Inspiring: English Education Journal
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): Inspiring: English Education Journal

Profiling Prevalent Linguistic Inaccuracies in Undergraduate ESL Learners’ Writing: An Error-Based Statistical Analysis

Gourob Das (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Apr 2026

Abstract

Linguistic accuracy is a crucial component of effective writing. However, ESL learners often encounter difficulties that affect the clarity and quality of their written texts. This study aims to identify and profile the most prevalent linguistic inaccuracies in undergraduate ESL learners’ writing. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed involving 53 undergraduate students from the University of Dhaka selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through an essay-writing task and analyzed using an adapted error analysis framework, followed by descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis using SPSS 25.0. The findings revealed 16 types of errors categorized into grammatical, mechanical, lexical, and discourse marker errors, with grammatical errors being the most dominant. The results also indicated that essay length is not a reliable predictor of overall linguistic accuracy. Factors such as first language interference and limited writing practice were found to contribute to these inaccuracies. These findings provide empirical insights into common error patterns in ESL writing and underscore the importance of implementing targeted, context-sensitive instructional strategies that emphasize linguistic accuracy and sustained writing practice.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

inspiring

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Inspiring: English Education Journal is published by English Education Department, Tarbiyah Faculty, State of Islamic Institute of (IAIN) Parepare. This journal is expected to share knowledge among lecturers, students, teachers, and education practitioners and observers. This journal discusses ...