The document discusses common writing mistakes such as misusing articles, lacking transitional phrases, and improperly using adjectives. It also addresses issues with switching verb tenses unnecessarily within a sentence, as well as incorrect capitalization such as not capitalizing the letter "I" or capitalizing common nouns. The key is to establish a consistent tense, only change tenses when appropriate like with time shifts, and pay attention to verb tenses and capitalization rules for proper nouns versus common nouns.

1. Common Writing
Mistakes
If the shoe
fits……wear it!

2. 1. Misuse of articles
• “The” is used in front of singular or plural
nouns and adjectives for something that
both the writer and reader are familiar
with. “A duck” refers to a single
unspecified duck whereas “the duck”
refers to a specific duck”.

3. 2. Transitional phrases
• The misuse or lack of transistions in a
sentence

4. 3. Watch your adjectives
• Adjectives are used to describe nouns and
can sometimes be tricky if you are using
more than one to refer to a specific noun.
If you are using more than
one Remember: 1) article, 2) judgment, 3)
size, 4) shape, 5) age, 6) color, 7)
nationality, and 8) material

5. Switching tenses unnecessarily
• Changing between verb tenses within a
sentence can make it difficult to follow and
should be avoided. An exception is when a time
change must be shown. To avoid it keep the
following in mind:
• Establish a primary tense and remain consistent
with it at the sentence, paragraph and overall
work level
• Only change tenses when it is appropriate, e.g.
when there is a time shift that must be shown
• Reread your writing and consider what overall
timeframe it is in - past, present or future
• Pay close attention to your verbs and notice the
tense they are in

6. Incorrect capitalization
• Always capitalize "I"
• Capitalize proper nouns, which include names of
people, places and organizations
• Do not capitalize common nouns (for example:
car, pen, school)
• Always capitalize the first letter of a new
sentence
• Capitalize weekdays, holidays and months of the
year