Checking for Deadly Editing Errors

Ariadne M Wilber : English 201

Complete the following five steps to guard against any of the deadly
editing errors in your essay.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement--Find the main verb in each sentence.

Match the verb to its subject. Make sure that the subject and verb
agree in case and number. Indicate any sentences with errors on the
author’s draft.

2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement--Skim the paper, stopping at

each pronoun. Look especially at it, this, they, their, and them. Find the
antecedent. Make sure that pronoun and antecedent agree in case and
person. Indicate any sentences with errors on the author’s draft.

3. Apostrophes--Skim the paper, stopping only at those words which

end in "s." See if the word needs an apostrophe or if the apostrophe
should be deleted. Indicate any sentences with errors on the author’s
draft.

4. Comma Splices--Skim the paper, stopping at every comma. If there

is a complete sentence on each side of the comma, add a coordinating
conjunction after the comma or replace the comma with a semicolon.
Indicate any sentences with errors on the author’s draft.

5. Fragments/Fused Sentences--Look at each sentence to see

whether it contains at least one independent clause. Pay special
attention to sentences that begin with dependent marker words (such
as because) or phrases such as for example or such as. Also, insure
that sentences with two or more independent clauses contain
punctuation or a connecting word that separates the clauses. Indicate
any sentences with errors on the author’s draft.