Errors classification

I.

Category, analysis and explanation of the errors.

According to the English punctuation

rules, a comma is used after the greeting
in a personal letter and after and
adverbial clause or phrase.
No double t in
this word.

A period should
be used after a
complete
statement.

Relationship is
Each other
the right word to
should be used to
describe close ties
show reciprocity
between people or
between the
groups of people
members involved
and the way they
in the action
feel and behave
towards each
To is needed or
gerund.
The subject
it is

Boring is the
word to express
that something
fails
to hold one's inte
rest or attention.

Infinitive
form is
needed after
want.
To is
needed
after
say.
No the to talk
about people in
general.
Comparative
instead of
superlative since
there are just two
points involved in
the context
(improvise or not
Personally is the
Right expression.
A comma is used
after an adverbial
clause or phrase.

Talking about and

in love with always
go together
(collocations).

It is needed
an s to
show plural
form.

Unclear intention
of these
statements.

No s for
third person,
plural.
to is
missin
g

No the to talk
about business in
general.

What
should be
improvise
d? An
element is
needed.
A period should
be used after a
complete
statement.

Words that end in ch, x, s or s-like sounds

will require an -es for the
plural.

These expressions are not the

correct ones for the purposes
entailed in this context.

Modifiers go
before nouns.

Analysis.
In order to analyze the errors of this writing, these will be examined according to their
categories.
Punctuation errors
The learner made twelve errors related to punctuation marks. Nine of them were
missing commas, and three of them were missing periods.
Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont
know so much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im
a workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the
best way to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at
day that they wants and they are motivated and improve the production.
I think a best idea in the business is improvise because we never know what can
happen. I dont like to follow the rules at the foot of the letter.
In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and
tennis and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport
very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and
clothes of it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the
players. Im very happy when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
Well its some things about me. I wait a letter about you.
See you next week. Be careful.

A) Missing commas:
1. Dear Armando,
2. Firstly,
3. also, I like

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

In the personal,
bastketball, and tennis
now, I like the surf
When I go to Pichilemu, I try
Talking of football, Im in
Well, its some
Commas in red are the ones the writer should have included in his letter.

B) Missing periods:
1. We dont know so much. My idea
2. a workharder and risponsable. Also
3. basketball and tennis. Now

In these both cases the period was

replaced by the word and.
Periods in red are the ones the writer should have included in his letter.
It is convenient to highlight the fact that these 9 errors trigger some others,
such as the overuse of the word and along with some other errors related
to capitalization. These last ones occurred because of the absence of periods
there were no letters to capitalize. Such errors were not quantified since they
were not explicitly made.

Spelling errors
The learner made two errors related to spelling.

Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont know so
much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im a
workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the best way
to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at day that they wants
and they are motivated and improve the production.

In the first one, the writer probably confused the word writing with the word written. In
the second one, the writer wrote the word in the way how it is pronounced.
Word order errors
The learner made two mistakes related to word order.

In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and tennis
and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and clothes of
it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the players. Im very happy
when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
In the first one, the learner placed the modifier after the noun. In the second one, the learner
should have written: live matchs of Universidad de Chile. Again, the modifier was
misplaced.
Grammar errors
The learner made nine errors related to grammar.
Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont know so
much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im a
workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the best way
to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at day that they wants
and they are motivated and improve the production.
I think a best idea in the business is improvise because we never know what can happen. I
dont like to follow the rules at the foot of the letter.
In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and tennis
and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and clothes of
it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the players. Im very happy
when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
Well its some things about me. I wait a letter about you.
See you next week. Be careful.
1) group: groups should have been used to talk about a general idea.
2) wants: the learner used an s for third person plural form of the verb in the present
tense.
3) a best idea: the learner compared just two options. Superlative does not apply to the
case.
4) for the business: in the business. Misuse of the collocation.

