COMMON MISTAKES IN

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING

USE OF INFORMAL

WORDS

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Using informal words in writing.

Some words are used in spoken language but are considered informal when they are used in the writing form.

USE OF COLLOQUIALI

SM

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Examples are;

Wonna (should be ‘want to’)Gonna (should be ‘going to’)Don’t (should be do not) Haven't (should be have not)

REPETITIVE WORDS

Using one word repetitively in one sentence or in the entire essay.

Common words should be replaced with their synonyms in order to enrich the overall use of vocabulary.

Examples:

Some commonly repetitive words, which can be replaced are:

Very important imperative/ essentialIncrease in growth in/ augment inTo tell to facilitate/ mentoring

USE OF SQUINTING MODIFIERS

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Sentences with confused meanings.

Improper arrangement of words in a sentence can cause the issue of squinting modifier.

This can be corrected by rearranging words in a sentence.

Examples:

Reading quickly improves speaking skills- Incorrect(here it is not clear whether ‘quickly’ is associated with reading or improvement of speaking skills, thus it is a squinting modifier.)

Reading improves speaking skills quickly- CorrectQuick reading improves speaking skills. – Correct

USE OF INFORMAL

IDIOMS

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Idioms are used to add writing flavor into the text, but it should not decrease the formal nature of the essay.

Informal idioms with jargons and vague meaning should not be used in formal English writing.

Some examples are:

Blood run cold When pigs fly Mother of evils 800 pound gorilla Old fart

PUNCTUATION MARKS

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Punctuation marks are generally used to break sentences.

Most of the punctuation errors come with comma (,).

The use of comma is done when one sentence has two parts, and the second part has its own subject and object.

Examples:

I was playing basketball, when he arrived.

I was playing basketball when he arrived.

(The sentence used has a single object and, therefore, the use of comma is not required.)

Only when I reached home I remember that I have forgotten my keys.

Only when I reached home, I remember that I have forgotten my keys.

(The object ‘I has been used after the subject ‘home’, thus, a comma mark is required here.)

Thank You.

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