QUALITY IN WRITING ASSIGNMENTS Leo R. Sandy Depending on the types of errors and the degree to which they occur in public writing, there are at least four potential outcomes: 1) the writer’s message is obscured; 2) the writer’s credibility is undermined; 3) the profession represented by the writer is tarnished; and 4) the institution from which the writer graduated is maligned. Good writing quality prevents these outcomes and is more likely to promote understanding, credibility, trust, and assurance.

Because assigned papers and essays are precursors to public writing, they need to be prepared with the same diligence as if they were meant for public view. Therefore, it behooves students to proofread their own papers as well as have at least two other credible writers scrutinize them. Many typos, spelling errors, punctuation omissions, subject/pronoun inconsistencies, and grammar mistakes can be taken care of in this way. This in no way suggests that the content and style of the paper are less important. The contrary is true. It is better to think of the issue as not wanting to have a good portrait placed in a chintzy frame. The College Writing Center is an excellent resource for not only helping emerging writers polish their final products but also giving assistance in all phases of their writing. It is located in the basement of Mary Lyon and can be reached at extension 2831. Its hours are 9-5 M-F plus several evenings 5-9.

Typical Errors in Writing Assignments

Error: Incomplete Sentences
Example: Which is something they like to do.
Correction: This is something they like to do.

Error: Too vs. To
Example: There are to many books on the shelf.
Correction: There are too many books on the shelf.

Error: There vs. Their
Example: As a society, we can learn a lot from there values.
Correction: As a society, we can learn a lot from their values.

Error: Subject/pronoun disagreement
Example: It is not uncommon for a child to quit school so they can help support the family.
Correction: It is not uncommon for a child to quit school so she can help support the family.

Error: Than vs. Then
Example: If we looked at how the Japanese handled their families thanmaybe all of us could have a close family bond.
Correction: If we looked at how the Japanese handled their families thenmaybe all of us could have a close family bond.

Error: Less vs. Fewer
Example: There would be less problems because...
Correction: There would be fewer problems because...

Error: Where vs. Were
Example: Unlike our society were most children don’t start work...
Correction: Unlike our society where most children don’t start work...

Error: Know vs. No
Example: Know wonder why many people think...
Correction: No wonder why many people think...

Error: Expect vs. Accept
Example: We should be more excepting of people and their cultures.
Correction: We should be more accepting of people and their cultures.

Error: Amount vs. Number
Example: The amount of deadbeat dads in our society.
Correction: The number of deadbeat dads in our society.

Error: Single spaced typing
Correction: Double spaced typing

Error: Ending sentences with prepositions
Example: It’s something he should have thought about
Correction: It’s something about which he should have thought

Error: Have vs. Of
Example: He should of thought about it.
Correction: He should have thought about it.

Error: Failure to use possessive (‘)
Example: The childs book.
Correction: The child’s book.

Other: Comma (,) vs. Semicolon (;), not answering the question directly, not providing examples, over generalization, absolute statements,
slang and trite expressions ("stuff like that"), getting off the point, narrow margins, run on sentences, missing title pages (term papers),
not following citation rules (APA or MLA), misspellings, and imprecise/inappropriate use of language.