CORRECTION SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN MARKING ESSAYS
Symbol
Unabbreviated
Example/Explanation
sum
Summative
Too much summary. Assume the reader is already familiar with the text.
summarize only to prove a point.
awk
Awkward
Awk indicates that there is something wrong with your sentence that
cannot be repaired by simply changing a few words. The teacher is
suggesting you rewrite the entire section indicated.
?
Confusing
Confusing statement or hard to understand
dev
Development
needed
This indicates that an idea, point, or subject needs to be further developed,
expanded upon; revise by supplying details, examples, or illustrations, by
defining or explaining.
al
Academic
language
Compared to social language, or the words we use every day, academic
language and style should be formal, objective, precise, clear and concise.
log
Logic faulty
log: His job was one way to become independent. (A job is not a way.)
Cor: Getting a job was one way to become independent.
red
Redundancy
not needed or useful. For example, I believe, I feel, I sense, I think are all
redundant. Your paper should be evidence enough that you are thinking.
rel
Relevance
The comment may not directly relate to your main topic.
qi
Quote
Quotations marks or the quote itself, and its integration mishandled.
✓
Check mark
Good point, or aptly put
ro
Run-on
This indicates a failure to put any punctuation between two independent
clauses. This can be corrected by using a semi-colon when the two are
closely related or a period if they are not.
frag
Fragment
Frag means that a group of words does not have all the elements necessary
to make and independent clause that can stand alone.
col
Colloquial
Lanaguage used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or
literary. Contractions. Using pronouns “you” “I” or “We”
dm
Dangling
modifier
Dm: Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud.
Cor: I was running for the bus when my book fell in the mud.
rep
Repetitious
Words or ideas are repeated without significant effect
¶
Paragraph
Paragraph indentation needed (—>) or start a new paragraph.
gr
Grammar
This indicates that your sentence contains a grammatical error that is not
defined by one of the other symbols.
ill
Illegible
Your writing is impossible to read.
wc
Word choice
or WW for wrong word. The word does not suit your intention.
sp
spelling error
also = as an underline for capitalization
sv
Subject verb
agreement
sv: There wasn’t many students in class today.
Cor: There weren’t many students in class today.