Introduction
'G1~\CT 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.
<3\t J Common errors
x17cMfCH% Here are some common errors found in Hong Kong university students' written work. Watch out for them when you are proof reading.
I"awvUP]a[ Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
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x Check each sentence to make sure it has a subject and a verb and that it expresses a complete concept.
Id8^6FLw Do not run two sentences together incorrectly. Use punctuation (full stops, colons or semicolons) or linking words to separate them or clarify meaning.
I!bzvPJ]xc Punctuation
;u;Y f Or Use capital letters at the start of sentences and for names of persons, cities, countries, languages, streets, and titles.
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End every sentence with a full stop or question mark.
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s-; Use punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons) within individual sentences to separate phrases and for easier understanding.
< p<jX wl Place exact quotes in quotation marks. Full stops and commas go inside the quotation marks.
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"N 0p Use apostrophes correctly to indicate possession.
?_9cFo59: This website gives more information on the general use of punctuation.
3\eb:-B:@ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html#Punctuation.
C[ <OF/ Subject-Verb Agreement
e9r#r~Qq| 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.
IQ$l!) e.g. The IELTS exam tests our level of English.
.E :QZH' M Sentence Length
@Tmqw(n{ Keep sentences reasonably short. General guidelines for academic writing recommend a maximum of 25 words per sentence.
<Q)6N!Tp^ Break long sentences into shorter units.
@ -pi 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.)
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Cohesion (sentences)
$x;wnXXXM Ensure that each sentence follows clearly and logically from the one before it. Note that it is not necessary to keep all sentences the same length; sentences of different lengths in each paragraph makes for a more interesting writing style.
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d`n/ Cohesion (paragraphs)
l= 5kd.{ Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence which states the main idea, fact or opinion.
d |Wpub Paragraphs should be around 4 -5 sentences long. Task one will probably contain 2-3 paragraphs, task two, 4 - 5. Try to use the last sentence to connect in some way with the paragraph after, or the first sentence to link with the paragraph before. Limit paragraph length to a maximum of 100 words.
. (*V|&n Verb Tenses
m;o \.s Use the correct tense to express what you want to say and try to keep tenses consistent.
Gad! }dz These websites give more information on verb tense usage.
%w7J0p http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#tense 30]?
Jz6m http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/CILL/exercises/choosing-verbs.htm EOhUr=5~ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esltensverb.html h$|K vS Spelling
>L# &L ?# 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.