5) what can happen: the modal verb can should have been replaced for the past form
of it, which is could since the learner was referring to a possibility. This could be
also considered an error related to verb tense.
6) Talking of football: talking about football is the correct collocation.
7) in love of: in love with is the correct collocation.
8) matchs: matches is the right for of pluralize the word match.
9) its some things: subject and verb do not coincide in terms of grammar rules.
Wrong word errors
The learner made seven errors related to wrong word.
Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont know so
much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im a
workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the best way
to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at day that they wants
and they are motivated and improve the production.
I think a best idea in the business is improvise because we never know what can happen. I
dont like to follow the rules at the foot of the letter.
In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and tennis
and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and clothes of
it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the players. Im very happy
when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
Well its some things about me. I wait a letter about you.
See you next week. Be careful.

1. Bored: this word is used to refer to people who are tired or weary of something.
The learner clearly meant boring.
2. Workharder: this word does not exist. The learner meant hardworking.
3. Flexitime: this word actually exist, but we did not find any case in which this word
was used in the form: verb+preposition+noun (flexitime). This is why we consider
this is not the most suitable way to express the idea of preferring having a flexible
hour scheme.
4. at the foot of the letter: clearly, this is an example of the interference of L1 In the
learners writing. The correct expression is to the letter.
5. In the personal: this expression does not form part of the English usages.
Personally is the correct one.
6. I wait a letter about you: I look forward to hearing from you is the established
closing of letters to what the learner meant.
7. Be careful: the learner wanted to use an expression of farewell or good-bye. So,
actually take care is the appropiate one.
Unnecessary elements
The learner used eight unnecessary elements.
Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont know so
much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im a
workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the best way
to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at day that they wants
and they are motivated and improve the production.
In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and tennis
and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and clothes of
it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the players. Im very happy
when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
The overuse of the word and is caused by the errors related to punctuation. The learner
tended to replace any punctuation mark by this conjunction. On the other hand, the definite
article the is misused since the learner was referring to such nouns (people, surf, matches)
in general terms. Referring to the prepositions on and to, they do not belong to the
constructions which were used.

Missing elements
The learner made thirteen errors related to missing elements.
Dear Armando
Im writting this letter to you to tell you some things about me because we dont know so
much and my idea is have a good relation with you.
Firstly I want say you that I like to work in group because is bored work alone. Im a
workharder and risponsable and also I like work in flexitime because I think is the best way
to motivate the people that work with us. They can work in the hours at day that they wants
and they are motivated and improve the production.
I think a best idea in the business is improvise because we never know what can happen. I
dont like to follow the rules at the foot of the letter.
In the personal I like to do sports in my free time. I like football and basketball and tennis
and now I like the surf. When I go to Pichilemu I try to surf but is a sport very difficult.
Talking of football Im in love of Universidad de Chile I have a lot of t-shirts and clothes of
it. I like go to the stadium and sing all the songs to motivate to the players. Im very happy
when I see the matchs of Universidad de Chile on live.
Five of the missing elements belong to pronouns: one reciprocal pronoun (each other) and
four personal pronouns (it). Seven of the missing elements belong to the particle to to
express infinitive form of the verb. Finally, the preposition to be needed along with the
verb say since something is said to someone. Different is the case of the verb tell,
which is used with a personal object.
Unrecognizable or ideas
The learner made one mistake related to link of ideas.
Dear Armando
They can work in the hours at day that they wants and they are motivated and improve the
production.
In this case, it was not possible to understand the message or the intention of the learner
through this statement. In attempt to speculate, it could have been something like this: They
can choose their own schedule. This flexible scheme would motivate workers and make
them more productive.

II.

Intralengual or Interlengual errors

Position
Line 2

Intralengual
writting

Explanation

Interlengual

Line 3

We dont know
each other

Line 4

Is to have

relation

Line 5

I want say

say you

Line 6

Explanation

This error does

not necessarily
show interference
between L1 and
L2.

to work in group

because is

It is not similar to
the reciprocal
pronoun of
Spanish language
(nos, se)
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English.
Too similar to its
equivalent
in
Spanish, where
there are no
variations of the
word. It means,
relacin is used
for this context.
In Spanish there
are no verbs that
should
be
followed
for
infinitives
or
gerunds.
In Spanish there
is not needed a
preposition after
the verb decir.
In Spanish that
noun does not
need
to
be
pluralized.
The use of a
subject
before
every verb is a
particular
characteristic of

is bored

bored work alone

workharder

Line 7

risponsable

This error does

not necessarily
show interference
between L1 and
L2.

