1、Chapter Five Common Errors in Writing This list includes only brief examples and explanations intended for you to use as reminders while you are editing your papers.1. Misuse of Parts of Speech（词性误用）Traditional grammar classifies words based on eight parts of speech: verb, noun, pronoun, adjective,
2、adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.Error Possible RevisionMy sister plagiarismed her homework and got a zero.My sister plagiarised her homework and got a zero.Digital products make our life convenience. Digital products make our life convenient. OR Digital products bring convenience
3、to our life.Digital products have an effect on our work, study and live.Digital products have an effect on our work, study and life.2. Subject-verb agreement error (主谓不一致)All too often the letter s at the end of the third person singular is left out. Even people whose first language is English somet
4、imes have problems in writing the third person correctly, especially when the subject and verb are separated by a long phrase or clause. error Possible RevisionThe state of Afghanistans roads reflect the chaotic situation.The state of Afghanistans roads reflects the chaotic situation.Twenty gallons
5、of gasoline cost a lot of money. Twenty gallons of gasoline costs a lot of money.No one except two students were late for the meeting.No one except two students was late for the meeting.3. Verb tense errorsVerb tenses tell readers when actions take place. When you shift from one tense to another wit
6、h no clear reason, you can confuse readers.English has three time frames: past, present, and future. Each of these is divided into simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive.Present Past FutureSimple =do/does Simple = did Simple = will doProgressive = am/is/are doing Progressive = was/wer
7、e doing Progressive = will be doingPerfect = has/have done Perfect = had done Perfect = will have donePerfect Progressive = has/have been doingPerfect Progressive = had been doingPerfect Progressive = will have been doingError Possible RevisionBut as time passed and I thought about it again, I knew
8、that I was wrong.But as time passed and I thought about it again, I knew that I had been wrong.I thought it was a warning so I felt really nervous when I had been going to see him.I thought it was a warning so I felt really nervous when I was going to see him.The professor told us that Jupiter was t
9、he largest planet.The professor told us that Jupiter is the largest planet.Useful websites:https:/eee.uci.edu/programs/esl/vtlink.htmlhttp:/ Identify the verb tense errors in the following paragraphs and correct them.I will tell him the news when I am going to see him tomorrow.I will tell him the ne
10、ws when I see him tomorrow. The simple present tense is often used in the subordinate clause of a sentence in which both main and subordinate clauses refer to future events.Ex. Identify the verb tense errors in the following paragraphs and correct them.When I was in elementary school, I was so afrai
11、d of taking tests. The night before my final exams, I stayed at home, trying to review all the problems I have already done. However, I felt more and more anxious as I am reviewing. I put down my pen and went outside. Then I was playing basketball. When I came back, I feel exhilarated, and all my st
12、ress was gone. Therefore, to relieve anxiety, taking walks and playing sports were two effective ways that work for me.Answer: have already done had already doneI am reviewing I was reviewing was playing playedI feel I felt were two are two 4. Sentence fragments 残缺句Fragments are incomplete sentences
13、. A fragment sentence lacks a verb, or lacks a subject, or is a subordinate clause not attached to a complete sentence. Make sure each word group you have punctuated as a sentence contains a grammatically complete and independent thought that can stand alone as an acceptable sentence.Fragment Possib
14、le RevisionCambridge offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.Cambridge offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isnt working out too well.I
15、 need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isnt working out too well.Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology.Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife, hoping she would accept his apology.Exercise:The following paragraph has no capital letter
16、s or periods to mark the beginnings and ends of sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be needed to make the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there are no fragments.my brother was always my best friend when I was a child especiall
17、y as we two were almost alone in the world we lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country whenever I think of him now I see a solemn, responsible boy a boy too old for his years who looked out for me no matter what once there was a bully John Anson who looked eno
