Error Codes

PUNCTUATION

 C1—a comma goes after an introductory word, phrase, or clause

         (Before you write your essay, do some prewriting to generate ideas.)

C2—a comma goes before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) when the coordinating conjunction combines two independent clauses

         (My brother is in the Navy, and he is stationed in Lemoore.)

         (I wanted to drive to the beach today, but there was too much traffic.)

C3—a comma goes before “and” and “or” with items in a list

         (I am looking for unity, coherence, and proper grammar.)

         (There are no apples, oranges, or bananas in the fruit salad.)

C4—a comma goes between city and state names and after the state names

         (I have lived in Bakersfield, California, since I was five years old.)

C5—a comma is misused between two independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction = comma splice

         (My brother is in the Navy, he is stationed in Lemoore.)  INCORRECT

C6—a comma is misused between a subject and a verb

         (The large Greek family, is planning a big wedding.)  INCORRECT

A1—apostrophe needed to note contraction or possession

         (We bought this car because of the dealer’s honesty.)

         (He’s been a great friend while we’ve had hardships.)

A2—apostrophe misused—often when plural form is needed.

         (The family’s of the soldier’s are praying every day.)  INCORRECT

U1—underline or italicize titles of books, magazines, newspapers, journals, online journals, music albums, paintings, TV shows, and movies

Q1—put quotation marks around titles of essays, poems, articles, online articles, songs, and episodes of TV shows

Q2—put quotation marks around direct quotes, and make sure that everything in the quotation marks is exactly as it appears in the original

Q3—do not put the quotation marks around your in-text parenthetical citation

         [Political analysts reassure us that “this war will soon be over” (Brown 238).]

Q4—do not put a comma between the author’s name and the page number in your in-text citations

         (Brown, 238)  INCORRECT

D1—a dash is two hyphens put together with no spaces--before, between, or after them.  Your computer may combine and elongate them and that is okay too.

WORDS AND SENTENCES

S1—spelling error

S2—spelling error because wrong word was used

         (Their is a cat in that tree.)  INCORRECT

         (I can’t tell weather or not you agree with me.)  INCORRECT

N1—spell out numbers less than ten (one, two, three)

N2—use numerals for numbers ten and above (10, 11, 12)

N3—spell out the word “percent” rather than using %, unless you are directly quoting, and then keep it exactly like it is in the original, of course

SV—subjects and verbs must agree in number—either make both plural or make both singular

PA—pronouns and antecedents must agree in number—either make both plural or make both singular (See handout)

F1—fragment

RO1—run-on