The Top Ten Most Common Errors Made in the Writing Process

(To be Avoided at all cost!)

1. alot

“Alot” is not a word. Don’t use a lot (two words) in your formal writing either, because it is slang and too vague. Be more specific!

Alternatives:

v Often

v Quite a bit

v Frequently

v Very much

v Many

2. its vs. it’s

v Its (no apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to it.”

ü The dog eats its food.

v It’s is a contraction meaning “it is” or “it has”.

ü “It’s a beautiful day.” (It is a beautiful day)

ü “It’s been raining all day.” (It has been raining all day.)

3. lose vs. loose

v Lose is a verb meaning “to misplace or fail to win.”

ü How did you lose your gym socks?

ü I hope we don’t lose the big game.

v Loose is an adjective which means “free, untied, or not tight.”

ü I can’t open the door; the handle is loose.

ü Don’t let the dogs loose in the house!

4. your vs. you’re

v Your means “belonging to you”; it is the possessive form of the pronoun you.

ü “Is that your book?”

v You’re is a contraction meaning “you are.”

ü “Excuse me, you’re standing on my foot.”

5. their vs. there vs. they’re

v Their means “belonging to them.” It is the possessive form of the pronoun “they.”

ü “They left their books at school.”

v There means “in that place.”

ü “What’s that you’re eating under there?”

v They’re is a contraction which means “they are.”

ü “They’re going to be late for the pie eating contest!”

6. good vs. well

v Good is an adjective. Adjectives usually modify (describe) nouns and pronouns.

v Well is an adverb. Adverbs usually modify verbs.

So how do you know when to use good or well? Look at what is being modified.

v If a noun is being described, use good.

ü “You did a good job today, Igor.” (The noun job is being described, as in, “What kind of job did Igor do today?”)

ü “Wow! Igor smells good today.” (The proper noun Igor is being described as having a pleasant odor.)

v If a verb is being described, use well.

“I played well today.”

(The verb play is being described, as in, “How did you play today?”)

The same goes for the verb to do: “I did well on my quiz today.”

Try this one:

“Igor smells [good or well] today, now that his nose isn’t stuffy any more.”

What is being described? Igor’s odor (a noun), or how Igor senses odors in the air (a verb)?

ü If you chose “well,” you did well and you are correct!

7. could have vs. should have vs. would have

Ø Never use “could of,” “should of,” or “would of”.

Ø They are all misunderstandings of the contractions “could’ve,” “should’ve,” and “would’ve” that we use in informal speech.

Note: Don’t use could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve in your formal writing either!

x Incorrect (always):

You should of been there.

x Incorrect (formal writing):

You should’ve been there.

ü Correct (formal writing):

You would have seen a good game if you could have made it on time.

8. “etc.” (or “et cetera”)

“Etc.” (which is Latin for “and other things”) is not acceptable in place of explanations or examples.

Ø Do not use it in formal writing!

Ø Always use clear, strong supporting details!

9. Do not skip lines between paragraphs.

Ø Have the same spacing throughout your paper.

Ø Indent (hit the “Tab” key) to start a new paragraph.

Ø There should not be a gigantic, empty, gaping space between paragraphs!

10. NEVER start an essay with “In this essay I will tell you…” or “I am going to talk about…” or “This essay will be about…”

Ø Just say it!

Ø Be more creative!

Ø You can do better than that!