Common ESL Writing Errors

Lately I’ve been thinking and reading a fair amount about common ESL (English as a Second Language) errors and how they compare to the things that native (“English as a First Language”) speakers also frequently get wrong. Today I’m posting a few words on this idea.

I don’t consider ESL work one of my specialties. I’ve worked with ESL students (and clients) many times in my career, but I’ve never actually taught an ESL course or worked on a project where this was the only focus. My direct experience has been with students who were well beyond the ESL level: either college students who had learned to speak and write English between 8 and 14 years earlier, but who needed more advanced writing instruction; or with advanced degree candidates (or degree-holding academics) who had learned English many years before, but were not entirely comfortable writing in…