Error Correction

Errors are inevitable. One way is to teach students how to find errors and fix their mistakes. By doing this, you are not only correcting the error but also teaching them how to correct it in the future. This study evaluates an error correction framework with these goals in mind. 

Naturally, correcting errors in English mainly depends on the objective of your lesson. For instance, if you are teaching for fluency, corrections are more commonplace while accuracy will require a more delicate touch. That being said, there are some key things to know when it comes to correctly and sensitively correct your errors.

Error Correction Definition

Mistakes are inevitable when students are in the process of writing. However, it is worth improving their writing through the teaching of English writing in an English class. Through research, it has been found that there are two stages in correcting errors, before and after. 

The researchers emphasised the importance of the preparation work before correction, as well as the reviewing work after correction. They also found that correcting errors can be done in a framework. This framework is based on various theories. 

Error correction is a form of feedback given to learners to help them improve. Understanding the difference between a mistake and an error, as well as how much correction should be made, is important for both teachers and learners. At what point should the teacher correct the learner? How does the teacher correct without de-motivating them? These questions should be considered carefully.

Classification of Error Correction

• Self-correction: When a student makes a mistake, the teacher may help him or her identify the error and even help correct it
• Peer-correction: When a student needs help, his peer may be there to identify and correct his mistake
• Class-correction: If the whole class may pay attention to the utterances of students, identifying them and correcting them accordingly will help in error correction
• Teacher-Correction: When a mistake is spotted the teacher should intervene in order to correct it.It is preferable that the teacher makes students aware of their mistakes

The two most essential skills of error correcting are proofreading and editing. Proofreading indicates looking for grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes in one writing. These could be tense verb mistakes, sentence Fragments, subject-verb agreement errors, Run-On Sentences or Comma splices, incorrect singular or plurals, and many other types of errors. Editing simply means correcting the mistakes one finds.  

Grammatical Errors

1 . Comma Splice: A comma splice is a grammatical error in which two sentences are joined using a comma instead of a coordinating conjunction.

Fixing a comma splice can be accomplished in one of five different ways:

• Split the clauses into two sentences
• Substitute the comma with a semicolon
• Replace the comma with coordinating conjunction–but,and, for, nor, yet so
• Place the comma with subordinating conjunction–although, before, after, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until

2 . Pronoun Errors: When the pronouns do not agree in number with the nouns then the Pronoun error occurs. The noun and pronoun both must be singular, either of the both would be a mistake. However, if the noun is plural, the pronoun must be plural as well. For example:

• Incorrect: ALL must bring their own tiffin
• Correct: Everybody must bring his or her own tiffin

Although pronoun error is an admirable goal, correct grammar is still important

3 . Mistakes in Apostrophe Usage: Apostrophes is a punctuation used to indicate possession. However, one should not use an apostrophe after a possessive pronoun such as my, mine, our, ours, his, hers, its, their, or theirs. For example:

• • Incorrect: My sister’s cabin is next to her cabin

• Correct: My sister’s cabin is next to her cabin

4 . Lack of Verb or subject Agreement: A sentence must have subjects and verbs that agree in number when speaking or writing in the present tense. If the subject is singular, then the verb should be the same. If it’s  plural, the verb also should be plural. For example:

• Incorrect: The recipes is perfect for beginning chefs
• Correct: The recipes are perfect for beginning chefs

5 . Misplaced Modifiers: To communicate ideas clearly, one must place a modifier directly next to the word it is considered to modify. For example:

• Incorrect: At nine years old, my mother gave me a pony for Christmas
• Correct: When I was nine years old, my mother gave me a pony for Christmas