These are the correction signs I use to mark your papers.  Note that I have underlined and put in bold four major sentence errors (agreement, comma splice, fragment, and run-on), errors which in general make it look as if you don't know how to write a sentence correctly in standard written American English (even though I assume you do in most cases!).  These correction signs are fairly standard.  I've made up only a fraction of them (and probably someone thought of those before I did).  Even though I've used an exclamation mark above, in general avoid them, except in quotations.  If you have any questions about what I've marked on your papers, first consult this list.  If you still don't understand what I've marked, see me.

agr: agreement of subject and verb and of pronoun and antecedent

amb: ambiguous (more than one possible meaning)

art: wrong use or lack of an article (a, an, the)

cap(s): incorrect capitalization

case: wrong use of case (e.g., the objective case: between you and me; not between you and I)

cl: cliche: avoid cliches; use something more original

coh: lacks coherence with previous phrase, sentence, or paragraph

col: colloquial (all right for everyday speech but not for formal writing; it goes without saying you also avoid profanity and racist, sexist, homophobic or any other hate-inspired words, unless you are referring to them as topics, in which case you use quotes and make it clear that you are referring to the words as words only)

comb: combine with previous word, sentence, or paragraph

cons: be consistent; keep the same pattern (e.g., if you begin a list with "First," don't use "Secondly"; instead, use "Second")

c.s.: comma splice (sentences joined only by a comma with no coordinating conjunction such as and, but, yet, for, or, nor, so, and so that)

dang: dangling modifier or phrase (occurs at the beginning or end of a sentence)

def: define the word or phrase

dic: inappropriate diction (i.e., choice of words)

div: divide word properly (at the end of a syllable)

frag: incomplete sentence; sentence fragment

gen: generalization; too broad (if there is one exception to what youíve said, it is a generalization and needs qualification)

id: not idiomatic (e.g., using "different to" instead of "different from")

inc: incomplete (needs development or explanation)

K: awkward; rephrase (sometimes I may correct the phrasing, but I'll try to let you figure out how to do that in most cases)

log: not logical (be very careful about this; avoid logical fallacies)

mech: too mechanical; rephrase

MM: misplaced modifier (occurs in the middle of a sentence, unlike the dangling modifier)

mod: error in modification (e.g., using an adjective instead of an adverb: e.g. using "real" instead of "really")

red: redundant (unnecessary repetition of an idea)

ref: reference (what does this word or group of words refer to?)

rep: unnecessary repetition of words, phrases, or even sounds

run-on: run-on (sentences joined without punctuation or conjunctions)

trans: faulty transition

w/: with

W: wordy

WW: wrong word

p.v.: avoid passive voice

p.t.: use present tense

| | : make parallel

P: punctuation error

T: error in tense

T.S.: topic sentence

?: difficult to understand what is meant; not clear, rephrase

If you're having trouble with these errors in expression, consult a good writing handbook and/or use our Writing Lab (I have a link to it on my home page).  And of course I will be happy to talk with you individually during my office hour.