Common Writing Errors Every Student Should Avoid
Common writing errors can negatively impact your academic work. This article highlights 30 errors, such as misuse of the suffix "-wise," confusion between "type" and "kind," redundant phrases, and incorrect usage of "different" and "due to." It also covers distinctions between "disinterested" and "uninterested," proper use of "enthuse," and avoiding overuse of words like "fabulous." Learn how to enhance your writing skills and avoid these common mistakes for clearer and more effective communication.
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The 30 Most Common Errors in Students Writing Created by Hunter Brown Summer 2013
The -wise suffix 1. The suffix -wisehas long meant in the manner or direction of, as in clockwise, otherwise, slantwise. However, in recent years, -wisehas come to mean with respect to, as in sales-wise, interface-wise, aesthetics-wise. These usages are generally considered informal and somewhat awkward. Try to avoid them, especially in academic writing. -wise TheFreeDictionary. Farlex Inc., n.d. Web. 16 July 2013.
2. The type and type of habit Type is often incorrectly used to replace "sort or kind. Even when used correctly, it often sounds clich d and should be avoided. NOT: I have the type father who loses his temper. BUT: I have a father who loses his temper. OR: My father has a quick temper. NOT: She wasn t that type of girl. BUT: She wasn t that kind of girl. NOT: She wore a Spanish-type costume. BUT: She wore a Spanish costume. OR: Her costume had a Spanish look. NOT: He was a Charles Chaplin-type actor. BUT: His acting was Chaplinesque. OR: Like Charles Chaplin, he . . .
3. Manner and nature phrases Manner and nature phrases often sound pompous and redundant: In a polite manner means politely. Comprehensive in nature or of a comprehensive nature means comprehensively. Using such phrases can give the impression that you are trying to sound dignified or trying to increase your word count. 4. As far as As far as must be followed by is concerned, or it is meaningless. NOT: As far as studying, I ve worked hard. BUT: As far as studying is concerned, I ve worked hard. 5. Center around Not possible. You can only center on.
6. Different Use different than onlyif a clause (a subject and a verb) follows. Use different from in all other cases. He is different from me. That model is different from the rest. He is different than I am. That model is different than the rest are. 7. Disinterested/uninterested If you are disinterested, you are interested but unbiased. If you are uninterested, you take no interest at all. 8. Due to Use due to only when it follows a be verb (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being). Otherwise, use as a result of or because of. CORRECT: His poor health is due to his strenuous job. INCORRECT: The class was cancelled due to the storm. CHANGE TO: The class was cancelled as a result of the storm. OR: The class was cancelled because of the storm.
9. EnthuseA back formation from the noun enthusiasm, enthuseis a verb meaning to become or cause to become enthusiastic. Avoid using it in formal writing. 10. Fabulous Overuse has robbed this word of some of its power. Instead of using it to describe everyday things fabulous cars, fabulous neckties, fabulous meatballs save it for that which is truly extraordinary and unbelievable. 11. Feel bad/feel badly If you are sick or unhappy, you feel bad. If your fingers lack sensitivity, you feel badly.
2 < 4 12. Fewer/less Fewer refers to numbers, less to amounts. fewer minutes, less time fewer notes, less music fewer vegetables, less produce 13. Imply/infer To imply means to suggest or indicate: The essay implies [suggests] that scientists are out of touch. To infer means to draw a conclusion from: I infer [draw the conclusion that] the author doesn t know any real scientists. Words and pictures imply; only people can infer. 14. Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, everybody, either, neither, nobody) All these pronouns are singular and must be treated consistently as such. NOT: Everybody brought their own lunch. BUT: Everybody brought his or her own lunch. NOT: Neither a dog nor a cat are allowed in the apartments. BUT: Neither a dog nor a cat is allowed in the apartments.
15. IrregardlessIrregardless is not a word. The ir- is redundant; it means the same thing as -less. Saying irregardless is like saying irreckless or irruthless: obviously irridiculousless. 16. Like/as Don t use like when you can substitute it with as though, as, as if, or in the way. She acts like a queen. (No substitute is possible here, so like is used correctly.) She acts like she thinks she s a queen. (A substitute is possible here, so use it: She acts as though she thinks she is a queen.) She acts like a queen would act. (Use another substitute: She acts in the way a queen would act.) Never use like if one of the substitute phrases will work.
17. Mixed MetaphorDont mix one metaphor with another. The result may be comic. He climbed the ladder of success across a sea of troubles and left his footprint on the face of time. You ve buttered your bread; now lie in it. 18. Off Always off, never off of. 19. Perfect/unique If a thing is perfect, it s perfect. If it s unique, it s unique. It can t be more perfect or more unique. Never use more or most with these words. 20. Plus Do not use plus in place of and.Don t say He was hungry, plus he was penniless. Save plus for problems in addition.
21. Redundancies Remove words that don t add meaning. Each of the phrases below is redundant: past history equally as good as retreat back false illusion small in size few in number usual custom free gift young teenager a distance of ten yards future prospects advanced forward in addition, he also an actual fact inside of another one outside of at the present time These are only a few of the redundancies that clutter English usage. Look for others in your own writing, and avoid them. 22. Regarding This word is a substitute for concerning or respecting, but is often misused. NOT: Regarding meals, the cafeteria will be open at noon. (The cafeteria seems to be regarding the meals.) BUT: The cafeteria will open for lunch at noon. NOT: Regarding tardiness, the company s policies are very forgiving. (The policies seems to be regarding tardiness.) BUT: The company s policies toward tardiness are very forgiving. Even when used correctly, regarding can sound overly formal.
22. Similar to If you mean like, say like. Why beat around the bush? 23. Slang Some students use slang words and phrases, such as those below, believing that it will make their writing sound more conversational and relatable. However, such expressions are not appropriate in academic writing. out of whack bent out of shape under the weather off the hook down in the dumps legit grungy good vibes pain in the neck piece of cake 22. So Don t use so as a substitute for very, as in Exercise is so exhausting. You can get by with this usage in speech, but not in writing. A reader expects a so in this position to be followed by that: Exercise is so exhausting that I quit before I start.
to go 26. Split Infinitive Avoid putting words between the two parts of an infinitive. NOT: to not think BUT: not to think NOT: to suddenly stop BUT: to stop suddenly 27. The Reason Is Never say the reason is because . Reason already means cause in this context, so the expression is repetitive. NOT: The reason for all these delays is because there was a wreck. BUT: The reason for all these delays is that there was a wreck. 28. Trite Expressions Avoid overused and clich d expressions such as those in the list below: acid test green with envy as luck would have it last but not least better late than never Mother Nature bitter end needless to say busy as a bee rich and varied experience depths of despair ripe old age easier said than done sadder but wiser festive occasion slow but sure few and far between untold agony finer things in life words cannot express
29. TryDont use try and when you mean try to. NOT: I will try and be there. BUT: I will try to be there. 30. While Whilemeans time or at the time. Never use it as a substitute for and, but, or although. NOT: Tolstoy was a Russian writer, while Hemingway was an American writer. (Tolstoy died when Hemingway was twelve years old, so they could not have been writers at the same time.) BUT: Tolstoy was a Russian writer, and Hemingway was an American writer. Use while only if you can substitute at the time in its place.
