Embedded Files
Abs
Absolute. Be cautious when making absolute or universal claims about the minds of authors or the mind of audiences. Ultimately, we cannot know these minds, and thus it can be very difficult to fashion indisputable conclusions about them. Recommendation: rephrase.
Caps
There is a problem here to do with capitalization. For more info, click HERE.
Cite
Cite (identify) the source you are using to make this claim. For more information about specific citation styles, click HERE.
Close Up
This space between words or sections of text is not required.
Coherence
The relationship between larger ideas is not as logical and/or clear as it should be. For more information on how to make your academic prose more coherent and cohesive, click HERE.
Cohesion
The relationship between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences is not as clear as it should be. For more information on how to make your academic prose more coherent and cohesive, click HERE.
Col Hr
Use the colon here. For instructions on proper colon use, click HERE. For more information on colon usage see p. 19-20 of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
Col Use
Improper colon use. For information on proper usage, click HERE. See also the excellent discussion of colon on pages 19-20 of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
Com Hr
A comma should be placed here. For more information on proper use of the comma, click HERE. See also Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
Com Spl
Comma Splice. This sentence contains two or more independent clauses that are not connected properly. For additional information and a quiz, click HERE.
Dbl Quotes Pls
When writing in an American or Canadian English institution, use double quotation marks rather than single.
Dbl Spc
Please double space this kind of writing.
Delete
This word, phrase, or passage is unnecessary. Suggestion: delete it.
Det
This noun or noun phrase needs a determiner, a word like "the," "an," or "this." For more on determiners click HERE.
Diction
This word or phrase does not seem quite appropriate. Is there a better one?
The problem may be that the word does not reflect what appears to be the intended meaning of the writer (you), or it may be that the word is not appropriate for an academic paper.
Evidence?
This claim should be supported with more or better evidence.
Explain
This claim requires further explanation.
Frag
This is a sentence fragment, which is not appropriate here.
Fused Sent
Fused sentence. This is where two clauses are connected without proper punctuation and/or a coordinating conjunction.
Hyphen/Dash/Parenth
The use of the hyphen, dash, or parentheses is inappropriate here. For more information, click HERE.
Indefinite “Which”
The pronoun "which" must refer only to a noun or a noun construction (the girl, the girl with the curly hair). For more information on the indefinite which, click HERE.
Indent
Indent the beginning of each paragraph. For some styles (MHRA, for example) the first paragraph is not indented. If you wish, you may follow this convention without penalty.
Inside Quotes
For Canadian and American English, the proper place for commas and periods is inside quotation marks. For more information, click HERE.
Leg
Legibility. The handwriting is difficult or impossible to read.
Line Br
The line should break here, and there should be a new paragraph.
MLA
This essay/fragment/passage does not conform to MLA style. For guidance, follow this LINK.
MLA2
This word, phrase, or passage does not conform to MLA style. For more information, follow this LINK.
No Com
For more information on comma use, click HERE. See also Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
No Contr
Avoid using contractions in academic writing.
Numbers
The formatting of numbers here is inappropriate. Click HERE for more information.
Oxf Hr
Consider using the Oxford comma here. There is presently a debate around its usage. However, many scholars believe that it adds clarity. For more information, click HERE.
P/A Agreement
A pronoun usually refers to something expressed earlier in the text. The thing to which a pronoun refers is known as the pronoun’s antecedent. A pronoun and its antecedent must match in number; so, a singular pronoun must be used when referring to a singular noun, and a plural pronoun must be used when referring to a plural noun.
Para Coh
This paragraph lacks coherence. For more information, follow this LINK.
Para Dev
This paragraph needs to be more fully developed. For more information, follow this LINK.
Para TS
This paragraph needs a stronger topic sentence. For help on proper paragraph construction, follow this LINK.
Para U
This paragraph is not unified. The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single point or focus. Thus, it should wander through ideas beyond its scope. For more information, follow this LINK.
Para Frg
This passage should be part of the preceding paragraph. To understand why, follow this LINK.
Para N
This passage should begin or be set in its own paragraph.
Para Spc
For written assignments, do not insert extra space between paragraphs unless you are mimicking a text type where the convention is commonplace.
Para Wk
This paragraph is weak. For instructions on basic paragraph structure and content, follow this LINK.
Passive/Active Voice
Seek to use the active voice as much as possible in your academic writing. To understand more about active and passive voice, follow this LINK.
See also page 28 of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, a pdf copy of which you can find HERE.
Prep Use
This preposition is not quite correct. For some helpful exercises, click HERE.
Pr Tns Pls
Use the present tense when writing about the workings of language. Use it also when discussing the structure and action of narratives and drama.
Example 1: “George Orwell’s clearly links the rotten leopard skin to the idea of John Flory’s cowardice...";
Example 2: "In act 3.3 line 128 Othello declares..."
Example 3: "The first line of the poem reads..." etc.
Of course, we may use the past tense when writing about events that happened in the past.
