This is a guide to the symbols I use when marking up your writing assignments. Each symbol stands for a particular kind of error. By marking the types of errors you're making, my aim is to help you identify the areas on which you need to focus to improve the accuracy of your written English.

Important: When I mark up your assignments, I will not necessarily mark every single error you make. Instead, I will mark those errors that seem to occur most frequently in your writing, or those that cause the greatest difficulties for the reader.

When looking over my feedback on your writing, look for patterns. Which symbols do you see most often on your writing? Make sure you understand that particular category of error (ask me if you're unclear!) and in your future writing, focus on that specific issue.

Note: This guide is a work in progress. As I gather more examples I will add them to this guide, and add more detailed descriptions as well. If you want know more about a type of error I haven't documented very extensively, please ask me!

Standard editing marks

These are marks and symbols that are widely used in the English-speaking world when editing documents. I use them when marking up your papers, and you may well see other teachers using them as well.

Austin's special editing marks

These are symbols and abbreviations that I've invented. You won't necessarily see other people using these marks.

pos (part of speech)

This is a part of speech (词性) error.

If you are confused about what "parts of speech" means, you may want to review [TBD].

Examples of parts of speech include: nouns 名词, verbs 动词, adjectives 形容词, and adverbs 副词.

If you see this mark, it means you're using this word as the wrong part of speech (e.g. using a noun form as a verb, using an adjective form as a noun, etc).

Examples

(hover your cursor over the sentences for corrections)

with no pronunciation    (noun, not verb) — with no **pronunciation** (noun, not verb)

will go extinct    (extinct is an adjective, not a verb) — will go extinct (extinct is an adjective, not a verb)

a linguist     (linguistic is an adjective, the noun form is linguist) — a **linguist** (linguistic is an adjective, the noun form is linguist)

are related to good education    (educated is an adjective, the noun is education) — are related to **good education** (educated is an adjective, the noun is education)

Wuhan's image   (imagine is a verb) — Wuhan's **image** (imagine is a verb)

represents rudeness    (rude is an adjective, the noun is rudeness) — represents **rudeness** (rude is an adjective, the noun is rudeness)

speaks somewhat differently   (adverb, not verb) — speaks somewhat **differently** (adverb, not verb)

don't feel any discomfort   (uncomfortable is an adjective, the noun is discomfort) — don't feel any **discomfort** (uncomfortable is an adjective, the noun is discomfort)

the extinction of Shanghainese   (extinct is an adjective, the noun is extinction) — the **extinction** of Shanghainese (extinct is an adjective, the noun is extinction)

Austin WoernerAugust 3, 2018

Austin's Editing Marks

Standard editing marks

Austin's special editing marks

pos (part of speech)

Examples