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Error Types
We define 2 types of errors:
Substantial Errors
Substantial errors are errors of substance. In general, to a good reader, a material error jumps out and is a real distraction.
Substantial Technique Errors
Substantial errors include:
- Any syntax problem that renders a sentence broken, nonsensical, or run-on, or creates a fragment.
- A list that's missing obvious and important pieces.
Example: "The seasons of the year are Spring, Fall, and Winter."
- Word choice errors involving homonyms
Examples: Mixing up "They're, their, there"
- Any spelling error
Exception: Dialect errors, such as using "aluminium" when the document calls for the American English "aluminum" are Minor Errors.
Substantial Content Errors
It is NOT SUFFICIENT merely to find an alternative definition, or better wording. If a sentence is essentially accurate and reasonably written, you cannot make it the subject of this task.
For an error to be Substantial, it A qualifying correction must substantially improve the quality of the paragraph or sentence it modifies.
Example: The modification in this example is a good edit, but it does not significantly change and thus improve the paragraph that it modifies.
Example: The Target Document says "Chemotherapy involves the use of radiation" A Qualifying Source says "Chemotherapy involves the use of chemical treatments." You have found a Substantial Error.
Example: The Target Document says "Chemotherapy will cure cancer." The Source Research says "Chemotherapy is a treatment that sometimes leads to complete eradication of a cancer." This is a also a Substantial Error.
Only change numbers if you can find evidence that the original numbers are invalid, or if the original numbers are clearly wrong. It’s not sufficient merely to find another source with a different set of numbers. A general rule of thumb is that if any number in the original range is within 30% of any number in your proposed range, the difference is not sufficiently substantial.
Example: The Target Document says that "75 percent of Americans suffer from stress.", but a search of Qualifying Sources shows a range of differing numbers from 30 percent to 80 percent. If Qualifying Sources don't agree on a single number, cite a range.
Example: Original Sentence: Approximately 300 million people are affected by asthma worldwide. If you look on http://www.who.int/respiratory/asthma/en/, you see a different number: 235 million. That's legitimate.
However, if you look at http://www.who.int/gard/publications/GARD%20Book%202007.pdf on page 14, the same organization provides a 300 million estimate.
Since you've found a valid alternative value that's more than 30 percent different, the appropriate fix would be along the lines of "It is estimated that between 235 and 300 million people are affected by asthma worldwide."
Minor Errors
Minor errors include:
- Making a stylistic change that improves the readibility or clarity of the work, but does not correct a meaningful error.
- Adding a minor element to a list that is otherwise pretty complete.
- Fixing a minor mistake in grammar or syntax that does not really obstruct the flow.
- Sentence spacing issues
Example: An extra space between a period and the start of the next sentence.
last update: 8/13/11