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– 22 min read

99 most common grammar mistakes

The Writer Team

Does proper grammar seem daunting to you? Not sure if you should use the word “irregardless” or “regardless” in a sentence? Or how to use an infinitive verb?

The English language is finicky enough that a single missing comma can radically change the meaning of, well, everything you were trying to say:

Let’s eat friends!  is more than a little creepy, while

Let’s eat, friends!  sounds warm and inviting.

It’s our hope that this guide helps you avoid such blunders.

99 most common grammar mistakes in writing

One of the questions our subscribers ask most, whether they’re  proofreading  pros or full-time students, is how they can avoid the most common grammar mistakes. In this list, we outline some of the most common grammatical errors we’re seeing, based on millions of data points from  Writer  subscribers.

1. Let’s vs. Lets

Let’s not get carried away here — this one is pretty simple:

Let’s = let us. As in, let us not get carried away here…

Lets = to make something possible. This checklist lets you write better.

2. Its vs. It’s

It’s simple:

It’s = it is. As in, it’s so dang cold outside.

Its = associated with something recently mentioned. As in, the weather has a mind of its own.

3. Your vs. You’re

Your is a possessive pronoun that describes ownership of an item: your jacket is sweet!

You’re is the contraction of you are: you’re probably glad you have that jacket.

4. May vs. Might

May indicates a possibility; might indicates a hypothetical probability. I may quit my job — even though I’m good at it.

Then again, I might get fired.

5. Lay vs. Lie

Lay describes the action of placing something flat: lay down, Fido!

Lie describes the status of something resting flat: Fido likes lying (lie-ing) down.

6. Affect vs. Effect

Affect implies action: “I want to affect the world in a positive way,” said Jane. Effect describes its result. “The effects of your intention should be good,” replied her friend. Find out more about Affect vs. Effect here.

7. Too obvious?

Is this one too obvious, or not? Based on what must be billions of text-message bloopers it’s probably worth mentioning! Too refers to, well, too much of something / too many of something: “I have too much money to live in such a small house.”

It can also be used as a form of agreement: “yeah, I feel that way too.”

8. To vs. two

Two is a number (you know, this one: 2). ‘To’ is a word meant to be used in all sorts of different ways.

9. There vs. their

There refers to a location; their refers to a designation:

“See that restaurant over there?” – “Yep, that’s their favorite one!”

10. Their vs. they’re

They’re = they are:

‘They’re going to love that restaurant!’ – “Yeah, like I said it’s their fav.”

11. Loose vs. lose

Loose refers to something that’s been let out of control. While lose-ing is the opposite of winning! “Don’t be afraid to let loose. After all, what do you have to lose?”

12. Peek vs. peak

Peek means to look at something; peak refers to the top of something.

“Can I take a peek of the scenery?” – “Sure, but I heard the view’s better from the peak”

13. Peak vs. pique

We already mentioned what peak means. Just in case you were wondering, though, don’t confuse it with pique, which means ‘to stir up’ — “my interest was piqued.”

14. Compliment vs. complement

While both of these words refer to nice things, their meanings are quite different. A compliment is something nice you tell someone; complement refers to things that go well together.

Here’s a brain-bending compliment: “Your shoes complement your outfit so well!”

15. Piece of mind vs. Peace of mind

A piece of mind refers to one’s perspective or opinion: “My neighbor’s truck is so loud, it’s about time I gave him a piece of my mind!”

Whereas peace of mind refers to a mental framework: “Yeah…all that noise is really hurting my peace of mind.”

16. Literally

If you use the word literally, be sure to use it, well, literally! Watered-down words are no good for anyone.

17. To comma or not to comma

Commas are tricky little beasts. Sometimes skipping an oxford comma or two (even if using one would be grammatically correct) is actually a good call, so trust your instinct.

“Once upon a time, there was this really good writer…”

“Yeah I heard she didn’t always use commas.”

18. Semicolons

Semicolons are actually more like periods than commas. They usher in a new train of thought.

Semicolons are actually more like periods than commas; they usher in a new train of thought.

19. Semicolons + commas

Sometimes, though, semicolons are best followed up by a comma; in cases such as these, it’s totally okay to use them both!

20. Semicolons vs. commas

Many times commas work just fine by themselves, so don’t use semicolons if you don’t need to.

Many times commas work just fine by themselves; so don’t use semicolons if you don’t need to. (Doesn’t that look awkward?)

