This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.
Task
On topic |
Makes sense |
Correctly uses required word/phrase/idea |
Follows all other instructions |
Structure
Fragment |
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Missing the subject or verb |
Fused Sentence |
Two or more independent clauses: |
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Not separated by appropriate punctuation |
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Or by a connecting word |
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Or separated only by a comma |
Run-On Sentence |
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Three or more clauses, joined by conjunctions, whose ideas are not closely linked |
Incorrect word order |
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Misplaced parts of the sentence |
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Sentence starts as statement and ends as a question |
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Direct question with implied question without quotation marks or other punctuation |
Extra Word |
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Sentence could be corrected by removing a word |
Omitted Word |
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Sentence could be corrected by inserting a word |
Incorrect part of speech |
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An adjective is used in place of an adverb |
Did not identify the subject when the verb form changed |
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Word Form Errors
Tense |
Agreement |
Plurality |
Usage |
If a word is incorrect in meaning but is the correct part of speech for the way the sentence is structured, score as a Word Form error (not a Structure error).
Word Form Error Examples
Slang and colloquial word usage |
Subject-verb disagreement |
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Disagree in number (singular or plural) or person (first, second, third) |
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Incorrect verb form |
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Wrong verb tense or wrong form of a verb |
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Lack of parallel structure |
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Verb tense changes inappropriately in a sentence |
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Incorrect or unclear noun/pronoun |
Missing Possessive |
Incorrect preposition or article |
Word meaning |
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Note: Incorrect part of speech is a Structure error, not a Word Form error |
Double negative |
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Word Form Errors - Not Penalized
A vs. an |
spelling |
Your vs you're |
spelling |
Their, their, they're |
spelling |
It vs it's |
spelling |
That vs. which |
score either as correct |
Other Mechanical Errors
Capitalization |
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Lack of capitalization of first word or proper noun |
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Words or letters inappropriately capitalized |
Punctuation |
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Apostrophes in verbs, plural nouns, or possessive pronouns |
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Missing or added quotation marks, commas, periods, or semicolons |
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