In this section, you will find many instructional materials we've developed for our Writing Center teaching.
However, there are limitations to these materials. Assignments vary, and different instructors want different things from student writers. Therefore, the advice here may or may not apply to your writing situation.
Finally, handouts can give only a fraction of the customized guidance that an individual conference with a Writing Center instructor can provide. If you have questions about the information in our handouts, please make an appointment to see a Writing Center instructor.
Twelve Common Errors
Use this checklist as a list of reminders while you are editing your paper.
- Sentence fragments
- Sentence sprawl
- Misplaced and dangling modifiers
- Faulty parallelism
- Unclear pronoun reference
- Incorrect pronoun case
- Omitted commas
- Superfluous commas
- Comma splices
- Apostrophe errors
- Words easily confused
- Misspellings
This list includes only brief examples and explanations intended for you to use as reminders while you are editing your papers. If you would like to learn more, consider the following options:
- Take one of the free grammar, style, and punctuation classes offered by the Writing Center.
- Set up an appointment for an individual conference in the Writing Center.
- Confer with your course instructor.
- Consult a handbook for additional examples and complete explanations.