21. Parentheses and periods

Normally periods and other punctuation marks go after parentheses (normally).

22. Periods inside parentheses

The exception is if you’re writing an entire sentence within parentheses — like the example in mistake #20 above.

23. Quotation placement

“Periods, commas, question marks, exclamation points, quotations within quotations, etc. should always be placed inside quotation marks,” he explained.

24. Unless you’re outside the United States

That’s right: in most other countries, punctuation marks actually go outside quotations. Go figure.

25. Plural or singular!

It really don’t sound good if you doesn’t stay consistent with plural and singular forms…

26. Hyphens vs. dashes

A hyphen, like the one to the right, connects two or more inter-related words — a dash, like the one just to the left, connects two or more related thoughts.

27. En dash or Em dash?

An en dash is about the width of the letter “N,” and it’s meant to show a range, like 1-10.

An em dash is longer — it’s meant to facilitate those fun connections we mentioned earlier.

28. Inappropriate hyphens

In general, don’t use hyphens to connect two parts of one word. The way we spelled ‘inter-related’ up there? Yeah…that’s incorrect. Unless you’re trying to prove a point.

29. Missing dashes

On the other hand, don’t rule out the use of hyphens entirely. They can be insanely-awesomely-silly-ly useful!

30. Don’t be too negative

Actually, forget that — be positive. After all, why negate a negative when you can present a positive instead?

31. The other kind of double negative…

Ever feel like you can’t do nothing right? Maybe like you can’t spell nothing correct at all? Please, don’t ever write like this. Unless you’re authoring a Southern-twanged novel or something.

32. Dot-dot-dot

Some people like doing dots like this…

Others like this method . . .

But feel free to use whatever resonates most with you.

33. Dash spacing

And some people don’t like having spaces around their em dashes—they can get pretty particular about it. Best-selling author Tim Ferris leaves spaces around his, though — so apparently it doesn’t matter too much.

34. 50 cent(s)

This is like the mathematical version of the double-negatives we mentioned earlier. If you’re trying to denote a certain number of cents, either write out the full decimal, or list the number of cents:

50 cents, or $0.50

Don’t do both: $0.50 cents

…unless, of course, you really are talking about half of one cent…

35. The issue of marriage

In this case, marriage is only an issue if the term is used incorrectly:

“She was married with a football player.”

Saying “she was married to a football player” just sounds way better.

36. Each and every student

The term “every” almost always goes with a singular noun:

“Every student passed the test” is correct, while “every students passed the test” is not.

37. Although/but

The words although and but don’t often work well together. Try to use one of them or the other, not both!

Although it was raining, we still went outside.

It was raining, but we still went outside.

38. You and I

“Pam and me went to get some groceries” is incorrect;

“Pam and I went to get some groceries” is spot on.

39. Amount vs. number

‘Amount’ should be used for something uncountable: “a large amount of dirt.”

‘Number’ should be used for things you can quantify: “a large number of people.”

40. Fewer vs. less

‘Less’ should be used for something uncountable: “less dirt.”

‘Fewer’ should be used for things you can quantify: “fewer people.”

41. Shared possessions

If you’re sharing something, then it’s enough to use one apostrophe: This is Tim and Andy’s house.

42. That’s all well & good…

“I slept well” is correct; “I slept good” makes it sound like you need a little more sleep.

43. Or is it good & well?

If you’re describing the quality of something, however, ‘good’ can be a very good fit.

44. The police is coming!

Actually, the police are coming. Unless this is also part of that slang-infused novel you’re writing.

45. A vs. an

Do you have an idea of whether or not this sentence is grammatically correct? Hint: it is!

46. Amicable/amiable

‘Amicable’ should be used to describe pleasant meetings and such; ‘amiable’ should be used as a synonym for ‘kind.’

47. Write vs. right

This article is meant to help you write…the right way.

48. Beside/besides

“Want to sit beside me?” is more correct than “want to sit besides me?”

49. Farther/further

“Want to bike a little farther?” is more correct than “want to bike further?”

50. Can vs. may

‘Can’ implies an ability; ‘may’ implies a possibility.

51. Since/for

I’ve been in Europe for 3 weeks. I’ve been in Europe since the first. If you try swapping ‘since’ and ‘for’ in the above sentences, it just doesn’t work.

52. No one vs. anyone

“He didn’t know nobody” is incorrect; “he didn’t know anyone” is much better.

