Download Grading Symbols - Lewis-Palmer School District

Grading Symbols
1. Place a comma after an introductory subordinate or adverb clause.
Before you leave school, you need to call home.
1A. Do not place a comma before a subordinate clause or adverb clause that
appears at the end of a sentence.
You need to call home before you leave.
2. Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction which joins two independent
clauses.
I enjoy math, but I prefer English.
2A. Do not place a comma before a coordinating conjunction that does not
join two independent clauses.
I enjoy math but hate English.
3. Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins items in a series.
I had a hamburger, french fries, and a coke for lunch.
4. Place a comma between coordinate adjectives. (These adjectives could be
connected with the word, “and.”)
I own a big, black dog. (I own a big and black dog.)
5. Place a comma after an introductory participle phrase or an infinitive
phrase that functions as an adjective.
Walking through the hall, the student tripped.
To do well on a test, one must study.
6. Place a comma after an introductory adverb.
Clearly, Bill looks confused.
7. Place commas around a parenthetical expression.
This class, I believe, is quite challenging.
8. Isolate an appositive with commas.
Our principal, Dr. Hager, is visiting our classroom today.
9. Use a comma to indicate a noun of direct address.
John, would you please go to the office?
10. Use a semicolon between two closely related independent clauses.
I did well on my exam; I had studied three hours last night preparing for it.
11. A conjunctive adverb is always preceded by a semicolon and followed by a
comma.
I would like to go to the dance; however, I am grounded.
12. Use a colon to introduce a list, to indicate that an explanation follows, or to
indicate that a second sentence is explaining the previous sentence.
Bring the following items to class: a pencil, a notebook, and an eraser.
One aspect of your personality upsets me: your rude behavior.
One aspect of your personality is annoying: you speak disrespectfully to
all of your teachers.
13. Place a hyphen between a compound adjective that appears before the noun
that it modifies.
Tom is a well-mannered individual.
13A. Do not place a hyphen between a compound adjective that follows the
noun that it modifies.
Tom’s behavior is well disciplined.
14. Do not end a sentence with a preposition.
I do not know whom I am going to the dance with should be I do not know
with whom I am going to the dance.
15. Do not use “you.”
You should study for your test should be One should study for his test.
16. Avoid using the constructions “is when” or “is because” when you write.
Integrity is when a person always does the “right thing” even when no one
is watching should be Integrity is doing the “right thing” even when no one
is watching.
The reason I am late is because I overslept should be I am late because I
overslept.
17. Do not use “a lot.”
18. Do not use contractions.
I can’t go should be I cannot go.
19. Avoid using slang expression or clichés.
20. Lack of subject/verb agreement.
21. Lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement.
22. Switching verb tense; maintain the same verb tense throughout your paper.
(Always analyze literature using present tense verbs.)
23. Switching number; all nouns should take the same form, either singular or
plural, throughout your entire paper.
24. Run-on.
25. Sentence fragment.
26. Misplaced modifier.
27. Do not use the word “like” as a conjunction; instead, substitute a
subordinating conjunction in its place.
I feel like I am getting sick should be I feel as though as I am getting sick.
28. Dangling participle.
Walking down the hall, my eyes spotted a ten-dollar bill should be
Walking down the hall, I saw a ten-dollar bill.
29. Weak word choice. Find stronger, more effective wording.
30. Unnecessary repetition.
31. Place a comma around a nonrestrictive clause.
Mr. Anderson, who is our astronomy instructor, also teaches physics.
31A. Do not place a comma around a restrictive adjective clause.
The class that I enjoy the most is astronomy.
32. Weak reference of pronoun; no pronoun should be used here. Use its
antecedent instead.
I went fishing, but I did not catch a single one should be I went fishing, but
I did not catch a single fish.
33. Do not abbreviate in formal papers.
34. Split infinitive. Example: “to constructively work” should be “to work
constructively”
35. Improper division of the word
36. Do not use “like” to introduce a list; use “such as” instead.
37. Awkward construction. Reword for sentence clarity.
38. Incomplete infinitive.
I want to go to the show, but my date doesn’t want to should be I want to
go to the show, but my date doesn’t want to go.
39. Two consecutive infinitives should be joined by “to” rather than by “and”
Example: “to try and hurry” should read “to try to hurry”
40. Do not place commas before the words “such as.”
41. Never use “off of.” Omit “of.”
The boy fell off of the chair should be The boy fell off the chair.
42. Subjunctive mood. Use “if…were” rather than “if…was.”
If I were tall, I would be a more effective basketball player.
43. Never use “sort of’ or “kind of.” Use the words “rather” or “somewhat.”
I feel kind of tired should read I feel rather tired.
44. Passive voice; always write in the active voice.
The cake was cut by the bride and groom should read The bride and
groom cut the cake.
45. Elliptical clause (an adverb clause that has no subject)
When studying, one should have a proper attitude should be When one is
studying, he should maintain a proper attitude.
46. Comma splice. Do not separate complete sentences with a comma.
47. Place a noun after the word, “this,” when it appears at the beginning of
the sentence.
This is a difficult subject should read This subject is quite difficult.
48. Use the possessive form of a noun or pronoun before a gerund.
I disapprove of Bill’s talking in class or I object to his talking in class.
49. Do not begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.
50. Rule #3. Place a semi-colon before a coordinating conjunction which
joins two independent clauses if one or more of the clauses already
contains a comma.
Because my alarm did not work, I slept late; and I was tardy to my
first-hour class.
51. Avoid idioms (a verb followed by a preposition).
The boy walked into the room should read: The boy entered the room.
52. Do not begin a sentence with there is or there are.
There are numerous spelling errors in your paper should read:
Numerous spelling errors appear in your paper.
53. Do not use the relative pronoun that to refer to a person.
My father is a man that I admire should read: My father is a man
whom I admire.
54. Do nut use the fact or due to the fact in formal writing.
“The fact that I failed is apparent.” should read : That I failed is
apparent.
55. Indent five spaces at the beginning of a paragraph.
56. Do not use a pronoun at the beginning of a paragraph – use its
antecedent.
57. Avoid placing a prepositional phrase after a linking verb.
“The children were in the basement playing.” should read:
The children were playing in the basement.
58. Use a more specific dialogue tag.
59. See rule number 48.
60. Double-space after periods and colons.
61. Place a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase that is longer
than four or more words.
At the beginning of class, all students should be in their seats.
61A. Do not place a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase
if the phrase is less than four words.
At night I have difficulty sleeping.
62. Do not end a sentence with a linking verb.
“I do not know where my dad is.” should read: I do not know where my
dad is staying during his vacation.
63. Always place periods and commas within quotation marks.
64. Past perfect tense. Use “had” as a helping verb for the earlier of two
past actions.
“I had practiced shooting free-throws before the game began.”
65. Use action, not linking verbs.
SYMBOLS:
T
Transition
No new paragraph
Sp
Spelling error
No parallel structure
New paragraph
a
Capitalize letter
#
Space
( ) Close space
F Footnote