When responding to your final drafts (as well as timed writing activities and quizzes), I note grammar, usage, and mechanics errors using a code system. The chart below links these code letters and terms to web sites such as Darling's Guide to Grammar, the Grammar Outlaw, Nuts and Bolts, and the Purdue Owl. Because different sites may explain grammar rules and concepts in ways that you find more effective for your personal learning style, explore a few different sites for each concept you wish to learn. The final column identifies practice exercises from Exercise Central and other web sites that may help you correct these errors and master these skills.

In order to use the Exercise Central, you must register as a student (providing an email address and password) and designate me as your instructor (by entering my email address when instructed to do so: jimsullivan@miracosta.edu).

Because the complete list of corrections / errors is relatively long, I provide links to the major groupings of corrections and errors in this brief table:

 
Use these tables as you read my comments on your essay to review the corrections you need to make. I recommend having this page in front of you as your read these comments. You can then easily check the grammar codes as you review your paper.
Code
Name / Concept
Web Resource
Web Practice
Sentence Level
S1
Comma Splice Run-on
S2
Fused Run-On
S3
Sentence Fragments
S4
Parallelism
S5

Coordination and Subordination

S6
Dangling / Misplaced Modifiers
S7
Mixed Constructions
S8
Integrated Quotations, questions, and thoughts
Word Level
W
Unnecessary Words / Concision Errors
?
Missing Word or Words
W1
Incorrect Word Choice / Usage
W2
Homonym Errors
W3
Appropriate Language
W4
Spelling
W5
Pronouns
W5-a
Pronoun Reference
W5-b
Pronoun Agreement
W5-c
Shift in Person or Number
W5-d
Relative Pronouns
  • the most common error here is using "that" or "which" for a person when you should use "who" or "whom."
W5-e
Pronoun Case
W5-i
"It" Problems Reduce your use of the pronoun "it," especially as the subject of clauses. Substitute specific nouns for "it" by asking yourself "To whom or what does "it" refer.
W5-o
"One" what? Avoid the pronoun "one." Plug in a specific noun--usually referring to a group but sometimes referring to an individual--for "one." Ask yourself "one what?"
W5-y
"You" "You" is a direct address to the reader. Think of the reader saying "me?" each time you use that pronoun. Replace all "you" pronouns with a first or third person pronoun unless you are actually directly addressing your reader.
W6
Adjectives and Adverbs
W7
Adverbs
W8
Noun Agreement  
Verbs
 

Verbs Overview

V1
Subject-Verb Agreement

V2

-s

-ed

Incorrect Verb Tense
V3
Verb Tense Shift
V4
Infinitives, Gerunds, and Sequence  
Punctuation
P1

Missing Commas

 

P1a Before coordinating conjunctions separating independent clauses

 
 

P1b Introductory Element

 
  P1c Non-essential phrases and clauses  
P2
Unnecessary Commas
P3
Semicolons
P4
Colons
P5
End Punctuation
P6
Apostrophes
P7
Quotation Marks
P8
Dashes
P
Underlining or Italics
Mechanics
M1
Capitalization
M2
Abbreviations
M3
Numbers

Page Updated: September 20, 2008

Miracosta College Home Page

 

   
   
Jim Sullivan • Letters Department • MiraCosta College
Office: OC 3615 • Office Hours: M/W 12-1 ; T/Th 11-12
Phone: (760) 757-2121 ext. 6303 • Mail: 1 Barnard Drive / Oceanside CA 92056