53. More smart, or smarter?

If you want to sound smarter, try to avoid talking about being “more smart” than others!

54. A lot/alot

Did you know that ‘alot’ isn’t a word? Use ‘a lot’ instead

55. Alot/Allot

Unless, of course, what you’re really trying to say is ‘allot,’ a word which means “to give or assign.”

56. Wreck vs. wreak

The wreck wreaked havoc on several of the cars involved.

57. Pore vs. pour

A pore is a small opening; a pour is what’s done to a drink!

58. Ran vs. run

“I ran fast” and “I run fast” are both correct, but they do have slightly different meanings. If you’re still pretty quick, use the ‘run’ version.

59. Suppose so?

You’re supposed to use ‘suppose’ in the above type of situation.

60. Collocations

Some words just go better together. “Due to the fact that” is one prime example. If you use collocations like these, don’t try to divide them up!

61. Got know-how?

“I know how to write.” “I’ve got business writing know-how.” While both of these sentences are grammatically correct, one is much less awkward than the other.

62. Keep tense consistent!

“I went to the grocery store and buy some eggs.” → See how improper that sounds? Make sure you keep your tense consistent, whether it’s past or present or future tense you’re talking about.

63. Unless you’re talking about something universal…

If you’re talking about a timeless truth, though, you can switch your tense up a little:

“‘The earth revolves around the sun,’ his parents explained.”

64. Seniority

“He’s senior to me” works, and so does “he’s older than me”…but don’t try to flip these around: “he’s senior than me” and “he’s older to me” are both wrong.

65. Neither/nor

‘Neither’ and ‘nor’ go great together: “She was neither stronger nor faster, but she was still a great athlete.”

66. Cardinal vs. ordinal

Cardinal numbers deal in absolutes; this is grammar mistake #66. Ordinal numbers deal with positions; this is the 66th grammar mistake listed.

67. Spell it out

Typically numbers under 10 should be spelled out, though there may be one or two valid exceptions to this rule.

68. Missing articles

Don’t forget to put the word ‘the’ before appropriate items: the book, the blog , the article, and so on.

69. One should stay consistent

If you’re speaking about another person, use consistent pronouns: “One should stay consistent when they are writing” sounds much better than “one should stay consistent when he is writing.”

70. Hard vs. hardly

“Writing is hard.” → Correct

“Writing is hardly hard when you use  Writer .” → Also correct!

71. Hardly vs. hardy

“Carrots are very hardly vegetables.” → ??

“Carrots are very hardy vegetables.” → Correct.

72. First come, first served?

Though most people (i.e., restaurants) will say “first come, first serve,” what makes much more sense is “first come, first served.”

73. Shoulda woulda coulda

‘Should of,’ ‘would of,’ and ‘could of’ are actually all incorrect, though they might sound decent enough.

The proper usage, of course, is ‘should’ve,’ ‘would’ve,’ and ‘could’ve.’ These are contractions for “should have,” “would have,” and “could have.”

74. Wait, so you could or couldn’t care less?

Many people use the phrase I could care less’ to describe something they don’t really care about. If you think about it, though, what they’re trying to say is that they  couldn’t  care less.

75. “I” shouldn’t come last

“At the restaurant, it was just her and I” just doesn’t sound as good as “At the restaurant, it was just me and her.”

76. But “me” shouldn’t come first

The above  writing mistake  also has an inverse:

“Me and her went to the restaurant” just doesn’t sound as good as “her and I went to the restaurant” — but that’s not right, either. Why? Because if you take away “I,” the sentence would read “her went to the restaurant.“ The correct usage is “She and I went to the restaurant.”

77. Apostrophe calamity

The Johnson’s. The 70’s. The Jones’s…life is simpler without all these apostrophe’s!

For plurals, try the Johnsons, the 70s, and (if you’re trying to keep up with them) the Joneses instead. But if the Joneses own something, it’s the Joneses’ (see number 93).

78. Mmm, expresso

While ‘expresso’ might sound correct to some, it’s actually spelled ‘espresso.’ Just FYI.

79. A sleight of hand

That’s right: a ‘slight of hand’ is actually incorrect!

80. Forte, niche, and other mispronunciations

Forte’s pronunciation =  fort .

Niche’s pronunciation =  neesh .

Just don’t spell either of them that way…

81. Exact revenge!

If you must have your revenge, don’t extract it, exact it!