18、rmous to me though he was probably an average twelve-year-old John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant who liked me he decided to beat me up right before her eyes I was lucky my brother came by he didnt interfere any he just stood there somehow though his presence gave me confidence I li
19、cked the stuffing out of John Anson if my brother hadnt been there I dont think I could have done it.My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country. When
20、ever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his years, who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant, who lik
21、ed me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I was lucky my brother came by. He didnt interfere any. He just stood there. Somehow, though, his presence gave me confidence. I licked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadnt been there, I dont think I could have done it.5. Unclear
22、pronoun reference (代词指代不明)A pronoun such as it or they derives its meaning from its antecedent, the noun it substitutes for. Therefore, a pronoun must refer clearly and unmistakably to its antecedent in order for the meaning to be clear. A sentence such as Jim told Mark he was not invited is not cle
23、ar because the reader does not know whether he refers to Jim or Mark.Unclear pronoun reference Possible RevisionBecause Senator Martin is less interested in the environment than in economic development, he sometimes neglects it.Because of his interest in economic development, Senator Martin sometime
24、s neglects the environment.In Chapter 4 of this book, it describes the early flights of the Wright brothers.Chapter 4 of this book describes the early flights of the Wright brothers.Jody found a lamp in the attic that her aunt had used. In the attic Jody found a lamp that her aunt had used. 6. Mispl
25、aced modifiers 修饰语错位 A modifier is misplaced if readers cant easily relate it to the word it modifies. Misplaced modifiers may be confusing. Remember to link a modifying word, phrase, or clause to the nearest word it could modify.Misplaced modifiers Possible RevisionHe served steak to the men on pap
26、er plates. He served the men steak on paper plates.Kuwait, after the Gulf War ended in 1991, began returning to normal.After the Gulf War ended in 1991, Kuwait began returning to normal.The war had damaged badly many of Kuwaits oil fields. The war had badly damaged many of Kuwaits oil fields.Exercis
27、e: revise the sentences below to correct the positions of modifiers. 1. Channel 4 News weather forecasters predict heavy rains and poor driving conditions. (Weather forecasters at Channel 4 News predict heavy rains and poor driving conditions.)To avoid overuse of noun modifiers that are awkward and
28、confusing, use nouns in only two- or three-word sequences. 2. Before making predictions, meteorologists check a precipitation accumulation measurement gauge.(Before making predictions, meteorologists check a gauge that measures precipitation accumulation.)To avoid overuse of noun modifiers that are
29、awkward and confusing, use nouns in only two- or three-word sequences. 3. The energy company policy states that the price for oil should not increase dramatically in the winter. (The energy companys policy states that the price for oil should not increase dramatically in the winter.)The sentence con
30、tains a possessive form instead of a noun as a modifier. 4. The city mayor has played a center role in keeping energy costs low throughout the year. (The citys mayor has played a central role in keeping energy costs low throughout the year.) The sentence contains an adjective instead of a noun as a
31、modifier. 7. Dangling modifiers 悬垂修饰语A dangling modifier does not sensibly modify anything in its sentence. The modifiers most likely to dangle are participle, infinitive, and prepositional phrases and elliptical clauses.Dangling modifiers Possible RevisionPassing the building, the vandalism became
32、visible. As we passed the building, the vandalism became visible.Driving north, the vegetation became increasingly sparse. Driving north, we noticed that the vegetation became increasingly sparse.While reading my newspaper, my dog sat with me at the door. While I was reading my newspaper, my dog sat
33、 with me at the door.OR: While reading my newspaper, I sat with my dog at the gate.Exercise: revise the following sentences to eliminate any dangling modifiers. 1. To excel in sports, much practice is needed. (To excel in sports, we need much practice.)2. To study in quiet surrounding, the library i
34、s the best place to go. (If you want to study in quiet surrounding, the library is the best place to go.)3. To get to class on time, my alarm is set for 6:00 a.m. (To get to class on time, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m.) 8. MisspellingsSpelling errors are usually perceived as a reflection of the write
