Unit-III: Identifying Common Errors in Writing

This unit focuses on recognizing and correcting the most frequent grammatical and stylistic errors that undermine clarity and precision in written communication.

COMMON ERRORS IN WRITING
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SUBJECT- NOUN- MISPLACED ARTICLES PREPOSITIONS REDUNDANCIES
VERB PRONOUN MODIFIERS
AGREEMENT AGREEMENT
 

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular/plural) and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Rule 1 — Intervening Phrases: Phrases between subject and verb do not change the verb’s number.

✗ The list of items were long.
✓ The list of items was long.
Rule 2 — Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb; those joined by “or/nor” agree with the nearest subject.

✗ Neither the manager nor the employees was available.
✓ Neither the manager nor the employees were available.
Rule 3 — Indefinite Pronouns: Words like everyone, each, either, neither are singular.

✗ Each of the reports are due Friday.
✓ Each of the reports is due Friday.

2. Noun-Pronoun Agreement

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number, gender, and person.

Error Type Incorrect Correct
Number Mismatch The team submitted their report. The team submitted its report.
Gender Mismatch The company expanded his operations. The company expanded its operations.
Ambiguous Reference When the manager met the client, he was late. When the manager met the client, the client was late.

3. Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it describes. Misplacement creates ambiguity or unintended humor.

Misplaced Modifier:

✗ The manager approved the proposal with the new budget.
✓ The manager with the new budget approved the proposal.
Dangling Modifier: The subject of the modifier is missing or unclear.

✗ Having finished the audit, the report was filed.
✓ Having finished the audit, the auditor filed the report.

4. Articles

Articles (a, an, the) are determiners that signal whether a noun is specific or general. Their misuse is one of the most common ESL errors.

Article Usage Rule Example
a Before a singular countable noun beginning with a consonant sound. She is a manager.
an Before a singular countable noun beginning with a vowel sound. He is an engineer.
the Before specific or previously mentioned nouns, superlatives, and unique items. The report was submitted.
Common Error:

✗ I need an uniform for the event.
✓ I need a uniform for the event. (Because “uniform” begins with a “yoo” consonant sound.)

5. Prepositions

Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence, indicating relationships of time, place, direction, or manner. Incorrect preposition choice changes meaning.

Incorrect Correct Note
Discuss about the plan Discuss the plan “Discuss” is transitive.
Afraid from failure Afraid of failure Fixed collocation.
Good in mathematics Good at mathematics Skill uses “at”.

6. Redundancies

Redundancy is the unnecessary repetition of meaning using different words in the same phrase. It weakens writing and signals imprecise thinking.

Redundant Phrase Concise Revision
Repeat again Repeat
Future plans Plans
End result Result
Basic fundamentals Fundamentals
Advance planning Planning
Close proximity Proximity

Key Learning Summary

Core Subtopic Key Takeaway & Operational Rule
Subject-Verb Agreement Match singular/plural subjects with the correct verb form; ignore intervening phrases.
Noun-Pronoun Agreement Pronouns must match their antecedent in number, gender, and person.
Misplaced Modifiers Place modifiers next to the word they describe; avoid dangling constructions.
Articles Choose a/an by sound, not spelling; use the for specific references.
Prepositions Learn fixed collocations; preposition errors alter meaning.
Redundancies Eliminate repeated meanings to achieve concise, precise writing.

 

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