Introduction
i?lX,9% 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.
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6~[ Common errors
"tqS|ok. Here are some common errors found in Hong Kong university students' written work. Watch out for them when you are proof reading.
Ar\IZ_Q Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
,oC= {^l{ Check each sentence to make sure it has a subject and a verb and that it expresses a complete concept.
pZyb Do not run two sentences together incorrectly. Use punctuation (full stops, colons or semicolons) or linking words to separate them or clarify meaning.
f<Va<TL6- Punctuation
J,CJPUf& Use capital letters at the start of sentences and for names of persons, cities, countries, languages, streets, and titles.
;JMOsn}8 End every sentence with a full stop or question mark.
\Sz4Gr0g3Z Use punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons) within individual sentences to separate phrases and for easier understanding.
P c/.*kOT Place exact quotes in quotation marks. Full stops and commas go inside the quotation marks.
dY/|/eOt<K Use apostrophes correctly to indicate possession.
iuv tj]/ This website gives more information on the general use of punctuation.
;}UIj{sj* http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html#Punctuation. AT2NC6{M Subject-Verb Agreement
-`<6=[QUO 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.
-MVNXAKnZ e.g. The IELTS exam tests our level of English.
~ex~(AWh Sentence Length
YzforM^F Keep sentences reasonably short. General guidelines for academic writing recommend a maximum of 25 words per sentence.
%!N2!IiVs Break long sentences into shorter units.
d;@E~~o?B] 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.)
hlABu)B'1 Cohesion (sentences)
4GmSG ,] 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.
,"v)vTt Cohesion (paragraphs)
!W+p<F1i Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence which states the main idea, fact or opinion.
'#pMEVP 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.
Q"l"p:n%n Verb Tenses
/)eNx Use the correct tense to express what you want to say and try to keep tenses consistent.
YUP%K!k These websites give more information on verb tense usage.
FV vv http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#tense 7g4M/?H}K http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/CILL/exercises/choosing-verbs.htm [qjAq@@N#q http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esltensverb.html ,YAPCj Spelling
$)kBz*C[ 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.
