Twelve Common Errors: A Student Self-Editing Guide

Incorrect:

Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

Revised:

Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the cloth contains the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

Incorrect:

Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption. Although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

Revised:

Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption, although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

Incorrect:

The hearing was planned for Monday, December 2, but not all of the witnesses could be available, so it was rescheduled for the following Friday. [There are no grammatical errors here, but the sprawling sentence does not communicate clearly and concisely.]

Revised:

The hearing, which had been planned for Monday, December 2, was rescheduled for the following so that all witnesses would be able to attend.

Incorrect:

When writing a proposal, an original task is set for research [Who is writing a proposal?]

Revised:

When writing a proposal, a scholar sets an original task for research.

Incorrect:

Many tourists visit Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans and military personnel are buried every day from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Revised:

Every day from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., many tourists visit Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans and military personnel are buried.

Incorrect:

The candidate’s goals include winning the election, a health program, and education.

Revised:

The candidate’s goals include winning the election, enacting a national health program, and improving the educational system.

Incorrect:

Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long.

Revised:

Some critics are not so much opposed to sentencing convicts to capital punishment as they are to postponing executions for so long.

Incorrect:

Einstein was a brilliant mathematician. This is how he was able to explain the workings of the universe.

Revised:

Einstein, who was a brilliant mathematician, used his quantitative ability to explain the workings of universe.

Incorrect:

Because Senator Martin is less interested in the environment than in economic development, she sometimes neglects it.

Revised:

Because of her interest in economic development, Senator Martin sometimes neglects the environment.

Incorrect:

When a candidate runs for office, they must expect to have their personal life scrutinized.

Revised:

When candidates run for office, they must expect to have their personal lives scrutinized.

Incorrect:

According to tenets of the “new urbanism,” everyone needs to consider the relationship of their house to the surrounding community.

Revised:

According to tenets of the “new urbanism,” everyone needs to consider the relationship of his or her house to the surrounding community.

Incorrect:

Castro’s communist principles inevitably led to an ideological conflict between he and President Kennedy.

Revised:

Castro’s communist principles inevitably led to an ideological conflict between him and President Kennedy.

Incorrect:

Because strict constructionists recommend fidelity to the Constitution as written, no one objects more than them to judicial reinterpretation.

Revised:

Because strict constructionists recommend fidelity to the Constitution as written, no one objects more than they [object] to judicial reinterpretation.

Incorrect:

When it comes to eating people differ in their tastes.

Revised:

When it comes to eating, people differ in their tastes.

Incorrect:

The Huns who were Mongolian invaded Gaul in 451.

Revised:

The Huns, who were Mongolian, invaded Gaul in 451. [“Who were Mongolian” adds information but does not change the core meaning of the sentence because Huns were a Mongolian people; it is therefore nonrestrictive or nonessential and should be set apart with commas.]

Incorrect:

Field trips are required, in several courses, such as, botany and geology.

Revised:

Field trips are required in several courses, such as botany and geology.

Incorrect:

The term “scientific illiteracy,” has become almost a cliché in educational circles.

Revised:

The term “scientific illiteracy” has become almost a cliché in educational circles.

Incorrect:

In 1952 Japan’s gross national product was one third that of France, by the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.

Revised:

In 1952 Japan’s gross national product was one third that of France. By the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.

Incorrect:

Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed, however half of bypass grafts fail within ten years.

Revised:

Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed; however, half of bypass grafts fail within ten years.

Incorrect:

In the current conflict its uncertain who’s borders their contesting.

Revised:

In the current conflict it is [it’s] uncertain whose borders they are [they’re] contesting.

Incorrect:

The Aztecs ritual’s of renewal increased in frequency over the course of time.

Revised:

The Aztecs’ rituals of renewal increased in frequency over the course of time.

Incorrect:

The recession had a negative affect on sales.

Revised:

The recession had a negative effect on sales. (or) The recession affected sales negatively.

Incorrect:

The laboratory instructor choose not to offer detailed advise.

Revised:

The laboratory instructor chose not to offer detailed advice.