The language of error correction
Here are some phrases that can be used when giving feedback to students:
• Very good.
• That's very good.
• Well done.
• Very fine.
• That's nice.
• I like that.
• Marvellous! • You did a great job.
• Magnificent!
• Terrific!
• Wow!
• Jolly good!
• Great stuff!
• Fantastic! • Right!
• Yes!
• Fine.
• Quite right
• That's right.
• That's it.
• That's correct.
• That's quite right.
• Yes, you've got it.
• You've got the idea.
• It depends.
• It might be, I suppose.
• In a way, perhaps.
• Sort of, yes.
• That's more like it.
• That's much better.
• That's a lot better.
• You've improved a lot. • Not really.
• Unfortunately not.
• I'm afraid that's not quite right.
• You can't say that, I'm afraid.
• You can't use that word here.
• Good try, but not quite right.
• Have another try.
• Not quite right. Try again.
• Not exactly. • You were almost right.
• That's almost it.
• You're halfway there.
• You've almost got it.
• You're on the right lines.
• There's no need to rush.
• There's no hurry.
• We have plenty of time
• Go on. Have a try.
• Have a go.
• Have a guess.
• There's nothing wrong with your answer.
• What you said was perfectly all right.
• You didn't make a single mistake.
• That's exactly the point.
• That's just what I was looking for. • Don't worry about your pronunciation.
• Don't worry about your spelling.
• Don't worry, it'll improve.
• Maybe this will help you.
• Do you want a clue (hint)?
• You have good pronunciation.
• Your pronunciation is very good.
• You are communicating well.
• You speak very fluently.
• You have made a lot of progress. • You still have some trouble with pronunciation.
• You need more practice with these words.
• You'll have to spend some time practising this.
• You're getting better at it all the time.
• You've improved no end.