What are some common errors, and why do they matter?

Errors in Sentence Style

Errors in sentence style are not necessarily wrong in the same way that grammatical errors can be. They are wrong insofar as they weaken the sound or style of a sentence or obscure its meaning. They may also be considered inappropriate because the rhetorical situation requires that a certain style of writing be used. For instance, slang and contractions are inappropriate for formal writing, such as the writing we do in college. Wordiness, however, is a more common problem and is generally discouraged no matter the rhetorical situation.

The following video goes over some important areas of word choice and how to detect errors in word choice when editing your own writing.

How to Edit Your Writing: Importance of Proper Word Choice

by: expertvillage

 

Learning about stylistic missteps in writing can set your writing apart. Understanding wordiness and how to fix it can make your writing clear and concise. Knowing when, and when not, to use slang and contractions can ensure that your writing is always well-suited to its audience. Sentence style is a lot like etiquette; writing that demonstrates a style appropriate to its context is polite and well-behaved. It doesn't embarrass itself.

 

Errors in Parallelism

Errors in parallelism are worth understanding because, as a common maxim says, form does affect content. This video by Think Big SAT Prep goes over some of the considerations in making sure your sentences are parallel.

SAT Common Writing Error #4: Parallelism

by: THINKBIGSATPREP

The sound—even the shape—of our sentences affects the delivery of our ideas. If that delivery is too slow, too fast, or clumsy, the reader may give up on trying to understand what we are saying. Errors in parallelism affect the rhythm of the sentence, and if a reader stumbles over how a sentence sounds, he may also stumble over what it means.

 

Click here to begin the lesson on Common Errors in Sentence Style.