III. Record of errors throughout the term

III. Record of errors throughout the term

Sentence where there is an error	Explanation why it is an error	Revised version
1). One of the most important factors are communication.	The number of the verb is determined by the SUBJECT not the noun/pronoun inside the phrase.	1). One of the most important factors is communication.
2). A mature student should never drink, because they should always keep their mind and body fresh.	P-A Agreement in terms of Person	2). A mature student should never drink, because he or she should always keep his or her mind and body fresh.
3). I'm not speaking to nobody in this class.	Double negative, since 'not' is a negative, you cannot use 'nobody' in this sentence:	I'm not speaking to anybody in this class.
4). Many problems could have been avoided. If we just planned ahead.	Sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. *It lacks a subject or a verb. *It does not express a complete thought.	4). We just planned ahead, that’s why many problems have been avoided.
5). This is going to be the most difficult exam of your college career, you had better start studying for it immediately.	Run-on sentence, two or more complete sentences (independent clauses) are incorrectly written as one without the appropriate punctuation.	5). This is going to be the most difficult exam of your college career, that’s why you had better start studying for it immediately.
6). I never would of thought that he’d behave like that."	Have VS Of, word choice	"I never would have thought that he’d behave like that.
7). Some of the rice appear to be contaminated.	Some indefinite pronouns (all, some) take the singular or plural form of the verb depending on what they are referring to.	7). Some of the rice appears to be contaminated.
8). We were supposed to go to the dance last night, however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest.	Punctuation, a semicolon, rather than a comma, should be used to link these two complete sentences	We were supposed to go to the dance last night; however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest
9). If I would have known about the seminar, I would have gone to it.	*If + had + past participle, *would + have + past participle	9). If I had known about the seminar, I would have gone to it.
10). The hikers could see the eagles swooping and diving with binoculars.	Misplaced modifier, every modifier (whether a word, phrase, or clause) should be as close as possible to the word it describes or relates to. Misplaced modifiers may confuse your readers by seeming to modify some other element in the sentence.	10). With binoculars, the hikers could see the eagles swooping and diving.