Error Analysis of some Word Choice Errors in Exam Papers

Abstract

The present study seeks to identify, describe and analyse some of word choice errors in writing committed by second year EFL students at the University of Mouhamed Seddik Ben Yahia, Jijel, and tries to find out reasons behind them. To meet theses objectives, an error analysis was conducted on a randomly chosen sample of 50 exam papers of the ‘Written Expression’ module. The analysis revealed that most of the students commit errors related to word choice in their writing, namely: unneeded word, non-straightforwardness, repeated words, informality and misused words. The analysis demonstrated that the main reasons behind those errors are: lack of reading, negative interference of the mother tongue, lack of writing practice and lack of proof-reading. The aforementioned findings served as a valid starting point to recommend solutions