Pancyprian English common mistakes
Pancyprian English · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Chooses a tense from one keyword without checking meaning.
The full time relationship or intended qualification is ignored.
What to do instead
Read the whole sentence, identify time and aspect, and check the completed meaning.
Substitutes any dictionary synonym into a collocation.
Related meanings are mistaken for identical grammatical patterns and natural combinations.
What to do instead
Check the complement, preposition, register and complete sentence in context.
Turns a limited inference into an unsupported universal claim.
Words such as some, may or unless are ignored or strengthened.
What to do instead
Locate the evidence and preserve its scope, certainty and conditions.
Names a stylistic device without explaining its effect.
A terminology label is treated as a complete analysis of how the text creates meaning.
What to do instead
Make a point, give a precise reference and explain its contribution to the argument or representation.
Copies every source sentence rather than selecting relevant information.
The audience and purpose are ignored, so important practical meaning can be buried or omitted.
What to do instead
Identify the reader's needs, preserve relevant qualifications and explain unfamiliar references only where needed.
Treats selecting a model answer as proof of productive writing skill.
Recognition practice is confused with composing and sustaining a complete response.
What to do instead
Write original full texts under the actual task conditions, revise and obtain feedback.
Selects the first time/place mentioned despite a later correction.
A matching detail is recognized without following the final agreement.
What to do instead
Track contrast, correction and confirmation, and record the final decision.
Calls a printed script an audio listening test.
Text comprehension is confused with understanding timed speech without rereading.
What to do instead
Use scripts for language analysis, then practise with suitable actual audio and oralinteraction.