82. Soggy appetites

“That really wet my appetite.” → Incorrect

“That really whet my appetite.” → Correct

83. Do your due diligence

See what we did there? It’s ‘due diligence,’ not ‘do diligence.’

84. Per say

‘Per se’ is a Latin phrase meaning ‘in itself’… per say  is how you pronounce it.

85. Worse comes to worst

While we’ve all heard the phrase “if worse comes to worse,” it doesn’t really make sense unless “worse” goes all the way to “worst.”

86. Chalk it up…

…don’t “chock it up.”

87. Free rein

To give “free rein” to something means to let go of control.

To give “free reign” implies kingship without effort.

88. Nip it where?

In the bud, not in the butt! For those unfamiliar, this phrase’s literal meaning refers to nipping flowers in the bud.

89. Disinterested vs. uninterested

These two terms aren’t actually synonyms. Being  disinterested  implies that you couldn’t care less; being  uninterested  means you care enough to turn your interest away.

90. Nauseous vs. nauseated

Don’t worry: almost everyone gets this one wrong. “Nauseous” technically means to be capable of making others nauseated; “nauseated” means not feeling well.

91. The impact of impactful

Is impactful a word? Contrary to what you may have heard, it is — so don’t let people tell you otherwise.

92. However vs. nevertheless

Fans of classic grammar will insist that sentences shouldn’t be started with “however,” at least not when they can be started with “nevertheless” instead. We’d say use whichever sounds better to you.

93. Too many s’s

When in doubt, drop the extra s. Arkansas’ is usually preferred over Arkansas’s, for example.

94. Run on sentences

Contrary to popular belief run-on sentences aren’t necessarily long they simply occur when commas and/or other types of punctuation are missing like this.

95. Too many commas

Using too many commas, on the other hand, isn’t good either, because it can reduce the casual flow, from word to word, that you should strive for.

96. A break from parallel

“He was studying math, science, and digital photos” might not sound that bad, but why not say, “he was studying math, science, and digital photography” instead?

97. Sentence splice

I wanted to cook a great dinner, however I was just too tired.

I wanted to cook a great dinner; however, I was just too tired.

I wanted to cook a great dinner. However, I was just too tired.

The first of these three sentences is incorrect. Why? Because it’s spliced together without the appropriate punctuation.

98. Misplaced semicolons

On the other hand; using semicolons where they’re not needed (say, in place of commas) isn’t good either.

99. Incorrect capitalization

You probably know to capitalize proper nouns and the first word of each sentence. But sometimes you also need to capitalize after a semicolon or the first word of a quote.

Christine explained, “Community is key to building a successful online business.”

7 major types of grammatical errors

Bad grammar can make a poor first impression, whether you’re writing a business email or  messaging a potential date . People tend to make assumptions about your abilities based on how you communicate. If you’ve made it this far and want to learn how to write better , let’s look at some examples of bad grammar.

• Verb tense errors

One of the most common grammar mistakes is using the wrong verb tense. The verb tense tells your reader when the action takes place: in the past, present, or future. When writing anything, you want to be consistent on verb tense unless there is a good reason to switch tenses.

The mistake:  I drive to the store and I bought shoes.

Why it’s wrong:  A verb tense shift happens when the writer changes tense in a sentence or paragraph. In this case,  drive  is present tense and  bought  is past tense.

The correction:  You should change  drive  to  drove , or change  bought  to  buy  to make the sentence correct. Be mindful of shifting tenses within a paragraph.

Subject-verb agreement

The subject of the sentence (the person or thing doing the action) and verb (the action) in a sentence must agree with each other. If the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must be singular. If it’s plural, the verb must be plural also.

The mistake:  Michael and Sue is going to the beach.

Why it’s wrong:  “Michael and Sue” are plural. The auxiliary verb “is” is singular, which is a lack of agreement.

The correction:  The sentence should read, “Michael and Sue are going to the beach.”

Comma splice

A common punctuation mistake is the comma splice. A comma splice happens when two separate sentences take place rather than using a period or semicolon.

The mistake:  I went to Steve’s house, and ate lunch.

Why it’s wrong:  Writers often use a comma splice when they connect two independent clauses with a comma rather than a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

The correction:  Use commas to separate two independent clauses when they are joined by coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, for, so, yet. In the compound sentence above, “and ate lunch” doesn’t have a subject, so you don’t need to add a comma before “and”.

Small punctuation errors like this seem like a small thing, but punctuation helps guide readers through your text smoothly. You can use a punctuation checker to double check your work and correct these grammar errors in minutes.

