Essentials of English Usage
The following is a list of common problems found in college students’ writing. Each is labeled with an abbreviation your professor might use to mark the issue in your sentences. The list includes both grammar and punctuation errors, as well as issues related to clarity and expression.
Common Grammar & Punctuation Errors
- active vs. passive voice (act)
- agreement (agr)
- case (ca)
- citation (cite)
- comma splice (cs)
- congruity (cg)
- dangling element (da)
- diction (d)
- fragment (f)
- jargon (j)
- misplaced modifier (mp)
- mood (m)
- parallelism (pl)
- passive voice (pv)
- possessives (poss)
- primer style (pr)
- pronoun reference (p-ref)
- punctuation (p)
- punctuation of quotations (pq)
- punctuation of subordinate elements (ps)
- run-on (r)
- semicolon use (semi)
- sexist language (sxt)
- subordination (su)
- tense (t)
- unity (u)
- wordiness (w)
Find Your Voice
What good is having a great idea if you can’t communicate it effectively? We’ll teach you how to express yourself through writing and speaking, of course, but also through digital communications and artistic expression — all of which will help you stand out no matter what path you choose after graduation.