Correction Symbols for Online Classes

 © Marsha Chan

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Abbreviations

As you learn to analyze your writing and grammar, I will use the following abbreviations. Use them to guide your error correction. On this web page, I use color with the following meanings:

black: abbreviation and full form

green: good example

red: example with an error

blue: explanation

Parts of Speech

adj = adjective. Any of a class of words used to modify a noun or other substantive (a group of words functioning as a noun) by limiting, qualifying, or specifying. An adjective is often distinguished in English morphologically by one of several suffixes, such as -able, -ous, -er, and -est, or syntactically by position directly preceding a noun or nominal phrase, such as old in an old car. (cool, broken, interesting)

adv = adverb. Any of a class of words that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. (very, quickly, often)

conj = conjunction. A part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. (and, or , because)

cc = coordinating conjunction. A part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, or independent clauses. (and, so, but)

det = determiner. A word belonging to a group of noun modifiers, which include articles, demonstratives, possessive adjectives, and words such as any, both, or whose. A determiner usually begins a noun or noun phrase or is in the second or third position after another determiner. There are several types of determiners:

1) art = article (a, an, the)
2) dem = demonstrative pronoun (this, that, these, those)
3) pron adj = pronoun adjective, or poss adj = possessive adjectives: (my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their)
4) Indef pron = Indefinite pronoun: (some, all, no, any)

interj = interjection. A part of speech usually expressing emotion and capable of standing alone (Hey! Wow!)

n = noun. A word that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive. (book, honesty, combination)

prep = preposition. A word placed before a substantive and indicating the relation of that substantive to a verb, an adjective, or another substantive. (of, about , with)

pron = pronoun. One of a class of words that function as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and designate persons or things asked for, previously specified, or understood from the context. (I, she , they)

v = verb. The part of speech that expresses existence, action, or occurrence. (be, create, conceive)

vt = verb, transitive (bite, like, tolerate) A vt takes (is followed by) a DO - n, pron, inf, ger. A vt cannot take a prep. We like to study.

vi = verb, intransitive (look, go, happen) A vi cannot take a DO. prep. A vi may be followed by a prep. or adv. You look satisfied.

vl = verb, linking (BE, sound, become) A vl is a subcategory of vi. A vl takes an adj., n. or prep. complement. This class seems interesting.

ger = gerund. The form of a verb ending in -ing. It may function as a substantive.(studying, seeing) Managing our study time is important.

inf = infinitive. The form of a verb preceded by to. It may function as a substantive. (to study, to see) The teacher advised us to participate actively in class.

bf = base form, i.e., without to, without ing, without ed, etc. (study) The teacher helps us understand English grammar.

pp = past participle. A form of a verb that can function independently as an adjective and is used with an auxiliary verb to indicate tense, aspect, or voice (broken, seen, studied) Don't sit on the broken chair. We have all studied English for many years.

pres part = present participle. A form of a verb that can function independently as an adjective. (interesting, exciting, exhausting) We saw an exciting movie. They went on an exhausting trip.

aux = auxiliary verb. A word that supports the main verb and gives meaning as to time, manner or mood. (do, had, are)We will all learn a lot in this class.

mod aux = modal auxiliary verb (may, should, can) We can improve our English through intensive study and practice.

Other grammar and writing abbreviations

= equals, is/are, refers to

=/= does not equal, is/are not, does not refer to

awk = awkward. The phrasing is not smooth and/or is difficult to understand well. Use more direct language.

cap = capital. There is a case error. Either this word should be capitalized (but it isn't), or it should be changed to lower case (if it isn't).

cn = count noun. If the noun is singular, it requires a determiner. If it is plural, it may or may not need a determiner; it certainly must not use a, an, or one.

She uses computer to compose her paragraph. cn > a computer

del = delete the word or phrase

He often stays in his room and playing games. del >He often stays in his room playing games.

ncn = noncount (uncountable) noun. This noun is always singular with this meaning, and it must not use a, an, one or any other number.

The students submit three homeworks each week. ncn > The students submit three assignments OR ... submit homework three times a week.

pl = plural. Change the noun, pronoun, and/or verb to its plural form.

I brush my tooth twice a day. pl > teeth

punc = punctuation error. Add, remove, or delete a punctuation mark.

Thank's for your help. punc > Thanks...

sg = singular. Change the noun, pronoun, and/or verb to its singular form.

