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Top
Writing
10

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
1 Spelling mistakes
2 No comma after an introductory phrase
3 Comma splicing
4 Run-ons
5 No commas around interruptions
6 Comma misuse
7 Sentence fragments
8 Squinting modifiers
9 Wordiness
10 Subject-verb agreement
Contents

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
1Spelling Mistakes
Spelling. mistakes are often caused by words that sound the same
(homophones).
Incorrect
No further research was conducted because their was no reason to doubt the initial outcome.
Correct
No further research was conducted because there was no reason to doubt the initial outcome.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
2 No comma after an
introductory phrase
Sometimes an introductory phrase is use to provide background
information. This phrase should be followed by a comma, unless it is very
short.
Incorrect
While the market research was still being done the company was already looking for new location for their
factory.
Correct
While the market research was still being done, the company was already looking for new location for their
factory.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
3 Comma splicing
A comma splice occurs when two sentences that could be sentences on
their own are linked by a comma.
Solution:
Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma, or change the comma to
a period, a semicolon, or a colon.
Incorrect
His assistant gathered the necessary data, he was responsible for the analysis.
Correct
His assistant gathered the necessary data, and he was responsible for the
analysis. OR His assistant gathered the necessary data; he was responsible for
the analysis

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
4 Run-on sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences that could be sentences on their own are
linked using a coordinating conjunction without using a comma.
The most common coordination conjunctions are: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.
(FANBOYS)
Incorrect
The job interview started at nine but the applicant was late.
Correct
The job interview started at nine, but the applicant was late.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
5 No commas around
interruptions
Interruptions are phrases that break the ‘flow’ of a sentence, usually to supply additional
information.
Incorrect
It was however the start of a fruitful business relationship.
Correct
It was, however, the start of a fruitful business relationship.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
6 Comma misuse
Comma misuse often occurs when a compound subject uses a conjunction to connect
more than one noun phrase.
Incorrect
The intern, and his boss, attended the conference.
Correct
The intern and his boss attended the conference.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
7 Sentence fragments
A sentence fragment is missing a subject (the thing doing the action) or a verb (the
action).
Incorrect
A great business opportunity!
Correct
It was a great business opportunity

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
8 Squinting modifers
A squinting modifier occurs when it is not clear whether a word, phrase, or clause ,
modifies the word before of after it.
Solution:
Put the modifier next to the word that you want to modify.
Incorrect
Students who study rarely get bad grades.
Correct
Students who rarely study get bad grades.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
9 Wordiness
A sentence is wordy when it uses more words than necessary to convey meaning.
Solution:
Try to identify long phrases that can be replaced by one word and eliminate words that
have similar meanings. Also, eliminate words with ‘weak’ meaning, such as ‘basically’,
‘as a matter of fact’, and other nonessential information.
Incorrect
It turned out that having to postpone the meeting due to the fact that the chairman
was not yet present, basically was more or less the only viable option.
Correct
Postponing the meeting was the only option because the chairman was late.

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•Top 10 Writing Mistakes
10Subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement mistakes occur when a subject and a verb don’t go together. A
singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Incorrect
James and his friend spends a lot of time in the library.
Correct
James and his friend spend a lot of time in the library.