Local and Global Errors in ESL Writing

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Local and Global Errors in ESL Writing

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 Students whose first language is not English often make errors in their written work. These errors can sometimes make it very difficult for the reader to understand the writer's ideas and thoughts. It is important to note that there are two types of errors: local and global. Local errors usually do not impede comprehension, but global errors cause confusion for the reader. What follows are examples of both types of errors:

 Local Errors
A local error violates one of the following grammar rules, but an intelligent reader can still understand the writer’s intended meaning:

            1. Subject–Verb Agreement: The verb must agree with the subject.
  •     *“The college have addressed the issue of attrition.”
            Corrected sentence: The college has addressed the issue of attrition.
  •     
        *“The student like to argue with the instructor.”
            Corrected sentence: The student likes to argue with the instructor.

     2. Participles: Appropriate participles need to be used to convey meaning.
        
        *“I am not interesting in this topic.”
           Corrected sentence: I am not interested in this topic.
        
        *“I am boring in class."
           Corrected sentence: I am bored in class.

     3. Articles: Indefinite articles such as “a” and “an” and the definite article “the” should be used appropriately.
        
         *“The life is interesting.”
             Corrected sentence: Life is interesting. (“Life” is an uncountable noun.)
         
         *“I need the happiness in the life.”
             Corrected sentence: I need happiness in life. (“Happiness” cannot be counted.)

     4. Countable/Uncountable Nouns: Uncountable nouns do not take the plural suffix “-s”.
          
          *“I need informations about the course.”
              Corrected sentence: I need information about the course.
          
          *“I have to buy some furnitures and equipments.”
              Corrected sentence: I have to buy some furniture and equipment.
              [These errors occur because in the student’s first language, nouns such as “information,” “furniture,” and 
               “equipment” are considered countable.

      5. Spelling: Words should be spelled correctly to avoid confusing the reader.
             
               “We are going to a Greek theatre tonight.”
                Corrected sentence: We are going to a Greek theater tonight. 
               
               “I am definately going to attend the event tomorrow.”
                Corrected sentence: I am definitely going to attend the event tomorrow.

     6. Word Order: Adverbs usually follow verbs, and adjectives precede nouns.
               
                “I very much like you.”
                 Corrected sentence: I like you very much. (Place the adverb “very much” after the verb “like.”)
                
                “She liked the man handsome.”

     Corrected sentence: She liked the handsome man. (Place the adjective “handsome” before the noun  
                                          “man.”)

    7.  Prepositions: Certain prepositions are used before certain nouns.
                
                 “I am learning many things on the course.”

      Corrected sentence: I am learning many things in the course. 
      
    “Success depends of perseverance.” 
     Corrected sentence: Success depends on perseverance.

    8.  Plurals: Countable nouns take the plural suffix “-s”.
               
                 “My sister has three cat.”
                 Corrected sentence: My sister has three cats.
                
                 “My father owns two store.”
                 Corrected sentence: My father owns two stores.

     9. Word Forms: Word endings indicate certain parts of speech.
                
                 “I have been working hardly.”
                  Corrected sentence: I have been working hard.
                 “The test was incredibly difficulty.”
                  Corrected sentence: The test was incredibly difficult.

     10. Verbs Forms: Verb forms should be used appropriately.
                 
                  “I am strongly disagree with her.”
                   Corrected sentence: I strongly disagree with her (without “am”).
                 
                  “I enjoy to read novels.”
                   Corrected sentence: I enjoy reading novels.

     Global Errors

     Global errors have a negative impact on readers, making it extremely difficult for them to comprehend the writer’s intended meaning. What follows are some examples of global errors:

     1. Fragments: Fragments are incomplete thoughts, which confuse the reader. In your written work, do your best         
        to avoid fragments. Consider the following examples:
                  

       “Since the college embraces diversity.”

                   Corrected sentence: Since the college embraces diversity, it recruits faculty members from various 
                                                    racial and ethnic groups.

                   “Many businesses and educational institutions in the area.”
                   Corrected sentence: Many business and educational institutions in the area have offered scholarships to 
                                                    qualified students.

  • 2. Run-on Sentences: These are two or more sentences run together without using proper punctuation and/or 
        conjunctions. 
                         “Maria came from Ecuador she studies at a junior college in Queens after she graduates she plans to move 
                          back to Ecuador and start her own practice.”
                          [The reader does not know where one idea ends and another begins. Run-on sentences can be extremely
                           confusing for the reader.]
                          Corrected sentence: Maria came from Ecuador. She studies at a junior college in Queens. After she 
                                                          graduates, she plans to move back to Ecuador and start her own practice.

             3. Comma Splices: Comma splices are two main clauses joined with a comma without a coordinating
                          conjunction.

                          “Students from Bangladesh have a poor educational background, they do not perform well on
                          standardized tests in the United States.”
                          Corrected sentence: Students from Bangladesh have a poor educational background, so they do not 
                          perform well on standardized tests in the United States.

             4. Syntax: Words have specific places in a sentence. Misplacing or dropping them completely can cause a great 
                          deal of confusion for the reader.
  •              “If my friend had not warned me, my bag would have lost.” 
                  Corrected sentence: If my friend had not warned me, my bag would have been lost.”
  •  
                “He is easy learning computer science.”
                 Corrected sentence: He is learning computer science easily.
  •  
                “Because of the earthquake, many people would destroyed.” 
                 Corrected sentence: Because of the earthquake, many people were affected.

    As a college student, your goal is to minimize the occurrence of global errors so that your reader can easily understand what you mean. It is possible that some local errors will continue to appear in your written work. However, you should work to eliminate both types of errors to ensure your reader can follow your thoughts without difficulty.page3image28712 page3image28872 page3image29032

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