Common Errors List

1. Comma Splices - The attempt to join two independent clauses, but without a coordinator.
Ex. I got up late this morning, I didn't have time for breakfast.
How to fix - I got up late this morning. I didn't have time for breakfast.

2. Direct Quotations - End periods and commas go inside of the quotation marks, but periods and commas go after the parenthetical documentation.
Ex. "No!", Jimmy protested (64).

3. Repetition - Repeating a name or a pronoun multiple times in one paragraph
Ex. She likes "The One" the best because it was dedicated to their fans, and she is one.  She also likes "Everybody", because she was a fan when they were first starting out, and she is still a fan now.

4. Affect vs. Effect -
Affect: a verb
Effect: a noun
Ex. Her actions affect the way that her friends are viewed.  An effect of this might be the loss of friendship.

5.Unnecessary Commas - placing a comma where it is not needed/appropriate
Wrong: I like that shirt, but, it doesn't come in my size.
Right: I like that shirt, but it doesn't come in my size.


Commonly Misspelled Words:

Attached
Unnecessary
Accidentally
Guarantee
Supersede