35、rs careless attitude toward the whole project.Dont allow your hard work to be marred in this way!In addition to comprehensive dictionaries, you may want to use electronic spell checks, spelling dictionaries, and lists of frequently misspelled words found in handbooks.9. Punctuation problems Punctuat
36、ion tells the reader how to make sense of words alone. Poorly or wrongly used punctuation contributes to awkward writing and reader confusion.For example, how would you speak these words: Im sorry I still love youNotice the difference punctuation makes:Im sorry. I still love you.Im sorry I still lov
37、e you!Make sure that you can use the following punctuation marks correctly.The period ( or the full stop) 句号The question mark 问号The exclamation mark 感叹号 this mark is used to give extremely strong emphasis to a statement. It should be used very sparingly. The comma 逗号The semicolon 分号The apostrophe 撇号
38、The quotation marks 引号The colon 冒号The dash 破折号The ellipsis mark 省略号The slash 斜线. Chapter 6 Writing a SummaryIntroduction: Summarising is one of the tasks most often required in academic classes, as it shows a good understanding of a text. It is a valuable skill to have when you are integrating mater
39、ials from sources you have read into your own writing. Writing a summary brings together a number of important reading, study, and writing skills. It can be a real aid to understanding; you must “get inside” the material and realize fully what is being said before you can reduce its meaning to a few
40、 words.1. What is a summary? A summary is a condensed or shortened version of a book, article, a TV show, or the like. A summary does not use symbols such as I, A, 1, 2, etc. to indicate the relations among parts of the original material. The summary presents the most important ideas of the original
41、 in your own words do not give your own ideas or criticisms as part of the summary. 2. Why do we need to summarize? Summarizing is a good exercise for improving reading a reader is forced to try to understand what he has read. Summarizing has practical uses in profession fields such as science, engi
42、neering, law, and business.3. Characteristics of a good summary.Discussion: Read the following model summary and discuss its characteristics.A model summary of a magazine article:In “Students Shall Not Download. Yeah, Sure.“(New York Times, 20.09.2003), Kate Zernike describes the attitudes of studen
43、ts at Pennsylvania State University to illegal downloading of Internet material. She points out that while they are aware of the illegality, they think that is all right to ignore the law on this issue, just as they ignore the age limit on the consumption of alcohol. This attitude is encouraged by v
44、arious factors: the ease by which they are able to download, their assumption that the Internet belongs to everyone, and the availability of Internet services on campus and their importance to university life. Warnings against illegal downloading from the university authorities have little effect be
45、cause students do not agree that such downloading causes any harm. Unlike older people, they see no point in paying money to buy a recording of a song. Threats of punishment make students more cautious, but in no way lead them to stop downloading.Characteristics: 1) Proper Citation: start by citing
46、the title and author of the work. Include in parentheses the date of publication in the case of a journal or magzine. Example:In “Someone Is Stealing Your Life” (Time, October 13, 2000), Michael Ventura argues that American workers are being treated as slaves, and calls on employers to value the con
47、tribution of workers to the success of companies. 2) Thesis Statement: states the central theme of the work in one sentence. A thesis statement comprises two parts: a) the topic or general subject matter of the workb) the authors major assertion, comment, or position on the topic. 3) Supporting Idea
48、s:a) Cover all of the authors major supporting ideas. b) Show the relationships among these ideas.c) Delete unnecessary details that are not important to the overall meaning of the reading.d) Do not include any personal opinions, ideas, and inferences. Let the reader know that you are reporting the
49、authors ideas.4) Grammar and the Mechanics of Writing: Grammar and related concerns ensure that, as a writer, you communicate clearly to your reader.a) Express the main ideas and key supporting details in your own words.b) Quote from the material only to illustrate key points. Also, limit your quotations. A one-paragraph summary should not contain more than one or two quoted sentences. Use quotation marks if you quote the original sentence.c) Preserve the balance and proportion of the
