Adjective-Adverb Error (adv; adj): adjectives modify nouns and pronouns (what kind, which one, how many); adverbs modify verbs and adjectives, and other adverbs (how, when, where, why)

• Wrong: The receiver made a real good effort to catch the pass.
• Right: The receiver made a really good effort to catch the pass.

With verbs referring to the five senses or linking verbs...

• Right: The boy appeared nervous. (appeared to be nervous)
• Right: The boy appeared suddenly. (as in suddenly from nowhere)

Comma Splice (CS): two independent clauses connected with a comma (note: "splice"means to join, not to cut)

• Wrong: Walter tried hard, he just couldn't pass the exam.
• Right: Walter tried hard. He just couldn't pass the exam.

Dangling Modifier (DM): a modifier not clearly related to any other word in the sentence

• Wrong: Marching across the field, the fight song rang out for all to hear.
• Right: Marching across the field, the band played the fight song for all to hear.

Fragment (frag): a group of words punctuated like a complete sentence but lacking at least one independent clause

• Wrong: Doing aerobics five times a week and studying modern jazz.
• Right: I enjoy doing aerobics five times a week and studying modern jazz.

Misplaced Modifier (MM): a modifier positioned so that it seems to modify the wrong word or phrase

• Wrong: At the excavation site, archaeologists found a clay pot they had been digging in for two years.
• Right: At the excavation site they had been digging in for two years, archaeologists found a clay pot.

Parallel Structures (//): items in a sequence must have the same grammatical structure

• Wrong: People prefer foreign cars for their value, performance, and because they are stylish.
• Right: People prefer foreign cars for their value, performance, and style.

Passive Voice (pass): contains be + past participle; usually weaker and less concise than active voice

• Passive: A telegram was received by me.
• Active: I received a telegram.

Pronoun Agreement (agr): a pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent -- the noun or phrase the pronoun refers to

• Wrong: Everyone in the class turned in their assignments on time.
• Right: All students turned in their assignments on time.

Pronoun Case (case): pronouns have different forms (subjective, objective, possessive) for different functions

• Wrong: John likes sailing more than me.
• Right: John likes sailing more than I (do).
• Wrong: The bank gave a loan to both Frank and I.
• Right: The bank gave a loan to both Frank and me.

Pronoun Reference (ref): lack of clear, unambiguous antecedent

• Wrong: Americans admire athletes because they [athletes? Americans?] are simple and unimaginative.
• Right: Simple, unimaginative Americans admire athletes.

Run-On (Fused) Sentence (RO; FS): two independent clauses run together with no punctuation

• Wrong: Pickpockets have become a serious problem tourists should be especially alert in crowded areas.
• Right: Pickpockets have become a serious problem. Tourists should be especially alert in crowded areas.

Subject-Verb Agreement (s-v): subjects and verbs must agree in number

• Wrong: One of my friends are graduating this term.
• Right: One of my friends is graduating this term.

Verb Form Error: incorrect principal part, dropped ending, confused words

• Wrong: Cindy has went to all the Atlanta Braves' home games this season.
• Right: Cindy has gone to all the Atlanta Braves' home games this season.
• Wrong: She use to love me, but she met another.
• Right: She used to love me, but she met another.
• Wrong: We really hated to loose such a close game.
• Right: We really hated to lose such a close game.

Verb Tense Shift (VT): actions occurring at the same time must take the same tense

• Wrong: These workers are committed to the company, so they had a low rate of absenteeism.
• Right: These workers are committed to the company, so they have a low rate of absenteeism.