Some Common College-Level Problems
(and what to do about them)
The following list contains seven of the most common--and most distracting--grammatical errors reported by Guilford professors. The list squares closely with college lists gathered nationally.
It's interesting to note that most of the errors are likely a consequence of the more complex syntax that college writing requires. When you add more clauses and phrases in order to establish different analytic relationships and levels in your sentences, sentence structures can stretch and crack.
If any of these errors appear regularly in your writing, allot some of your proofreading time to looking for them specifically. Acquaint yourself with the problem in an English handbook. If the problem persists and/or you find it impossible to spot the problem when proofreading, see a tutor in the The Learning Commons for help. And by all means, visit Guilford's Grammarland.
Grammarland is a wonderful resource, whether you are trying to find out how to eliminate comma splices in your writing or you are just interested in learning more about grammar. According to creator Melissa Poole, the site explains major grammar issues and provides interactive practice pages so that you can test your knowledge and understanding.