Example 1: "Shakespeare probably wrote Othello in 1604"
Example 2: "In this chapter the reader learns that Flory's love, Elizabeth, spent some time in Paris before coming to Burma."
Quote Form
The formatting of this quotation is not correct. For information on how to properly format quotations, click HERE.
Quote Int
The quotation is improperly integrated into the discussion. Here are some forms more appropriate to academic convention.
Inappropriate — It is clear that Shylock hates Antonio: "I hate him for he is a Christian" (1.3.33).
Appropriate — When we first meet Shylock, his hatred of Antonio is clear. "How like a fawning publican he looks!", he says in an aside, "I hate him for he is a Christian" (1.3.32-3).
Inappropriate — It is clear that Shylock seeks to put Antonio at a disadvantage, "If I can catch him once upon the hip / I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him (1.3.38-9).
Appropriate — It is clear that Shylock seeks to put Antonio at a disadvantage. "If I catch him once upon the hip," he tells the audience, "I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him (1.3.38-9).
Appropriate —It is clear that Shylock seeks to put Antonio "upon the hip" (at a disadvantage) when we first meet him in Act 1 (ln. 38).
R/O
This sentence contains two or more independent clauses that are not connected properly. For additional information and a quiz, click HERE.
Register
The register is inappropriate for this text type.
Repetitive
Avoid repeating words and phrases in close proximity. Doing this can be tricky and indeed impossible sometimes. Yet, adopting the principle of avoiding repetition (in your academic writing), will help make your prose lively and interesting.
S/V Agreement
Subjects and verbs should match in number and in person. For more information about subject-verb agreement, click HERE.
2nd Pers
Avoid using second-person pronouns in your academic prose. So, for example, rather than writing "Here, you can see," we would write either "Here we can see" or "here one can see."
Sem Hr
A semicolon would work better here. To understand why, click HERE. Click HERE also. See also Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
Sem Use
Improper semicolon use. Click HERE for more information. Click HERE also. See also Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be found on the "Writing Resources" page of our class website HERE.
Space
Insert a space here.
Speaker
In academic discourse, the voice uttering the poem is termed "the speaker." Ask me about this if you are confused.
Specif
Be more specific here.
SP
There appears to be a spelling error here.
Splt Inf
This construction is termed a "split infinitive." I suggest avoiding these as much as possible; however, some would argue. Click HERE for more details about split infinitives and the debate surrounding them.
Tense
The tense of this verb is incorrect. For more information on verb tenses, click HERE.
This / That
Either "this" or "that" has been used incorrectly here. For more info. on "this" vs. "that," click HERE.
Tight
This phrase, sentence, or section needs tightening. "Tightening up your writing" means revising for clarity and concision. For some tips, click HERE.
Title Format
Capitalize all titles. Set titles of poems, articles, and other short works between quotation marks. Use italics to denote books, plays, and long poetry.
Ttl/Nm/Cls
For any written assignment, always include your name, the title of the assignment, and the title of the course. For all of these, the font type and size should be identical to that of the main body text. For an example, click HERE (scroll down the page once the website opens).
Trans Wk Para
Although paragraphs are separate, individual steps of your paper, it is important to clearly demonstrate a logical connection between them. Generally speaking, the way your paragraphs relate to one another displaces how sound your argument really is. A paragraph that begins with “also” or “in addition” offers a weak transition from the previous point, even though it may develop a highly interesting and related point.
Trans Wk Sent
The transition between these sentences is weak. This is often because the transition word or phrase does not mean precisely what the writer seeks to express. For more information on transitions, click HERE.
Typo
There is a typographical error here.
Uncl
It is unclear what you are trying to express here.
Uncl Ant
Uncl Incomp
This passage is understandable, yet it is not as clear as it should be.
Uncl Partial
I believe I understand what you are trying to express, yet it is not fully clear.
Verb Form
The form of the verb used here is incorrect. For more information, click HERE.
VJ
Beware of personal value judgements when analyzing texts ("this beautiful speech...," "the speaker does a fantastic job of..." . Often they are unnecessary to the discussion.
Who/That/Which
Incorrect use of "who," "that," or "which." To learn why, click HERE.
Who/Whom
This is an incorrect use or "who" or "whom." To learn why, click HERE.
Word Choice?
This word or phrase does not seem quite appropriate. Is there a better one?
Word Count L
The submission is too long. Unless otherwise specified, make sure submissions are within 10% of the specified word count.
Word Count Penalty
The word count violates the limits specified for this assignment. Penalty: 5%.
Word Count S
The submission is too short. Unless otherwise specified, make sure submissions are within 10% of the specified word count.
Word Form
While the word used here seems appropriate, its form is incorrect. For example: “car” vs. “cars” “swimming” vs. “swam.”
Word Order
The order of words in the highlighted passage creates confusion; consider revising.
For Office Use
Use the link below to access the marking legend where you can find more information and resources pertaining to my in-text corrections.
https://sites.google.com/pearsoncollege.ca/englastudymaterials/writing-resources/marking-legend
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