Page 248 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
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those errors. As you become more experienced, you will devise your
own strategies to target problem areas.
Subject-verb agreement.
Check each subject-verb sequence. Look for present-tense verb forms
and make sure that they agree with their subjects. Remember that in
the present tense, if the subject ends in -s, the verb usually does not.
If the verb ends in -s, the subject usually does not. Exceptions occur
when a singular subject ends in -s (for example, boss speaks) or when
a plural subject does not (children play).
Comma splices and run-ons.
Target long sentences; they are more likely to be run-ons. Target
commas, too. If there is a complete sentence on both sides of the
comma, you have found a probable comma splice.
Other comma errors.
Target each comma and question its reason for being. If you aren’t
sure why you used it, maybe it doesn’t belong. (Check the comma
rules in Chapter 24 for further help.)
Pronoun agreement.
Look for the plural pronouns they and their. Make sure that they have
a plural, not a singular, antecedent.
