English Comp Common Grammar Errors
31 flashcards covering English Comp Common Grammar Errors for the ENGLISH-COMPOSITION English Comp Topics section.
Common grammar errors in English composition encompass a range of issues, including subject-verb agreement, incorrect verb tenses, and misuse of punctuation. These errors are outlined in the curriculum standards established by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), which emphasizes the importance of clear and effective communication in writing.
On practice exams and competency assessments for English Composition, questions often focus on identifying and correcting these common errors in context. Test-takers may encounter multiple-choice questions that present sentences with intentional mistakes, requiring them to select the correct option. A common pitfall is overlooking subtle errors, such as misplaced modifiers or comma splices, which can lead to confusion and incorrect answers.
To improve writing clarity, always review your work for common grammar errors, as even small mistakes can significantly impact the reader's understanding.
Terms (31)
- 01
What is a common error when using apostrophes?
A common error is using apostrophes to form plurals, such as writing "CD's" instead of "CDs." Apostrophes should only indicate possession or contractions (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 02
How should you correctly use commas in a compound sentence?
Commas should be used before the coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when joining two independent clauses, e.g., "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Sentence Structure).
- 03
What is a common subject-verb agreement error?
A common error occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in number, such as saying "The team are winning" instead of "The team is winning" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Agreement).
- 04
Which of the following is an example of a misplaced modifier?
An example of a misplaced modifier is: "She almost drove her kids to school every day," which implies she did not actually drive them, instead of "She drove her kids to school almost every day" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Modifiers).
- 05
What is the rule for using 'who' versus 'whom'?
Use 'who' as a subject and 'whom' as an object in a sentence. For example, "Who is coming to dinner?" versus "To whom should I address the letter?" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Pronouns).
- 06
How often should you check for run-on sentences in your writing?
You should check for run-on sentences during the editing phase of your writing process to ensure clarity and proper sentence structure (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Sentence Structure).
- 07
What is the correct way to use semicolons?
Semicolons should be used to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list. For example, "I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 08
What is a common error with pronoun antecedent agreement?
A common error is using a singular pronoun to refer to a plural antecedent, such as saying "Everyone should bring their own lunch," instead of "Everyone should bring his or her own lunch" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Pronouns).
- 09
When should you avoid using passive voice?
You should avoid passive voice when clarity and directness are needed, especially in academic writing. For example, instead of saying "The book was read by the student," say "The student read the book" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Voice).
- 10
What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?
'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence something, while 'effect' is a noun meaning the result of a change. For example, "The weather can affect your mood," versus "The effect of the weather on mood is significant" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Commonly Confused Words).
- 11
What is a dangling participle?
A dangling participle occurs when a participial phrase does not clearly modify a noun in the sentence, such as in "Walking down the street, the flowers were beautiful," which incorrectly suggests the flowers were walking (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Modifiers).
- 12
How should you punctuate a list within a sentence?
When punctuating a list within a sentence, use commas to separate items, and use a conjunction before the last item. For example, "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 13
What is the correct form of 'less' versus 'fewer'?
Use 'fewer' for countable items and 'less' for uncountable items. For example, "There are fewer apples in this basket than in that one" versus "There is less water in this bottle" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Common Errors).
- 14
What is the rule for using 'that' versus 'which'?
Use 'that' for restrictive clauses and 'which' for non-restrictive clauses. For example, "The book that I borrowed was excellent" versus "The book, which I borrowed last week, was excellent" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Clauses).
- 15
What is an example of a comma splice?
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, such as in "It was raining, I stayed home." This can be corrected by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Sentence Structure).
- 16
How can you identify a fragment in a sentence?
A fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject or a verb or does not express a complete thought. For example, "Because I was tired" is a fragment (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Sentence Structure).
- 17
What is the proper use of quotation marks?
Quotation marks should be used to enclose direct quotes, titles of short works, and to indicate irony or special meaning. For example, "She said, 'I will be late'" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 18
What is a common error with the use of 'its' and 'it's'?
A common error is confusing 'its' (possessive form) with 'it's' (contraction of 'it is'). For example, "It's a beautiful day" versus "The dog wagged its tail" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Commonly Confused Words).
- 19
When should you use a colon?
Use a colon to introduce a list, a quote, or an explanation after an independent clause. For example, "She brought three things: a pen, paper, and a notebook" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 20
What is the difference between 'lay' and 'lie'?
'Lay' requires a direct object and means to place something down, while 'lie' does not require an object and means to recline. For example, "I will lay the book on the table" versus "I will lie down now" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Commonly Confused Words).
- 21
What is a common error in using adjectives and adverbs?
A common error is using an adjective when an adverb is needed, such as saying "She sings beautiful" instead of "She sings beautifully" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Adjectives and Adverbs).
- 22
How do you correctly use parentheses in writing?
Parentheses should be used to include additional information or asides that are not essential to the main point. For example, "The committee (which met last week) made a decision" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 23
What is the rule for using hyphens in compound adjectives?
Hyphens should be used in compound adjectives when they precede a noun, such as in "well-known author" but not in "the author is well known" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 24
What is a common error with using double negatives?
A common error is using two negatives to express a single negative idea, such as saying "I don't need no help" instead of "I don't need any help" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Common Errors).
- 25
How should you use ellipses in writing?
Ellipses are used to indicate omitted text or a pause in thought. For example, "I was thinking... maybe we should wait" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 26
What is the proper way to use dashes?
Dashes can be used to create emphasis or indicate a break in thought. For example, "I was going to—well, I changed my mind" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Punctuation).
- 27
What is a common error with homophones?
A common error is confusing homophones, such as using 'their' instead of 'there' or 'they're.' For example, "Their going to the park" should be "They're going to the park" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Common Errors).
- 28
What is the rule for using 'may' versus 'might'?
Use 'may' to express a possibility in the present or future and 'might' for a possibility in the past or a hypothetical situation. For example, "It may rain tomorrow" versus "It might have rained yesterday" (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Modals).
- 29
When is it appropriate to use first-person pronouns in academic writing?
First-person pronouns should be used sparingly in academic writing, typically in reflective or personal essays, but avoided in formal research papers (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Style).
- 30
What is a common error in using verb tenses?
A common error is shifting verb tenses within a sentence or paragraph, such as saying "She walks to the store and bought milk" instead of maintaining the same tense (Lunsford Easy Writer, Chapter on Verb Tenses).
- 31
How should you correctly use 'among' versus 'between'?
Use 'between' for two items and 'among' for three or more. For example, "She had to choose between the two options" versus "She distributed the gifts among the children" (Hacker A Writer's Reference, Chapter on Prepositions).