The practice of error analysis is divided into identifying, describing and explaining.
Identifying errors is the first step of error analysis. To identify errors we have to compare the sentences produced by the learner with the corresponding sentences native speakers are likely to produce to express the same meanings.
Describing errors, the second step of error analysis, is categorizing errors grammatically. Once errors are identified, they can be classified into categories.
Explaining errors, the final step, is the task of tracing the source of errors. This task is more psychological than linguistic in essence. In terms of sources, errors are divided into interlingual errors and interlingual errors, based on whether they are caused by L1.