4.2 The analysis of the error feedback types provided by Correct English
4.2.1 The top twenty error types identified by Correct English and their
1. Spelling errors: This error message reminds learners of the wrong spellings in their compositions. Among the 256 spelling errors identified by Correct English, 237 were confirmed by the researcher to be appropriate. The accuracy rate was about 92%, which is very high. The 19 errors are false alarms, mostly proper nouns and human names. Some examples are shown in Table 3.
Table 3
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Spelling Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. But it has been a clockbuster <spelling errors> for a long time.
2. When I go to another contury <spelling errors> for a travel, I must bring a camera.
3. there is nothing important than her baby, and she really want to pertect <spelling errors> them.
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 error types
number of errors
38 False alarms
1. One of the most interesting commercial I’ve ever seen is the “Wei-Li <spelling errors> instant noodles”.
2. a sergeant comes close and help you seal the SOEIV <spelling errors>.
3. Amare <spelling errors> is a NBA star and people call him Big baby.
2. Clause errors: This category helps learners notice incomplete sentences in their writing. Among the 152 errors identified by Correct English, 86 were confirmed as appropriate. The accuracy rate was about 56%. However, the system failed to recognize various sentence patterns. The sentences beginning with and or but would be identified as clause errors. Appositives and participle construction were also highlighted as errors. Besides, some prepositional phrases were flagged as errors if they appeared at the beginning of a sentence. Some examples are shown in Table 4.
These false alarms might make learners confused.
Table 4
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Clause Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. One <clause errors> year is a long time, I will definitely miss things of home.
2. You <clause errors> want to overtake him, that feeling is everybody player can realize, 3. Wonderful <clause errors> views accompany delightful music, everything seems to be nothing False alarms
1. She <clause errors> was cooking his favorite dishes, the fat meat.
2. Waving <clause errors> with the music, they start to sing one of the most famous songs 3. And <clause errors> after drinking the bottles coffee, people smile with great satification 4. But <clause errors> it’s a notebook which can record whatever my happiness or sadness.
5. Best <clause errors> of all, I can write some blogs to share my exotic life and advantures to my family
3. Subject-Verb agreement: This type of errors is very common in the writing of EFL learners. Among 104 subject-verb agreement errors detected, 80 were confirmed as appropriate feedback. The accuracy rate reached 77%. However, some of the flagged errors were in fact other types of errors, such as verb tense or word form.
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Some examples are shown in Table 5.
Table 5
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Subject-Verb agreement Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. It doesn’t have any slogan or melody, but it still make <subject-Verb agreement> me want to buy the product.
2. That is why everybody who see <subject-Verb agreement> the advertisement will get crazy.
3. The camera may not be the newest one, but it accompany <subject-Verb agreement> me for a long time.
False alarms
1. Were it <subject-Verb agreement> not for the photos, I may forget the good times in Disneyland (suggestion: was)
2. I could take a picture and call my friends that how beautiful it is <subject-Verb agreement>.
(suggestions: are)
3. And then, a Fedex deliver <subject-Verb agreement> shows up, delivering the package to the reciever safely. (suggestions: delivers)
4. Word form: In this category, inappropriate use of word form was detected.
Among 62 word form errors, only 14 were confirmed as correct feedback. The accuracy rate was only 22%. The low accuracy rate might be related to one of the composition topics, “The Most Impressive Advertisement/ Commercial I’ve Ever Seen.” It was found that Correct English flagged the word commercial as word form errors. Apparently, the system regarded the word commercial just as an adjective instead of a noun. Correct English further suggested that learners should use
commerce instead. There were also errors which should be put into other categories.
Some examples are shown in Table 6.
Table 6
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Word Form Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1.Without saying, it is also successfully <word form>.
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2. I see a advertisement is telling about environmental protection, it is so impress <word form> me.
3. I would draw some drafts to remember the unique <word form> of this country.
False alarms
1. I have seen a TV commercial <word form> which makes me interested.
2. Looking at those photos which was taken by me myself can straw <word form> me back to the memory of where I had been to.
