Frequent Spelling Mistakes in College Papers
Tips on Proofreading and Editing Academic Papers
Mar 16, 2009
While it’s natural for students to make mistakes in writing, some of them are far too obvious to be tolerated. The following article will list some spelling intricacies with the intention to pinpoint the most frequent mistakes in writing. In the course of proofreading, students should pay extra attention to all problems listed below.
Spelling Mistakes in Academic Essays
Violating spelling rules in writing decreases the overall quality of any paper. Apart from lowering your mark for incorrect spelling, it may also cause some confusion as to what you meant to say. Mistakes of any kind, spelling errors included, can significantly obscure the intended meaning or make it totally absurd. See the following list for examples:
- their (possessive form of they) vs. they’re (contraction of they are)
- accept (meaning to receive or to admit) vs. except (meaning but or only)
- who’s (contraction of who is or who has) vs. whose (possessive form of who)
- its (possessive form of it) vs. it’s (contraction of it is or it has)
- your (possessive form of you) vs. you’re (contraction of you are)
- affect (meaning to influence) vs. effect (meaning result)
- than (used in comparison) vs. then (refers to a time in the past)
- were (form of the verb to be) vs. we’re (contraction of we are) vs. where (related to location or place)
- to (a prepositional phrase) vs. too (meaning also)
How to Avoid Spelling Mistakes in Writing
While computer programs can perform some kind of proofreading and search for surface errors, they are not entirely reliable. Moreover, even if they were, many written assignments must be completed on spot – without any possibility to consult dictionaries or computer software. There are many diverse options which can help you avoid making spelling errors – a consolidated strategy including all of the following is advised:
- Practice spelling through reading – pay attention to how word are written and jot down those you didn’t know;
- Consult dictionaries if you’re uncertain about the construction of any word;
- Try switching off spell-check on your computer and turn it on only after you’ve finished writing. In this way, you will be able to see which mistakes repeat through your writing;
- Write in hand and avoid typing when possible.
When it comes to academic writing, lingual skills are critical. In order to succeed in college writing courses, students must be ready to continually review their skills and improve their knowledge of language rules. Use the below resources to learn more about improving your writing skills.
Further reading:
How to Proofread Academic Papers
Differences Between Paraphrasing and Quoting
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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