I like work

flexitime

They can work in

the hours at day
that they wants
and they are
motivated
and
improve
the
production

Line 9

Line 10

they wants

Typical
error
made by English

the
English
language.
In Spanish there
is just one word
to mean that a
person
is
uninterested or
tired and that
something is dull.
In English there
two
different
words for such
purposes.
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English.
Confusion of the
roots
of
the
compound
adjective.
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English.
Since the learner
is not immersed
in the English
language, he does
not used the most
suitable
words
for
what
he
mean.
Unclear meaning
of the statement.
The learner was
unable to link the
right words in an
appropiate way
because he did
find neither the
structures nor the
vocabulary.

Line 12

A best idea

native speakers
during
their
former stages.
Typical error
made by English
native speakers
during their
former stages.

in the business

The
English
language
has
many
rules
related
to
prepositions
+
noun. In Spanish
that such rules
are not applied.
In Spanish the
use of definite
articles
entails
different rules.
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English.
The pronoun it
has
not
an
equivalent
in
Spanish.

The business

is improvise

Is improvise

Line 13

what can happen

This error does

not necessarily
show interference
between L1 and
L2.

Line 14

at the foot of the

letter

Literal translation
of an expression.

Line 15

In the personal

Line 17

the surf

Line 18

is a sport

Literal translation
of an adverbial
phrase
In Spanish the
use of definite
articles
entails
different rules.
The pronoun it
has
not
an
equivalent
in
Spanish.
In
Spanish,
modifiers
are
placed
after
nouns.
In Spanish there
are
no

is a sport very
difficult

Line 19

Talking
football

of

Im in love of

I like go

Line 21

I like sing

To motivate to
the players

Line 22

Line 23

matchs

Typical
error
made by English
native speakers
during
their
former stages.

the matchs

on live

matchs
Universidad
Chile on live

Line 24

of
de

its some things

I wait a letter
about you.
Be careful

collocations.
In Spanish there
are
no
collocations.
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English
In Spanish the
use of infinitives
and gerunds are
not marked by
the same particles
that in English
The learner does
not know which
verbs
are
followed
by
direct
objects
since
in
his
native language
rules are quite
different.
In Spanish the
use of definite
articles
entails
different rules.
Literal translation
of the expression
en vivo
The order of the
statement
is
wrongly placed
since it is a literal
translation which
implies different
rules
to
be
considered
The pronoun and
the verb do not
coincide in their
singular or plural
forms.
Literal translation
Literal translation

Important: the errors related to punctuation are not included in this chart since we cannot
deduce through this sample, if they are intralengual or interlengual errors. The reason of our
decision is that we took for granted that this person does not manage the grammatical
punctuation rules neither in Spanish nor in English. What led us to this conclusion, it is the
few amount of commas or periods, and the reiterative use of the word and, which shows
us that this person did not confuse both languages rules or did not take place any kind of
interference since the writer did not use a specific pattern of punctuation marks that were
similar to Spanish grammatical punctuation commands, which is his native tongue.

Methodology
I.

Instruments
An incidental sample was used in this analysis. It is a writing type
sample in the form of an informal letter. It is composed by 232 words.
It is a handwritten letter.

II.

Participants
Name: Diego Rodriguez.
Gender: male
Age: 23 years old.
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Occupation: Student of Commercial Engineering.
Level of interlanguage: the learner is in an Emergent Stage. He has
started identifying the rules of L2 and internalizing them. However,
these rules may not be correct. The learner is not capable of selfcorrection, but he shows a certain consistency in L2 linguistic production
since he is able to write a whole letter with ideas that make sense and
can be understood.
Level of proficiency: A2: The learner can exchange useful information
with friends in emails or short notes and he can write a simple letter or
thank-you note.1

III.

Procedures

1 http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/guide-to-using-cfr-with-eal

1. Collect data: Diego was asked to write whatever he wanted or he

managed most.
2. Total Amount of Errors: 54 errors.