I finished all my homeworks and turned them in. sg > ... all my homework and turned it in.

sg/pl? = Do you mean singular or plural?

She uses a computer to compose her paragraph. sg/pl? paragraphs in general, or just one paragraph?

sp = spelling error. This word is misspelled. Check a dictionary (online or paper).

I don't know where they purchased thier printer. sp > their

spa = subject-pronoun agreement. The subject and its pronoun must agree in person, gender, and number.

Elena told his husband about the merger. spa > Elena told her husband...

sva = subject-verb agreement. The subject and its verb must agree in person, tense, and number.

Nicolas go to work by bus. sva > Nicolas goes to work by bus.

tns = tense. Improper tense. Analyze the time and verb form; use the proper verb tense.

I have come to the United States in 1996. tns > came

Abbreviations related to tenses:

past = past, prog = progressive, perf = perfect, fut = future, pres = present, simp = simple, pres perf prog = present perfect progressive

phr = phrase, a group of two or more words, e.g.,

prep phr = prepositional phrase = a preposition and its object(s): in the park

wf = wrong word form. The word has the correct root, but it is not the correct part of speech

I know I will success if I try hard. wf > succeed (v.)

wo = wrong word order. A word or phrase needs to be moved to another part of the sentence.

They every day write in their journals. wo > They write in their journals every day.

ww = wrong word choice. The word or phrase is not appropriate; change the word or phrase to express your idea.

The moral of the story is that we need to prevent the future. ww > The moral of the story is that we need to plan for (prepare for) the future. OR ... we need to prevent disaster (pain, starvation, accidents, etc.) in the future.

wh = WH-word. Any of the question words or phrases that begin with wh- or with the word how (who, what, where, how)

 

X = Incorrect. For some exercises, there will be correct and incorrect answers. If one of your responses is incorrect, it will be marked with an X. Check the answer key if there is one.
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Abbreviations related to sentence structure

// = parallel structure. Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."

Jane likes hiking, swimming, and bicycle. // > Jane likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.

S = subject

O = object

DO = direct object

IO = indirect object
The teacher gave us a writing assignment. S = teacher, V= gave, IO = us, DO = assignment (Note: "gave" = vt.)

The students completed the homework. S = students, V= completed, O = DO = homework (Note: "completed" = vt.)

IC = independent clause. An independent clause can stand by itself as a simple sentence, or it can be joined to one or more additional clauses. It is also known as a main clause, particularly in a complex sentence.

DC = dependent clause. A dependent clause must be joined to an independent clause (main clause). It is also known as a subordinate clause.

After she did the exercise, she emailed it to the professor.

IC = she emailed it to the professor
DC = After she did the exercise

frag = fragment. Every sentence needs a subject and a verb except the imperative, in which you is understood, Please listen = Please (you) listen.

When our company produced 528,003 widgets. frag > Our company produced 5,003 widgets.

OR When our company produced 528,003 widgets, the general manager threw a party for the employees.

sub = subordinator. Add (or change) a subordinator to make one of the clauses a dependent clause (subordinate clause).

The man was my manager last year was recently promoted to director.

The man \+sub\ was my manager ... > The man who was my manager ...

ro = run-on sentence. Two or more independent clauses are run together without any punctuation. They need to be separated by a period, semi-colon, exclamation mark, or question mark, or by a comma plus a cc.

Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year the general manager considered that a great success.

ro > Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year. The general manager considered that a great success. (2 ICs)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year! The general manager ... (2 ICs)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year; the general manager ... (compound sentence)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year, and the general manager ... (compound sentence)

cs = comma splice. A comma is improperly used to splice (join) two independent clauses. Sometimes this error can be corrected as for a ro. Sometimes a sub can be added to change it to a complex sentence.

Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year, the general manager considered that a great success.

cs > Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year. The general manager ... (2 ICs. Each one ends in a period.)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year! The general manager ... (2 ICs)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year; the general manager ... (compound sentence. Note the use of the semicolon to join two closely related ICs)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year, and the general manager ... (compound sentence. Note the use of the comma before the coordinating conjunction.)

OR Our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year; therefore, the general manager ... (compound sentence. Note the use of the semicolon before the conjunctive adverb.)

OR Since our company produced 528,003 widgets last fiscal year, the general manager ... (complex sentence. Note the use of the comma to separate the DC before the IC.)
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Updated 9/23/14