Correction
Symbols you might find on your papers….
ab |
Abbreviation inappropriate or needed |
ad |
Misuse of adjective or adverb |
agr |
Incorrect agreement in number between subject/verb or pronoun/antecedent |
awk |
Awkward construction of sentence |
ca |
Case of noun or pronoun incorrect |
cap |
Capitalization inappropriate or needed |
cit |
Missing citation or error in form of citation |
coh |
Sentence (or ¶ ) not coherent (usually misplaced elements) |
cs |
Comma connects (splices) two independent clauses |
coord |
Coordination needed or faulty |
d |
Diction (inappropriate level of language -slang, jargon, sexist or trite expression, etc.) |
dev |
Idea (or paragraph) needs development |
div |
Incorrect word division |
dm |
Dangling modifier (usually an unclear or illogical relationship to other parts of the sentence) |
doc |
Documentation (source needed or in incorrect form) |
eff |
Effectiveness of sentence doubtful |
frag |
Fragment- (incomplete sentence) |
fs |
Fused sentence |
met |
Check use of metaphor (ineffective use) |
n |
Number (inappropriate use of figures or words) |
ns |
Needless or confusing shift in tense, person, tone, style, perspective |
obl |
Oblique reference |
pv, pass |
Inappropriate or ineffective use of passive voice |
p, punc |
Punctuation needed, unnecessary, or wrong |
pl |
Plural needed, or error in plural form |
red |
Redundant |
ref |
Pronoun reference ambiguous, too broad, unclear; inappropriate use of "it" or "you" |
rep |
Needless repetition |
sex |
Check for sexist language |
sing |
Singular needed |
sp |
Spelling error |
sub |
Ideas of unequal importance not expressed in subordinate form |
t |
Inappropriate tense or sequence of tenses |
trans |
Transition needed |
usg |
Usage inappropriate or wrong |
w |
Wordiness |
wc |
Questionable Word Choice |
ww |
Wrong word (meaning wrong) |
¶ |
Paragraph |
¶coh |
Paragraph not coherent |
¶dev |
Paragraph needs development |
|
delete |
# |
Number (as in page numbers) |
/\ |
Something omitted |
// |
Parallel structure needed |
~ |
Transpose |
This list was
adapted from the Western New England College Writing & Reading Program,
Lunsford & Connors; The Everyday Writer (St. Martins Press, 1998),
and Fowler, et.al., The Little, Brown Handbook,
fifth ed. (HarperCollns Publishers, 1992).