Grading Symbols Grading SymbolsThe symbols below are the ones I commonly use in grading essays. Content and organization symbols usually appear in the left margin, the others in the right. Please let me know if you have questions about these symbols or if you have questions about correcting the errors or weaknesses they indicate.
Content and Organization
| ¶ | paragraph break needed or misplaced break |
| ? | unclear or confusing ideas |
| U | weak paragraph unity |
| trans | transition needed |
Syntax (Sentence Structure)
| -cs | comma-splice |
| run-on | run-on sentence |
| frag | sentence fragment |
| ? | confusing sentence |
Style (Word Choice and Phrasing)
| word choice | incorrect word for context |
| ww | wrong word (homonym error: its/it's, then/than) |
| awk | awkward wording |
| ^ | missing word |
| inf | informal style (e.g. I, you, contractions) |
Grammar
| s-v | subject-verb agreement error |
| tense | verb tense error |
| pass | ineffective use of passive verb |
| pro | pronoun error or vague pronoun |
| agr | pronoun-antecedent error or other agreement error |
Mechanics (Spelling, Punctuation, and Capitalization)
| sp | spelling error |
| , | comma error |
| ; | semicolon error |
| : | colon error |
| apos | apostrophe error |