Introduction
b *| ?7 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.
4V@0L Common errors
.6n| hYe Here are some common errors found in Hong Kong university students' written work. Watch out for them when you are proof reading.
>@4Ds"Ye"O Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
i)@vHh82 Check each sentence to make sure it has a subject and a verb and that it expresses a complete concept.
WR.7%U'; Do not run two sentences together incorrectly. Use punctuation (full stops, colons or semicolons) or linking words to separate them or clarify meaning.
' )
F@em Punctuation
\iEJ9V Use capital letters at the start of sentences and for names of persons, cities, countries, languages, streets, and titles.
jvd3_L-@E< End every sentence with a full stop or question mark.
cv_O2Q4,@ Use punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons) within individual sentences to separate phrases and for easier understanding.
c:z}$DK&' Place exact quotes in quotation marks. Full stops and commas go inside the quotation marks.
Tig6<t+Q Use apostrophes correctly to indicate possession.
QIN# \ This website gives more information on the general use of punctuation.
IfRrl/!nw http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html#Punctuation. 1 d.>?^uE Subject-Verb Agreement
kg mb<4p 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.
b [;3y/X
e.g. The IELTS exam tests our level of English.
S;vZXgyN? Sentence Length
78b9Sdi& Keep sentences reasonably short. General guidelines for academic writing recommend a maximum of 25 words per sentence.
I#p-P)Q%S Break long sentences into shorter units.
1 g RR 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.)
VKrKA71Z~ Cohesion (sentences)
R91u6r# 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.
h"nv[0 !) Cohesion (paragraphs)
gwF@'Uu Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence which states the main idea, fact or opinion.
}W % }_UT 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.
xhMdn3~U Verb Tenses
t,P +~ A Use the correct tense to express what you want to say and try to keep tenses consistent.
c Ky%0oTla These websites give more information on verb tense usage.
B "}GAk}V http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#tense )Zm E " http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/CILL/exercises/choosing-verbs.htm bm7$D Kp# http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esltensverb.html
p|bpE F=U Spelling
"ChBcxvxb: 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.
