Use the links below to help you understand some of the most common errors in your essays.  You may have to copy and paste the link in the address bar.

 

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• MLA  format- this means something about your heading, title, font, margins etc. was off.  Find the rules here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

 

• Run-Ons- this means you’ve written run on sentences that have two independent clauses joined together with only a comma (comma splice) or no punctuation at all (fused  sentence).  Find out the four ways to fix it here: http://www.chompchomp.com/rules/csfsrules.htm

 

• Shifting  tense  (Verb  tense)-  this means that you’ve switched between past and present tense (or even future).  Read more about this here:  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/04/

 

• Subject-Verb Agreement- this means your singular subjects need singular verbs and plural subjects need plural verbs.  See an explanation here: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm

 

• Comma rules- most commonly regarding introductory phrases, dates/places, and lists. Check out the ten main comma rules here:

        http://www.peace.edu/files/shared/pdfs/learningservices/ 10RulesAboutCommas.pdf

 

• Apostrophes- these can form contractions or be used to show possession.  See the uses for apostrophes here: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe

 

• Double Negatives- this means two negative words are used in the same sentence such as “didn’t” and “not.”  Read more about it here: http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/double_negative.htm

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• Topic  Sentence/Supporting  Detail-  you’re missing a topic sentence or supporting detail(s) in your paragraph. http://www.cabrillo.edu/~gjonker/topicsentence.pdf

 

• Introduction- you are missing something from your introduction or don’t have an introduction at all. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm

 

• Conclusion- you are missing something from your conclusion or don’t have a conclusion at all. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/endings.htm

 

• Citation- your in-text citation is improperly formatted or is missing https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/

 

• Works Cited- your works cited page is improperly formatted https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/