Introduction
o6,$;-?F_ It is difficult to identify errors in your own written work, but if you can leave 3 or 4 minutes at the end of the test to perform a careful rereading of each task, you will almost certainly be able to find and correct some.
3CK4a,]Dm Common errors
]S4 TX Here are some common errors found in Hong Kong university students' written work. Watch out for them when you are proof reading.
0l#gS; Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
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6_]F| Check each sentence to make sure it has a subject and a verb and that it expresses a complete concept.
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7#9 Do not run two sentences together incorrectly. Use punctuation (full stops, colons or semicolons) or linking words to separate them or clarify meaning.
Cy-q9uTm Punctuation
8gwJ% "-K Use capital letters at the start of sentences and for names of persons, cities, countries, languages, streets, and titles.
L/dG 0a@1X End every sentence with a full stop or question mark.
fYU/Jn# Use punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons) within individual sentences to separate phrases and for easier understanding.
E:/G!1 Place exact quotes in quotation marks. Full stops and commas go inside the quotation marks.
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'N Use apostrophes correctly to indicate possession.
;Nf5,D.D This website gives more information on the general use of punctuation.
aTF~rAne< http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html#Punctuation. Y^$^ B,
Subject-Verb Agreement
w=5 D>] Check every subject and verb to make sure that if you have used a singular subject, you have also used a singular verb. Similarly, a plural subject needs a plural verb. Pay extra care to add an 's' to present simple tense verbs in the 3rd person singular.
8wz% e( e.g. The IELTS exam tests our level of English.
d 1VNTB Sentence Length
Lsa&A+fru Keep sentences reasonably short. General guidelines for academic writing recommend a maximum of 25 words per sentence.
7WK^eW"y8 Break long sentences into shorter units.
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:st0 If too short, perhaps you could link them using a conjunction or other transitional device, but do not overdo this (e.g. by starting nearly every sentence with a linking word.)
pwAawm Cohesion (sentences)
8?#4<4Ql8 Ensure that each sentence follows clearly and logically from the one before it. Note that it is not necessary to keep all sentences the same length; sentences of different lengths in each paragraph makes for a more interesting writing style.
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.tONPi Cohesion (paragraphs)
OCmF/B_ Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence which states the main idea, fact or opinion.
`(s&H8x# Paragraphs should be around 4 -5 sentences long. Task one will probably contain 2-3 paragraphs, task two, 4 - 5. Try to use the last sentence to connect in some way with the paragraph after, or the first sentence to link with the paragraph before. Limit paragraph length to a maximum of 100 words.
% B+W#Q` Verb Tenses
(8DJf"} Use the correct tense to express what you want to say and try to keep tenses consistent.
N"Y) These websites give more information on verb tense usage.
IGz92&y http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#tense }pOL[$L http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/CILL/exercises/choosing-verbs.htm ParOWs~W/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esltensverb.html _)s<E9t2N Spelling
X +zFRL% Before the test, when you practise writing tasks, check the spelling of any word you are unsure about. Be especially careful of the "ei" and "ie" words, words which add "-ing" and/or "ed," and words with one or more sets of double letters.
