Writing Correction Symbols
Use the explanations below to improve your writing and/or correct the errors in your writing.
C—Comma error. You are either missing a comma, or you have one that you do not need. Add or
remove commas as needed. Most common comma errors are as follows:
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
Missing a comma before the coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence. Add a comma.
Missing a comma after the subordinate clause in a complex sentence. Add a comma.
C.S.—Comma Splice error. You are incorrectly using a comma to join 2 sentences together to make a
compound sentence. Three ways to correct a comma splice are as follows. You must choose the best
way to correct your particular error.
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Change the comma to a period and start a new sentence.
Change the comma to a semi colon.
Keep the comma and add a coordinating conjunction after it.
WO—Write Out. You must not use numerals lower than 100 in your formal writing. Write the number
as a word not a numeral. Write out any abbreviations.
WW—Wrong Word error. You are using a wrong word in your sentence. Read the sentence over to find
the word that should be replaced with a better word. (might be a homonym)
RO—Run On Sentence error. You have several sentences running together without punctuation. Add
punctuation between sentences.
SS—Sentence Structure error. Your sentence is structured poorly or worded poorly. Reword the
sentence or change the structure of it.
Rep.—Repetition error. You are repeating yourself unnecessarily. Remove unnecessary repetition.
Sp—Spelling error. You have a misspelled word. Spell the word correctly.
Awk—Awkward wording. Your sentence is worded poorly. It may not make sense. Reword your
sentence to improve the wording.
Cap—Capitalization error. Something is capitalized that should not be, or something is not capitalized
that needs to be.
P—Punctuation error. You are missing necessary punctuation, or you have punctuation marks that are
not necessary. Add or remove punctuation as needed.
SV—Subject/Verb Agreement error. Your subject and verb do not work well together. Check to make
sure that you are using the right verb form for your subject.
~
---Order error. You have 2 words or phrases in the wrong order. Reverse the order of words or
phrases.
^
--Insert a missing word or phrase.
Fr (or Frag.)—Fragment error. You have a fragment and not a complete sentence. Fragments may be
corrected in one of the following ways. Choose the method that works best for your particular error.
 Attach the fragment to the sentence that precedes it.
 Attach the fragment to the sentence that follows it.
 Add a subject or predicate to the fragment.
Poss—Possessive Error. You forgot the apostrophe in a possessive noun or the apostrophe is misplaced.
Add the apostrophe in the correct place.
Ugh—you have included something not necessary or have worded something very badly or have simply
done a very poor job on some part of your paper. Rethink and revise.
Pro—Pronoun error. You are either using the wrong pronoun in your sentence, or you need to name the
noun instead of using a pronoun.
S-V-PN—Subject-Verb-Predicate Noun error. Check that the subject and verb you are using in your
sentence are appropriate for the predicate of the sentence.
TS—Topic Sentence error. There is a problem with the topic sentence of your paragraph. It may be
missing, poorly worded, or not appropriate for your purpose. Add or revise your topic sentence.
ND—Not Developed. Your writing is poorly developed. You need more in-depth, detailed explanations,
or more or better reasons.
Trans—Transition error. There is a problem with your use of transitions. You may need to add
transitions, or you may need to improve the transitions you have.
VT—Verb Tense. Your verb is the wrong tense. Change it.
OT—Off Track or Off Topic. Your writing is off the topic. Check the assignment directions.
n or pl—Number or Plural error. You have a singular where you need a plural or a plural where you
need a singular.
pro-ref—Pronoun Reference error. You are using a pronoun when you need to use the antecedent. Or
you are using an incorrect pronoun for the antecedent to which you are referring.
U—Usage error. You are using a word incorrectly. Change your wording.
wf—Wrong Form error. You are using a wrong form of a word. You need to change the suffix/part of
speech so that the correct form of the word is being used to fit the context in which you are using it.