Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Common Grammatical Errors and Conventions in Academic WritingReaders appreciate clear, concise, correct writing that they can readily comprehend.Use the tips in this guide to help achieve those aims. Agreement ErrorsThe subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular vs. plural) and person (first, second, or third person).Pronouns need to agree with their antecedents in number and person.A. Subjects and verbs must agree. The books in the box is for sale. The books in the box are for sale.B. Pronouns for things must agree with their antecedents. Each student club collected their attendance list. Each student club collected its attendance list. All the student clubs collected their attendance lists. C. Pronouns must agree with each other. Once one has read the article, you have to answer the questions. Once one has read the article, one has to answer the questions. Comma Splices and Run-OnsA comma splice occurs when a writer uses a comma to separate two or more independent clauses within a sentence.A run-on (or fused) sentence occurs when a writer combines two or more independent clauses together in a sentence without any punctuation or connecting words to join them. Comma splice:The politician gave her speech, the crowd applauded. Run-on:The politician gave her speech the crowd applauded.→ Comma splices and run-on sentences can be corrected with the same techniques.A. Fix a comma splice or run-on by using a period. The politician gave her speech.The crowd applauded. B. Fix a comma splice or run-on by using a semicolon. The politician gave her speech; the crowd applauded.C. Fix a comma splice or run-on by using a comma and a FANBOYS coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). The politician gave her speech, and the crowd applauded.D. Fix a comma splice or run-on by using a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb (e.g., also, then, finally, therefore, however, furthermore, otherwise, consequently). The politician gave her speech; afterwards, the crowd applauded. Word ChoiceAvoid using words that you do not understand.If you do not know the meaning of a word, look it up.Sometimes, words have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used.
Author: Atkinson, Dawn
Institution: Montana Technological University
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7078556146
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