25 Common Errors in Writing Essays: Mistakes to Avoid

🔝 Top 5 Common Errors in Writing Essays

There are five types of common student mistakes. Here is what we will discuss today:

Also, we have a FAQ about academic writing issues at the end.

🔣 Essay Mistakes: Grammar

#1 Spelling Mistakes

Using a computer doesn’t save you from spelling mistakes. Autocorrection can help you with some typos but be careful with homophones. If you are unsure which word to use, double-check with a dictionary.

#2 No Comma After an Introductory Phrase

An introductory phrase comes before the main clause and provides background information. In most cases, an introductory phrase requires a comma after it. Note that a comma before a short introductory phrase is optional.

#3 Comma Misuse Inside a Compound Subject

A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects coordinating conjunction between them. For example, “John and Steve,” “Mary or Kate.” There is no need to put comma if conjunction between a compound subject.

#4 Subject-Verb Agreement

Remember to use singular verbs with singular subjects and plural verbs with plural subjects. Pay attention to the verb “to be” and to uncountable nouns.

#5 No Commas Around Interrupters

Interrupters are words or phrases that break the flow of a sentence with additional information. You usually need to separate interrupters using commas.

#6 Using Sentence Fragments

A sentence with no subject or main verb is a sentence fragment. Always check if there is a subject that does the action and the action itself. Sentence fragments also often seem uncompleted.

#7 Squinting Modifiers

A squinting modifier is a word that can qualify the words before and after it. Consider changing the word order or sentence structure to correct this mistake.

🧱 Essay Mistakes: Structure

#8 The Overall Structure

Make sure you have a five-paragraph structure unless the instructor gave you other guidelines. Your paper should include an introduction with a thesis statement, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

#9 A Missing Thesis Statement

Your paper should be based on the thesis statement. It is only one or two sentences, but it plays a huge role. That is why its absence can lower your grade drastically.

#10 No Topic Sentences

Each body paragraph needs a topic sentence at the very beginning. It should highlight the main contents of the passage. Also, all the topic sentences support the thesis statement. It makes your essay more structured and coherent.

#11 Not Appropriate Length of Body Paragraphs

The length of each body paragraph should be somewhere between 150 and 200 words. If a passage is smaller, it does not seem like a well-developed thought. A bigger paragraph will make it harder for the readers to concentrate.

#12 Not Appropriate Length of Introduction or Conclusion

A general rule is that introduction or conclusion should make up 10% of the paper word count. For example, it is a 1500-word paper. It means your introduction should not be bigger than 150 words. Pay attention that it might be bigger if the text is 300 words or less.

#13 No Transition Between the Paragraphs

All the paragraphs should be logically connected to the thesis statement. You need to show a connection between the sections using linking words and sentences. Add a concluding sentence to each body paragraph to ensure they support the main claim.

#14 New Information in the Conclusion

Some essays require a personal evaluation of the presented material. If your instructor doesn’t provide such rules, don’t include them in your conclusion. The main two components of your conclusion are a paraphrased thesis statement and a summary of the main points.

🎲 Essay Mistakes: Choosing a Topic

#15 The Topic Is Too Simple

A simple topic doesn’t provide enough space for research. It is also harder to formulate a good thesis statement if the topic is plain. A simple topic doesn’t motivate your audience to read the paper either. They already might know enough about it.

#16 The Topic Is Too General

Picking a specific topic will raise the quality of the essay. You can instantly filter the sources and create a smaller selection related to your topic. With a particular topic, you will conduct more profound research.

#17 The Topic Is Not Original

It is not a good idea to pick a topic over-researched by other scholars. There are answers to all of the questions you might want to research, so it will be hard to impress your professor. If you chose a topic that lacks originality, try to modify it.

#18 The Topic Doesn’t Need Research

If you know you can write this paper without any research, it’s a bad sign. Your audience and professor probably know everything too. Make sure to extend your knowledge to complete an essay. A good argumentation always needs some proof from credible sources.

13 Examples of Good Topics for Students

1. The impact of computer technology on architecture. 
2. Are we too dependent on computers?
3. Distracted driving: should talking and texting be banned?
4. The Japanese and the US healthcare systems: a comparative analysis.
5. Euthanasia as an ethical dilemma in nursing.
6. The social security system in Saudi Arabia.
7. The origin, justification, and importance of a private property.
8. How do the US presidential elections affect the Middle East?
9. Practical and emotional intelligence: application and examples.
10. Deviance and crime in colleges and universities.
11. How does situational awareness affect decision-making?
12. The effectiveness of mindfulness meditation intervention in reducing stress in adolescents.
13. Causes of increased suicide rates in the United States.

Visit this 100% free online essay database for more amazing paper ideas.

📚 Essay Mistakes: Using Sources

#19 Bad Sources

The sources you use for academic tasks should be reliable and up to date. Avoid Wikipedia, such forums as Quora, and other non-scientific data. Your college should have a research database or provide access to credible websites—for example, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, JSTOR, etc. You can also use printed sources you can find in your library as an alternative.

#20 Too Many or Too Few Sources

Using too few sources might indicate that you did not research the topic properly. Too many references make showing your standpoint and analytic skills more challenging. Your instructor should provide you with the number of sources you need to use. The average quantity is three sources per one double-spaced page. But this number might vary significantly depending on the type of essay.

#21 Just Summarizing

A summary shows that you have read the sources and extracted some information. You also need to analyze and synthesize the data to understand the issue deeper. Use critical thinking and creative approaches instead of paraphrasing the source. Try to figure out the author’s claim, how it is similar or different from other sources, its impact, etc.

#22 Improper Citation

Your instructor should also provide you with the citation style required for your paper. You can find guidelines for each online or in your college’s library. No matter how you format your essay, there always should be references to the sources you use. Otherwise, it’s plagiarism.

🖌️ Essay Mistakes: Style

#23 Being Too Personal

If the task requires you to tell about yourself, go ahead. You can include some information to prove the credibility of your judgments. You can also explain why you used specific sources in your research and provide your opinion about them. If you don’t have to use any personal information, better focus on the investigation. Also, be careful when using pronouns “you” and “I” — ask your professor if it is appropriate for the task.

#24 Over-complicating

Academic writing is not about putting something simple into complicated words. The main goal is the opposite – your paper is supposed to be as direct and concise as possible. Don’t use complex terminology or long phrases if there are other alternatives.

#25 Emotional Language

Emotional appeals work well in marketing texts and fiction books. You should always be objective and cold-minded writing an academic text. Even if the topic is sensitive to you, leave your emotional responses out of the paper. To be persuasive, include more convincing examples rather than expressive language. Support your arguments with factual claims and provide references to your findings.

Use our free Read My Essay tool to hear how your text sounds – it will help you find more stylistic mistakes.

❓ FAQ

🔗 References

1. Top 20 Errors in Undergraduate Writing | Hume Center for Writing and Speaking – Stanford University
2. Twelve Common Errors – The Writing Center – UW–Madison
3. Top 10 Student Writing Mistakes: Finals Edition
4. 10 Common Grammatical Errors and Conventions in Academic Writing – University of Toronto Mississauga
5. Common grammar mistakes that make people cringe
6. 31 Common Grammar Mistakes (With Examples and Corrections) | Indeed.com