- Review basic grammar rules:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph depict how many the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000."
Corrected sentence: "The graph depicts the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000."
In this example, the error is in the subject-verb agreement. By reviewing this basic grammar rule, the writer can correct the sentence to make it grammatically correct.
- Use simple language:
Incorrect sentence: "The graphical representation exhibits the employment statistics of Brazil and India from 1995 to 2000."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the number of people who were unemployed in Brazil and India between 1995 and 2000."
In this example, the writer used unnecessarily complex language, which made the sentence confusing. By simplifying the language, the sentence is easier to understand.
- Proofread:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph depict the number of unemployed in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000, which increasing every year."
Corrected sentence: "The graph depicts the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000, which increased every year."
In this example, the writer made an error in verb tense and did not catch it during their initial writing. Proofreading would have helped the writer catch this error and make the necessary correction.
- Get feedback:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph reveals how many the number of people who were jobless in India and Brazil during the period of 1995 to 2000."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000."
In this example, the writer made an error in sentence structure, which could have been pointed out by a teacher or peer. Getting feedback from others can help the writer identify areas for improvement.
- Practice:
Incorrect sentence: "The diagram illustrates the percentage of citizens who were not employed in the countries of Brazil and India from the years 1995 to 2000."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000."
In this example, the writer did not accurately describe the information presented in the graph. By practicing writing introductions for different types of graphs and charts, the writer can become more familiar with the type of language and information needed in these types of tasks.
some additional examples of mistakes related to missing articles, prepositions, and relative clauses:
- Missing article:
Incorrect sentence: "Graph shows relationship between income and education level."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the relationship between income and education level."
In this example, the writer forgot to include the definite article "the" before "graph," which makes the sentence sound incomplete.
- Missing preposition:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph shows number unemployed individuals."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the number of unemployed individuals."
In this example, the writer forgot to include the preposition "of" after "number," which is necessary for the sentence to make sense.
- Missing relative clause:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph shows the people who visited Australia in 2020."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the number of people who visited Australia in 2020."
In this example, the writer forgot to include the necessary information about the "number" of people who visited Australia. By adding the relative clause "of people," the sentence becomes clearer and more specific.
- Incorrect use of preposition:
Incorrect sentence: "The graph shows the percentage increase from students who passed their exams."
Corrected sentence: "The graph shows the percentage increase in students who passed their exams."
In this example, the writer used the incorrect preposition "from" instead of "in," which changes the meaning of the sentence.
By paying attention to these common mistakes related to articles, prepositions, and relative clauses, writers can improve the clarity and accuracy of their introductions to graphs and other data-driven writing tasks.