The following is a list of common grammatical errors and their approximate deductions. The errors are listed according to their relative severity, and are followed by the grading symbol and the section of the St. Martin's Handbook for Writers in which the definition and ways of correcting the error are listed. The (R) symbol refers to those errors which the student is required to revise.

I. Capitol Felonies (punishable by an automatic F on the assignment and perhaps in the course)

1. Intentional plagiarism.

II. First Degree Felonies (deduction of approximately ten points or more from the grade)

1. Sentence Fragments (FRAG) (R) 16
2. Fused Sentences (FUSED) (R) 15
3. Comma Splices (CS) (R) 15
4. Inadequate Development (DEVELOP) (R) 6e
5. Poor, Nonexistent or Unclear Thesis Sentence (THESIS) (R) 3b,4d
6. Faulty Logic, Unity or Coherence (specific problem written in margin) (R) 6d, 19a
7. Faulty Subject (F SUBJ) (R) see faulty predication, 18b
8. Derailed or Unclear Sentence (DERAIL) (R) 18

III. First Degree Misdemeanors (deduction of approximately 6-8 pts. from grade)

1. Faulty Comparison (F COMP) (R) 12d
2. Dangling Modifier (DM) (R) 17c
3. Faulty Complements (FC) (R) 18b
4. Misplaced Modifier (MM) (R) 17a
5. Pronoun without Clear Antecedent (P. REF) (R) 13c
6. Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement (P. AGREE) (R) 13
7. Pronoun in Wrong Case (P CASE) (R) 13
8. Subject-Verb Disagreement (SVA) (R) 10, 11
9. Improper Verb / Word choice (VERB or W/C) (R) 27
10. Awkwardness of Wordiness (AWK) or (WORDY) (R) 19b
11. Diction Errors (DICTION) (R) 27
12. Misuse of Passive Construction (PASSIVE) (R) 9, 23b
13. Awkward Shifts in Subject, Tone or Voice (SHIFT) (R) 14
14. Choppy Sentences (CHOPPY) (R) 22
15. Faulty Parallelism (F. PARA) (R) 21
16. Lack of Specific Examples (EXAMPLES) (R) 3d, 6e

IV. Second Degree Misdemeanors (appx. 3 pts. deducted)

1. Improper form of adverb or adjective (ADV/ADJ) or (W/C) (R) 12
2. Lack or Misuse of Articles (ART) (R) 55
3. Omission of THAT from the Noun Clause (OMT) or (THAT) (R) 7c (noun clauses)
4. Misuse or Lack of Subjunctive (SUBJUNCT) (R) 9h
5. Comma Errors (C) (R) 30
6. Misspelling (SP) (R) 24
7. Colon Errors (COLON) (R) 35
8. Dash (DASH) (R) 35
9. Parenthesis (PARENT) (R) 35
10. Semicolon Error (SC) (R) 31
11. Apostrophe (APOS) (R) 33
12. Capitol Letters (CAP) (R) 36
13. Hyphen (HYPHEN) (R) 39 14. Italics (ITAL) (R) 38
14. Quotation Marks (QUOTES) (R) 34
15. Point of View Errors (PV) (R)

* Important: Revision Steps:

1. On back of preceding page from error, name the error.
2. Quote the rule or definition from the St. Martin's Handbook.
3. Correct the sentence or error.