{"id":3230,"date":"2024-03-19T08:08:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T08:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/?p=3230"},"modified":"2024-03-19T08:19:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T08:19:01","slug":"common-essay-mistakes-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/2024\/03\/19\/common-essay-mistakes-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Common essay mistakes to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve probably read tonnes of blogs offering their top tips for writing a winning essay. So, we thought we\u2019d put the dos to one side for now and focus on the don\u2019ts.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We spoke to the Student and Library Services team to get the lowdown on the most common essay mistakes and, most importantly, how to avoid them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Reading<\/p>\n

Forgetting to proofread<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy for a pesky typo to slip through the net while you\u2019re writing, especially if you\u2019re rushing to meet a deadline or working while tired. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why leaving yourself plenty of time for proofreading is such an important step in your academic writing, and it can actually make a difference to your result.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Give your work a good, thorough check (paying close attention to spelling and grammar), take a break, and then look again with fresh eyes to check you haven\u2019t missed anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

If proofreading is something you struggle with, you\u2019re not alone. Don\u2019t forget you can use tools in Microsoft Word, such as the spellcheck and read aloud functions, which could help you spot some mistakes. More tips to guide you through your proofreading can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Person<\/p>\n

Referencing incorrectly<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Referencing is an alien concept to most of us when we start university, so it\u2019s normal to feel confused. What do all the numbers mean? Why are there commas? When do I use italics<\/em>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of the uncertainty, reference lists and bibliographies can be breeding grounds for mistakes. Some of the most common tend to be leaving out a citation, struggling to grasp the Harvard style and not using alphabetical order.<\/span><\/p>\n

We can\u2019t just ignore it and hope it goes away, referencing is here to stay. But there are plenty of tips<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0resources<\/a> which can help you get to grips with the process and check you\u2019re doing it right.<\/span><\/p>\n

And you can sign up for the Library\u2019s next referencing tutorial<\/a> too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Neon<\/p>\n

Using overly casual language<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We all use contractions, abbreviations and slang in our everyday speech, but they have no place in academic writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

They can slip into our work when we start to write in the same way we talk. Read through your essay and check if you\u2019ve used anything that makes your assignment feel informal, biased or less credible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look out for things like:<\/span><\/p>\n