5. Punctuation (ESL): The error feedback message popped up when the word
and was used in the middle of the sentence. Some were marked as ESL punctuation
errors. Among the 46 punctuation errors detected, 31 were confirmed by the researcher. Some examples are shown in Table 7. The accuracy rate was about 67%.Table 7
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Punctuation Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. My dear bear is named “Happy”. <punctuation>
2. Second <punctuation> I will bring my camera to capture the views where I had visited.
3. It can call to my friend, surf the Internet, listen to music, and write the text message <punctuation> etc.
False alarms
1. there would be no limit in our long-desiring trip <punctuation> and we can have more fun during the journey.
2. The advertisement’s <punctuation> exaggerate effect is really cool that everybody believes the product is useful.
6. Noun phrase consistency: In this category, errors of agreement between determiners and nouns were identified. Among the 40 errors detected by Correct
English, 35 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 87%.
Some of the examples are shown in Table 8.
Table 8
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Noun Phrase Consistency Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. At first, a women<noun phrase consistency> sits in the living room holding a glass of milk on the hands.
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2. In the other national, I saw many scenery and many foreigner <noun phrase consistency> in my eyesight.
3. Every pictures <noun phrase consistency> are valuable to me.
False alarms
1. she arrived the country safely and saw her daughter and the baby with many kind <noun phrase consistency> people’s help<noun phrase consistency>.
2. However, An American watches<noun phrase consistency> the whole thing and he takes out his Visa to the saleman.
7. Infinitive or –ing forms: In this category, 23 errors were confirmed among the 35 errors. The accuracy rate was about 65 %. In some sentences with causative verbs, Correct English flagged past participle as errors, which is inappropriate feedback. See Table 9 for some examples.
Table 9
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Infinitive or –ing Forms by Correct English
Correct detection
1. The slogan, which is “keep walking,” makes me feel a motivation to persisting <Infinitive or –ing forms> my own ideal.
2. She poured in the soy bean sauce, which make the fat meat looked <Infinitive or –ing forms> much more delicious.
3. Because the gadget can help me to memory some local culture and prevent me to forget <Infinitive or –ing forms> the whole things.
False alarms
1. the beverage really has the effect that wil make you filled <Infinitive or –ing forms> with energy 2. A commercial on TV can make a product widely known <Infinitive or –ing forms>
3. It was about introducing <Infinitive or –ing forms> a product which can make your hair be more stylish.
4. He is so poor that make me impressed <Infinitive or –ing forms>.
8. Verb group consistency: The feedback message alerted learners the consistency when using auxiliary verbs and progressive tense. Among the 35 errors, 32 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 91%, which is very high. Some of the errors flagged were actually other types of errors, such as “missing articles.” Some of the examples are shown in Table 10.
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Table 10
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Verb Group Consistency Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. I will bring my laptop, because I can used <verb group consistency> if to see my family and communicate with them.
2. If I weren’t have <verb group consistency> it, I will miss lots of memory!
3. she soon found that her naughty dog had just has <verb group consistency> a crazy game with the tissue
False alarms
1. It is plot <verb group consistency> of a play in the ad.
2. The most impressive commercial to me was about a kind of snack which is milk <verb group consistency> with peanuts put in a can.
3. I always sleep <verb group consistency> with it and so does I go to everywhere.
9. Weak / non-standard modifiers: In this category, Correct English had a really low accuracy rate. Among the 34 errors detected, only 1 was confirmed3. The accuracy was about 3%. It is because the system identified the words actually, this
kind of, really and nice as weak modifiers. Some examples are shown in Table 11.
Table 11
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Weak / Non-standard Modifiers by Correct English
Correct detection
1. Every time I watch this advertisement, my bad emotion will go far away and laugh out loud
<non-standard modifiers>.
False alarms
1. He has a very nice <weak modifiers> voice to add the color to the ad.
2. Reason is I like the leading role and its jingle is really <weak modifiers> good!
3. And music is the best remedy for this kind <weak modifiers> of sentimental emotion.
10. Adverb placement: This error feedback message helps learners pay attention
3 Please refer to Table 11, the example of correct detection. “Laugh out loud” is used as a phrase in daily speech, and it should be put into another error type.