Misplaced or dangling modifiers

A  misplaced modifier  is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from the word it modifies or describes. A dangling modifier is a grammatical error where the modifying word is too far away from the subject of the sentence, or there is no subject.

Sentences with these mistakes often sound awkward or confusing. But don’t worry, misplaced and dangling modifiers are common writing mistakes and even trouble the experts in English grammar.

The mistake:  Disappointed, the story took me forever to write.

Why it’s wrong:  The modifier should be as close as possible to the thing it modifies. Since the subject of the sentence is disappointed (not the story), the sentence should have the speaker and modifier closer.

The correction:  The sentence should read, “I was disappointed by how long the story took me to write.”

• Overuse of adverbs

An adverb is a word that describes a verb—they often end in -ly. Writers use adverbs to give more information about the verb and make it more descriptive. Using adverbs every so often isn’t bad grammar, but too many can mean poor verb choices.

The mistake: The wedding went really bad.

Why it’s wrong:  The adverb “really bad” modifies the verb “went”. While “really bad” gets the point across, does it really paint a picture for the reader?

The correction:  Use a more descriptive sentence like “the wedding was a disaster” instead.

Passive voice

English grammar experts and teachers consider passive voice a bad writing habit. With the passive voice, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence. It’s recommended to turn passive constructions into active voice, where the subject does the action of the verb in a sentence. Active voice can make your writing stronger and more direct.

The mistake:  The car was driven by Chris.

Why it’s wrong:  The last words in the sentence “by Chris” make up a preposition that tells the reader who is performing the action. Even though Chris is performing the action, he is not the subject of the sentence. You could remove him from the sentence entirely using passive voice.

The correction:  The active voice construction would be “Chris drove the car”.

Sentence errors

Sentence structure mistakes are one of the most common grammatical errors. You can break down sentence errors into three categories: sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and overloaded sentences.

• Sentence fragments

Sentence fragments are clauses that miss one of the following elements: a subject, a verb, a complete thought. You often miss fragments because they are no big deal in  spoken grammar , aka conversation, but can make a big impact on your writing’s clarity.

The mistake:  He still loved his parents. Despite everything that had happened.

Why it’s wrong:  The second sentence “despite everything that had happened” has no subject or verb. You depend on the first sentence to give the second one meaning.

The correction:  The complete sentence for this clause is “Despite everything that happened, he still loved his parents.”

• Run-on sentences

Run-on sentences, also known as fused sentences, happen when two complete sentences are brought together without any punctuation or conjunction, such as a semicolon or period. Run-on sentences don’t have to be long to be considered grammatically incorrect.

The mistake:  Yesterday was the best day ever my family and I began our ski vacation.

Why it’s wrong:  There is more than one idea communicated by two independent clauses.

The correction:  Yesterday was the best day ever! My family and I began our ski vacation.

• Overloaded sentences

An overloaded sentence is one that squashes too much information together and, as a result, becomes hard to understand for readers.

The mistake:  Youth league coaches need to understand that the education of a child is a big undertaking and should be done with care and consistency so that the child can gain maximum benefit from each training in order to set a solid foundation for any follow-up teaching.

Why it’s wrong:  A good sentence focuses on one idea. The example above wanders around and takes too much mental effort before understanding the point.

The correction:  Youth league coaches need to understand that the education of a child is a big undertaking. It should be done with care and consistency. That way, children can get the most from each training and set a solid foundation for any future teaching.

Related reading:  An Introduction to AI Writing Software

Lowering the number of grammar mistakes in your writing

They say rules are meant to be broken — and we’d agree, as long as one is talking about the core grammar rules. Sometimes a missing comma or random sentence splice can make good writing great! So don’t be afraid to follow your intuition. If you’re having fun, chances are your reader will be, too.

(For the words that matter most, take no chances! Make sure you’re using  Writer .)

Common grammar mistakes FAQ

What is a grammatical error.

A grammatical error refers to an occurrence of faulty, unconventional or controversial usage, such as a dangling modifier or possessive noun errors. Grammar errors are also called usage errors.

What are examples of grammatical errors?

• Faulty sentence structures
• Punctuation mistakes
• Passive voice misuse
• Dangling participles

How do you identify grammatical errors?

You can identify grammatical errors by using a grammar checker to find and fix errors, improve word usage, verb tense, and punctuation for English text.

What are the 10 most common grammar mistakes?

