100 Common TOEFL Writing Mistakes

No.	Item	Definition
1.	abbreviation misuse	Abbreviation is used incorrectly.
2.	abrupt ending	Essay ends too suddenly.
3.	abrupt introduction	Opening lacks needed context.
4.	ambiguous sentence	Sentence has more than one meaning.
5.	apostrophe error	Apostrophe used wrongly or omitted.
6.	article error	Wrong, missing, or extra article.
7.	awkward phrasing	Expression sounds unnatural or clumsy.
8.	biased language	Wording shows unfair judgment.
9.	capitalization error	Uppercase or lowercase used wrongly.
10.	choppy sentences	Many short disconnected sentences.
11.	citation error	Source information is incorrect.
12.	cliché	Overused expression weakens writing.
13.	colon misuse	Colon used incorrectly.
14.	comma omission	Needed comma is left out.
15.	comma splice	Two clauses joined by only comma.
16.	contraction	Shortened form used too casually.
17.	dangling modifier	Modifier lacks a clear target.
18.	dash misuse	Dash is used incorrectly.
19.	determiner error	Determiner choice is incorrect.
20.	discourse marker misuse	Linking word is used wrongly.
21.	double negative	Two negatives create wrong meaning.
22.	ellipsis misuse	Ellipsis is used incorrectly.
23.	emotional language	Wording is too emotionally charged.
24.	faulty comparison	Unlike things compared incorrectly.
25.	formulaic conclusion	Ending sounds mechanical or predictable.
26.	gerund-infinitive error	Wrong verb pattern chosen.
27.	hedging error	Certainty level is expressed poorly.
28.	hyphen misuse	Hyphen is used incorrectly.
29.	idiom misuse	Idiom used incorrectly.
30.	illegible handwriting	Writing is hard to read.
31.	illogical order	Ideas appear in confusing sequence.
32.	inaccurate paraphrase	Restatement changes original meaning.
33.	incomplete development	Idea is not fully explained.
34.	inconsistent tone	Tone changes inappropriately.
35.	incorrect negation	Negative form is built wrongly.
36.	informal language	Too casual for academic writing.
37.	inversion error	Word order is wrongly inverted.
38.	irrelevant example	Example does not support point.
39.	lack of coherence	Ideas do not connect smoothly.
40.	lack of examples	Points are not illustrated.
41.	lack of unity	Paragraph contains unrelated ideas.
42.	list-like writing	Ideas read like a list.
43.	literal translation	Direct translation sounds unnatural.
44.	logic error	Reasoning is flawed.
45.	misplaced modifier	Modifier is in the wrong place.
46.	missing subject	Sentence lacks a subject.
47.	missing thesis	Essay lacks a clear main claim.
48.	missing transition	No clear link between ideas.
49.	missing verb	Sentence lacks a main verb.
50.	mixed metaphor	Two metaphors clash awkwardly.
51.	mood inconsistency	Verb mood changes without reason.
52.	nominalization overuse	Too many noun forms used.
53.	non sequitur	Conclusion does not follow logically.
54.	number format error	Numbers are written improperly.
55.	off-topic sentence	Sentence does not support the topic.
56.	overgeneralization	Statement is too broad.
57.	overquotation	Too much direct quoting used.
58.	overstatement	Claim is stronger than evidence.
59.	paragraphing error	Paragraph breaks are used poorly.
60.	parallel structure error	Items in a series mismatch.
61.	passive overuse	Too many passive constructions used.
62.	plagiarism	Using others’ words without credit.
63.	poor organization	Ideas are arranged unclearly.
64.	preposition error	Wrong or missing preposition used.
65.	pronoun agreement	Pronoun does not match antecedent.
66.	pronoun reference	Pronoun antecedent is unclear.
67.	quantifier error	Amount word is used wrongly.
68.	question form error	Question structure is incorrect.
69.	question misinterpretation	Prompt is understood incorrectly.
70.	quotation mark error	Quotation marks used incorrectly.
71.	relative clause error	Relative clause is formed wrongly.
72.	relative pronoun error	Wrong relative pronoun used.
73.	run-on sentence	Two sentences joined incorrectly.
74.	semicolon misuse	Semicolon used in the wrong way.
75.	sentence fragment	Incomplete sentence missing a main part.
76.	spelling error	Word is spelled incorrectly.
77.	stringy sentence	Sentence is too long and loose.
78.	subject-verb agreement	Subject and verb do not match.
79.	subjunctive error	Subjunctive form is used wrongly.
80.	task omission	Part of the prompt ignored.
81.	tense inconsistency	Verb tenses do not stay consistent.
82.	thesis drift	Essay strays from main argument.
83.	time management problem	Poor timing hurts essay quality.
84.	transition overuse	Too many transitions are used.
85.	unbalanced argument	One side receives uneven attention.
86.	unclear conclusion	Ending does not summarize clearly.
87.	unclear stance	Writer’s position is not clear.
88.	uncountable noun error	Uncountable noun used wrongly.
89.	unsupported claim	Claim lacks evidence or explanation.
90.	vague language	Meaning is not specific enough.
91.	verb tense shift	Tense changes without a clear reason.
92.	voice inconsistency	Active and passive mix poorly.
93.	weak evidence	Support is unconvincing or thin.
94.	weak thesis	Main argument is unclear or weak.
95.	weak topic sentence	Paragraph opening lacks clear focus.
96.	word choice error	Wrong word selected.
97.	wordiness	Too many words for the idea.
98.	wordy introduction	Opening uses too many words.
99.	wrong collocation	Words are combined unnaturally.
100.	wrong word form	Incorrect part of speech used.