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to the position of adverbs. Among the 33 errors detected, 17 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 51%. Correct English provided this feedback when a sentence began with adverb like also or suddenly. See Table 12 for some examples.
Table 12
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Adverb Placement Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. It sounds exaggerate but I really <adverb placement> be convinced and want to try one glass of its milk.
2. I often <adverb placement> can use this cell phone to keep touch with them
3. When the music play, I maybe <adverb placement> will follow the posture with them.
False alarms
1. After seeing this commercial, I will never look what I have right now <adverb placement> in the way I used to do.
2. Suddenly <adverb placement>, the boy ate a piece of Airwaves and had a good idea.
3. all people who has saw it once <adverb placement> must remember the funny man’s cute small eye.
4. Also <adverb placement>, the beautiful scene of the meadow is another reason why I love this commercial.
11. Capitalization: The feedback message appeared mostly when there were errors in the name of places, people or proper nouns. Among the 31 errors detected, 22 were confirmed. The accuracy rate was around 70%. Some of the capitalization errors were actually spelling errors. Some of the examples are shown in Table 13.
Table 13
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Capitalization Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. It was a commercial regarding a walkman <capitalization>.
2. The advertisement of Fedex <capitalization> is impressive to me.
3. Notebook can be used to send e-mail and internet <capitalization> telephone.
False alarms
1. The photos appearing in the commercial are all about the damage of people and culture in Middle East
<capitalization> resulting from wars.
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2. It turns ot <capitalization> that ll their movements and dance are done for taking the products from the shelfs.
3. The special thing is Jo’s <capitalization> photo.
4. I will download many chinese songs in my ipod <capitalization>.
12. Missing/ unnecessary/ incorrect articles: This feedback message appeared when there was inappropriate use of articles. Among the 30 errors identified, 29 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy reached 96%, which is the highest of all the feedback types provided by Correct English. See Table 14 for some examples.
Table 14
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Missing/ Unnecessary/ Incorrect Articles by Correct English
Correct detection
1. It’s a good way to attract people because everyone must have same <missing articles> situation of themselves.
2. Second, MP4 player <missing articles> can download lots of music 3. I'm a <incorrect articles> best camera to record the light and color correctly.
4. I hope that one day we can accompany with each other to visit the <unnecessary articles> Europe, False alarms
1.Even though I don’t have enough money to buy that cute purple car
13. Wordy expressions: The feedback message aims to help learners write clearly and avoid using too many words in the expressions. Among the 26 errors detected, 8 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 30%.
Correct English marked the expressions in addition to or again and again as errors, then suggesting that it should be replaced with besides. Some examples are shown in Table 15.
Table 15
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Wordy Expressions by Correct English
Correct detection
1. However, to everyone’s surprise, the perfume was sold out as soon as possible <wordy expressions>.
2. I am making a study <wordy expressions> of Gastby.
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3. I consider my camera as <wordy expressions> my notebook.
False alarms
1. The lyrics said that we should be grateful to our friends and relatives around us on the grounds that
<wordy expressions> we couldn’t predict whether we will still alive tomorrow
2. There was once a series of commercial of a famous bank played over and over again <wordy expressions> on TV for years.
3. So I will take a camera with me in addition to <wordy expressions> clothing and personal care items
14. Redundant expressions: The error feedback reminds learners of using extra words to mean the same thing. Among the 25 errors detected, only 3 were confirmed. The accuracy rate was 12%. Correct English marked expressions like the reason why as errors. Some examples are shown in Table 16.
Table 16
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Redundant Expressions by Correct English
Correct detection
1. The most <redundant expressions>4 worst is that all the TV reporters ask him how does he make his student lost weight.
2. The jingle promotes the message and makes the advertisement be more <redundant expressions>5 happier.
3. Their expression are also <redundant expressions> fun, too.
False alarms
1. The reason why <redundant expressions> the commercial attracted me so much is because the actor was extremely handsome
2. in one of those pictures is a woman sitting at a corner, and then <redundant expressions> she takes a part of the photos away
15. A vs. An: In this error type, Correct English reached a high accuracy rate.
Among the 24 errors identified, 22 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 91%. However, the system failed to recognize words start with
4&5 Although the words most and more are redundant in the sentences, these errors should be put in the category of “comparative / superlative.”
