The document discusses common writing errors observed in students preparing for the TOEFL exam and provides corrections for each type of mistake. It highlights issues such as run-on sentences, sentence fragments, misuse of pronouns, dangling participles, adjective/adverb confusion, double negatives, comma splices, and lack of parallel construction. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding these errors to improve overall writing skills.

1. Power Point, presentación de un tema
Después de aplicar un examen parcial de redacción
en inglés en el que se les pedía a alumnos en curso
de preparación para TOEFL que escribieran un
artículo para una revista de adolescentes, noté
ciertos errores que el grupo en general cometía de
manera recurrente.
Utilicé entonces ésta presentación de Power Point en
una clase destinada a la retroalimentación y repaso,
a manera de trabajo remedial.
Andrea Martínez del Olmo

2. WRITING CORRECTION
FEEDBACK

3. Writing can be extremely challenging
for all students. Let’s spot some
mistakes and improve our writing skills.

4. COMMON ERRORS IN STUDENTS’ WRITING
Run-on sentences: These are two sentences
that the writer has not separated with an end
punctuation mark, or has not joined with a
conjunction.
◦I went to Paris in the vacation it is the
most beautiful place I have ever visited.
I went to Paris in the vacation .It
is the most beautiful place I have
ever visited.

5. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS: FRAGMENT
SENTENCES ARE UNFINISHED SENTENCES,
I.E. THEY DON'T CONTAIN A COMPLETE IDEA.
◦He watched TV for an hour and then
went to bed. After falling asleep on the
sofa.
He watched TV for an hour and
then went to bed after falling asleep
on the sofa.

6. SECOND PERSON
AVOID USING THE SECOND PERSON PRONOUN
YOU. IN ITS PLACE, USE THE PRONOUN ONE.
Incorrect
If you don't understand the meaning of
the book, you shouldn't feel stupid. You
won't always see everything the author
wants you to see.
Correct : Use one instead of you.
If one doesn’t understand …………..

7. DANGLING PARTICIPLES
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THEM, BUT DO
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE? A
DANGLING PARTICIPLE IS A PARTICIPLE
THAT LACKS CLEAR CONNECTION WITH
THE WORD IT MODIFIES.
Incorrect
Working at my desk, the sudden noise
startled me. [working lacks connection with
noise]

8. 
Correct
Working at my desk, I was startled
by the sudden noise.

9. TURNING THE CORNER, THE VIEW WAS
MUCH CHANGED. [TURNING LACKS
CONNECTION WITH VIEW]
Turning the corner, he discovered
that the view was much changed.

10. HERE ARE SIX EXAMPLES, TWO FOR EACH IN
ORDER, FOR EACH TYPE OF MISTAKE LISTED
ABOVE.
He attributed his success to it's appeal to
children.
He attributed his success to its appeal to
children.

11. She can first finish her homework, than go
to practice.
She can first finish her homework, then go
to practice.
 How good do you speak German?
 How well do you speak German?
 I think he's well public speaker.
 I think he's good public speaker.

12. Let’s have some more practice!!!!!!!!!

13. 1. JOHN FELT BADLY WHEN HE RECEIVED
A LOW GRADE ON THE FINAL
EXAMINATION.
ADJECTIVE/ADVERB CONFUSION
-feel, smell, taste—the word following these
verbs describes the subject , not the verb.
“Badly” here refers to the verb “felt,” which
implies that John’s ability to feel is impaired.
John felt bad when he received a low grade
on the final examination.

14. THERE ARE NO SECRETS BETWEEN MARY
AND I.
PRONOUN CASE
Mary and me—me is the object of the preposition
between; prepositions are followed by the object
form of pronouns
There are no secrets between Mary and me.

15. MATTHEW CAN’T HARDLY GET OUT OF BED FOR
HIS 8:00 CLASS,
DOUBLE NEGATIVE
two negatives in a row—can’t hardly
“Hardly” is already negative—either He can
hardly or He can’t.
Matthew can hardly get out of bed for his
8:00 class.

16. ANNE RODE HER BICYCLE TO THE
MEETING IN THE -40 TEMPERATURES,
EVERYONE ELSE EITHER DROVE OR
STAYED HOME.
COMMA SPLICE
A comma doesn’t correctly join two sentences
(or two independent clauses).
You have two complete sentences here; use a
semi-colon or a period rather than a comma.
Anne rode her bicycle to the meeting in the
-40 temperatures; everyone else either drove
or stayed home.

17. ELLEN QUIT HER JOB NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF
THE LONG COMMUTE BUT ALSO BECAUSE
SHE DID NOT RESPECT HER SUPERVISOR.
(LACK OF) PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION
If you want to use not only … but also, the
word group following each part (phrase or
clause) must be parallel in construction.
Ellen quit her job not only because she had a
long commute but also because she did not
respect her supervisor.