Key to Writing Errors and Abbreviations

Key to Writing Errors and Abbreviations

Meaning, Organization, Style, etc.

Amb = Ambiguous

Awk = Awkward phrasing

Cap = Improper capitalization or lack of capitalization

Cit = Citation for a quotation of a paraphrase is missing or incomplete

e.g. = An example is called for here

Exp = Expand on this point

Expl = Explain

Gr = Grammar

Ir = Irrelevant – this point doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the topic of the paper

Ital = Add or remove italics

Par = Paragraphs are either too short (less than 3 sentences or 7 lines, whichever is longer)

or too long (more than ¾ of a page) – Short introductions may be an exception

Rep = Repetitive

Sp = Spelling

Tan = Tangential – this point deserves less attention or none at all

Tran = Lack of a clear transition – it is unclear where this point falls within the overall

framework of the paper

V = Vague

= Separate words accidentally joined together

= Join together parts of a word accidentally separated

= Reverse the order of the encompassed words or phrases

Grammar

1. Missing comma after an introductory element

2. Vague pronoun reference

3. Missing comma in a compound sentence

4. Wrong word

5. Missing comma(s) with a nonrestrictive element

6. Wrong or missing verb ending

7. Wrong or missing preposition

8. Comma splice

9. Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe

10. Unnecessary shift in tense

11. Unnecessary shift in pronoun

12. Sentence fragment

13. Wrong tense or verb form

14. Lack of subject-verb agreement

15. Missing comma in a series

16. Lack of agreement between pronoun and antecedent

17. Unnecessary comma(s) with a restrictive element

18. Fused sentence

19. Misplaced or dangling modifier

20. Its/it’s confusion

21. Wrong or missing article