Applying the 80-20 Rule to Grammar and Writing

The 80-20 rule, also known as ParetoÂÂ's Principle, says that ÂÂ"for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causesÂÂ" (this quote is taken from the Wikipedia article. For a discussion of this 80-20 rule, or ParetoÂÂ's Principle, click here: http://bit.ly/6gHvg7 ). Anyway, if you apply the 80-20 rule to grammar, you can say that there are 20 top grammar errors made by 80 % of writing students. One way to minimize your study of grammar is to determine what the top 20 grammar errors are, find out if you make these errors, and then work on mastering the errors that you make. We will discuss where you can go to determine what these 20 top errors are. 20 Top Grammar Errors Today My colleagues at Tennessee State University have compiled the latest research on teaching and writing: http://www.tnstate.edu/writing An intriguing area deals with the most common grammar errors made by students in their writing today: http://bit.ly/8v6r75 Much of this research was compiled and gathered by Leah Soule, a friend of mine. She has already presented this information at conferences, so if you use this material, be sure to give her credit. A link to the June 2008 article by Andrea A. Lunsford and Karen J. Lunsford entitled ÂÂ" ÂÂ'Mistakes Are a Fact of LifeÂÂ': A National Comparative StudyÂÂ" provides a comprehensive view of what top 20 grammar errors students are making in their writing today: http://bit.ly/vLMB4 Top 20 Grammar Errors in the Past http://g-p.cc/docs/Grammar%20Hammer.pdf This handout is developed from Douglas Cazort's Under the Grammar Hammer, a book which lists the top 20 grammar mistakes made by 80% of the writing students in the past. Also listed are 5 uncommonly serious grammar mistakes called ÂÂ"status markerÂÂ" errors, errors that many people view negatively when you make them.