/structural problems, such as an illogical sequence.

45. Lack of proper paragraph (or narrative) transitions.

46. Lack of an effective introduction or conclusion.

47. Style problems (the style should be appropriate and consistent throughout).

48. Tone problems (the tone should be appropriate and consistent throughout).  

49. Formatting mistakes (such as inadvertent variations in the margins, font size, font type, etc.).

50. Incomplete bibliographic information.

51. Lack of focus on thesis.

52. Lack of support for thesis.

53. Inaccurate information.

54. Lack of consistency between the information within a document, or between the information in a document and the information in a source document.