Read through the sentences below and identify as many of the errors you can (don't post your answers). This is done on your own at home. The answer key with explanations is below for you to check your answers.

 

1. See if you can spot the mispelling here.

 

2. Errors in Capitalization, as shown here, sometimes result from trying to emphasize a word. I, like others, may forget to capitalize words i should.

 

3. This sentence, which may prove tricky has an error in punctuation between the subject and the verb.

 

4. If your skillful, you will identify a single spelling error here.

 

5. Here you may find a sentence fragment. Especially if you look closely.

 

6. A writer may put in extra words, as you can see here, while revising material in in the process of writing.

 

7. On the other hand, a writer sometimes leaves words when writing quickly.

 

8. Dropping word endings, as in this sentence, can also interrupt a reader comprehension.

 

9. Dropping verb endings create special problems in subject/verb agreement.

 

10. If you switch verb tenses, as in this sentence, you confused your readers.

 

11. The comma splice, as shown here, is a very common error, it should be rewritten or punctuated correctly.

 

12. Related to the comma splice is the run-on sentence it tries to fuse two closely related sentences.

 

13. Although you may overlook the missing comma after an introductory clause you should look more closely.

 

14. Commas normally separate the clauses in compound sentences but sometimes writers forget to put them in.

 

15. You may put in unnecessary commas, because you don't read sentences carefully, listening for pauses.

 

16. A person which is not reading may make errors with relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that, whose).

 

17. It is easy to forget that each pronoun should agree with their antecedent.

 

18. An other kind of error, which is illustrated, results from splitting one word in two.

 

19. It's unfortunate when you don't catch simple errors with apostrophe's in your proofreading.

 

20. To write well, a writer should not shift your point of view.

 

21. Some expressions, however totally awesome they may be, have no place in formal, edited writing.

 

22. Errors in parallelism occur when one is thinking about content, not to worry about proofreading.

 

23. Its sad but true that omitting two apostrophes in one sentence interrupts a readers comprehension.

 

24. A curtain type of world is likely to be misspelled--as this sentence shows.

 

25. Their are some writers who ignore there proofreading skills on easily confused words.

 

26. Unintended humor occurs when you here one word but put down another -- as illustrated hear.

 

27. This sentence would certainly be clearer with quotation marks, you may be murmuring to yourself.

 

28. To catch writting errors hear, you should of looked at its verb and at each word.

 

29. The semicolon; not the comma, can join two closely related sentences, this rule is broken here.

 

30. There is various kinds of problems related to subject/verb agreement that deserves your attention.

 

31. The affect of careless spelling is hard to measure but definitely effects a readers' attitudes.

 

32. And last but not least, cliches are a pain in the neck to read.

 

Answers and Explanations