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consonant, such as useful and one, which led to false alarms. Some examples are shown in Table 17.
Table 17
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for A vs. An Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. After all, as a <a vs. an> essential friend, I would never let her miss any part of my life 2. I think it is a <a vs. an> excellent commercial.
3. I have seen an <a vs. an> commercial on the Internet.
False alarms
1. A pan that can be written on any texture is indeed a <a vs. an> useful partner in those places.
2. I am going to stay in Pennsylvania for a <a vs. an> one- year trip.
16. Vague quantifiers: In this category, quantifiers like a lot of and lots of were marked as errors, with the suggestions like many or much provided. Among the 20 errors detected, none of them was confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was 0%. The examples of false alarms are shown in Table 18.
Table 18
Examples of False Alarms for Vague quantifiers by Correct English
1. It will bring a lot of <vague quantifiers> fun to me.
2. a good ad not only bring lots of <vague quantifiers>purchase at also have impacts on the audience 3. In our class, there are a lot of <vague quantifiers> classmates buy the water
17. Missing/ unnecessary/ incorrect prepositions (ESL): The feedback message helps learners notice inappropriate use of prepositions. Among the 19 errors detected, 18 were confirmed. The accuracy rate was about 94%. In this category, some of the errors were identified as ESL preposition errors, which indicated that ESL learners should pay attention to these errors. Some examples are shown in Table 19.
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Table 19
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Preposition Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. I saw a TV commercial describing about <unnecessary prepositions (ESL)> a magic weapon 2. I can listen <missing prepositions (ESL)> some romatic music in Frence tune.
3. It can call to <unnecessary prepositions (ESL)> my friend, surf the Internet, 4. Fortunately, she arrived <missing prepositions (ESL)> the country safely 5. Since I am leaving home to <incorrect prepositions> another place for one year, False alarms
1. Though <preposition errors> past many years, I have always recalled the happy memory we spent together.
18. Nouns: mass or count: The error feedback message helped learners to pay attention to countable and uncountable nouns. Among the 17 errors identified, 16 were confirmed. The accuracy rate was about 88%. Some examples are shown in Table 20.
Table 20
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Nouns: Mass or Count Errors by Correct English
Correct detection
1. I see a breath-taking scenery<nouns: mass or count>, an ancient architecture, or a cultural street.
2. The ad promotes the sales of its water, which has many benefit <nouns: mass or count> to our earth.
3. The wife leads her friends into her locker room where is lot of shoes, skirts, hats, clothes and jewelries
<nouns: mass or count>.
False alarms
1. Fortunately, she arrived the country safely and saw her daughter and the baby with many kind <nouns:
mass or count> people’s help.
19. Open vs. closed spelling: The error message alerted learners to the difference of spelling, such as everyone and every one. Among the 16 errors detected by Correct English, all of them were confirmed by the researcher as appropriate feedback. The accuracy rate was 100%. Some examples are shown in Table 21.
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Table 21
Examples of Correct Detection
for Open vs. Closed Spelling Errors by Correct English
1. I think that I can protect the globle with every body <Open vs. Closed Spelling>.
2. I can told my grand sons <Open vs. Closed Spelling> and grand daughters <Open vs. Closed Spelling>
the fascinating stories of those trips.
3. She gives me courage, leads me through out <Open vs. Closed Spelling> of the darkness
20. Word confusion: The feedback message highlighted the easily confused words for learners. Among the 14 messages detected, 9 were confirmed by the researcher. The accuracy rate was about 64%. Some examples are shown in Table 22.
Table 22
Examples of Correct Detection and False Alarms for Word Confusion by Correct English
Correct detection
1. Beside <word confusion>, The dialogue is adapted by the talent singer. (suggestion: besides)
2. if I come across a breath-taking scene, maybe a magnificent historical <word confusion> building (suggestion: historic)
3. Frist, I may get lose <word confusion> on the street or shop. (suggestion: loose)6 False alarms
1. the medicine which can make people lose <word confusion> weight. (suggestion: loose) 2. I have been to <word confusion> many countries since I was five. (suggestion: too)