Using millions of data points from Writer subscribers, we identified 10 common grammar mistakes:

• Let’s vs. lets
• Its vs. it’s
• Your vs. You’re
• May vs. Might
• Lay vs. Lie
• Affect vs. Effect
• There vs. their vs. they’re
• Loose vs lose
• Peek vs. peak

What are three most common sentence errors?

--> “A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad.” -->

May Habib CEO, Writer.com

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30 Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Even the best writers have made grammatical mistakes in their work. Heck, even the creators of grammar rules probably committed the same errors!

English grammar rules can be confusing, so I created a list of the thirty common grammar mistakes you should avoid with examples. Consult this list when you’re self-editing to sound like a native speaker in your next writing. 

Is a Typo a Grammatical Error?

A grammatical error is a mistake based on prescriptive grammar that shows unconventional or faulty usage. Some examples include a misplaced modifier or dangling modifiers.

Typographical errors are not grammatical errors because they do not show unconventional usage of English words. Instead, they are unintentional mistakes that occur when you accidentally type the wrong letter, number, or symbol on the keyboard.

You can correct typographical errors without consulting the rules of grammar. Proofreading is one way to avoid these inconsistencies. 

How Do You Avoid Grammar Mistakes?

An online writing editor like Grammarly will help you catch your overlooked grammar mistakes. These online writing assistants can also check for spelling mistakes, unclear sentences, and inappropriate tone in your documents. You can learn more about Grammarly’s accuracy and reliability here.

But the best way to avoid grammar mistakes is by learning the basic grammar rules and following them. No amount of online grammar checkers will be able to polish your writing. Take online grammar classes to enhance your sentence structure and word choices. 

Mastering the grammar rules also saves you money from hiring a proofreader for your work. You’ll independently analyze and improve your text without needing anyone’s assistance.

30 of the Most Common Grammatical Errors

Here’s a look at the 30 most common grammatical mistakes you should avoid if you want to sound more intelligent. 

They’re vs. Their vs. There

The most common grammar mistake you should avoid is getting confused between “they’re,” “their,” and “there.” Committing this error is understandable because these words are homophones or words with the same pronunciation.

The first one is a contraction for “they are.” 

Example: They’re heading to the store.

“Their” is a possessive pronoun you should use when referring to an object owned by a group. 

Example: They’re heading to the store with their husbands.

“There” refers to a place you’re pointing. 

Example: Their husbands are waiting over there . 

Avoid this common mistake by always double-checking your sentences.

Your vs. You’re

“Your” and “you’re” are another pair of words with identical sounds but different spellings and meanings. The difference between these two terms is that one takes ownership while the other is being. 

The first word, “your,” is a possessive pronoun.

Example: Your new haircut looks good on you.

“You’re” is a contraction of “you are.”

Example: You’re driving too fast.

If you’re having difficulty memorizing the two, consult advanced grammar checkers like Grammarly.  

Its vs. It’s

Even the best writers get confused about this grammatical mistake. “Its” may seem like an ambiguous pronoun, but it shows an animal, event, or object taking ownership of something. 

Example: This sandwich is past its expiration day.

Meanwhile, “it’s” with an apostrophe is a contraction of “it is.” 

Example: It’s a beautiful day to be happy. 

The key to remembering these grammar rules is to note that words with apostrophes are shortened versions of two words. It also applies to “you’re” and “they’re.”

Incomplete Comparisons

Only a few people know about this common grammar error. Can you see what’s wrong with this sentence?

Jillian looks happier and more motivated.

There are two modifiers in the comparative degrees. The first is “happier,” while the other is “more motivated.” But what makes it wrong is the lack of a noun to whom you’re comparing Jillian. Happier than who? More motivated than what?

Always be clear with the nouns you’re comparing. Otherwise, your readers will be frustrated with your text. Here’s a better example.

Jillian looks happier and more motivated than she was five months ago.

While the writer did not compare Jillian to anyone else, they compared her to her past self. 

Passive Voice

Using the passive voice is not necessarily a grammatical mistake, but overuse of this sentence shows bad grammar. 

Passive sentences occur when the object of the sentence starts the sentence instead of appearing at the end. The result is a weak, dull, and unclear piece of writing that doesn’t have a subject.

Any experienced writer knows the importance and benefits of active writing. Active voice construction makes you sound more engaging and professional.

A basic rule of thumb is to ensure every sentence in your paragraph is active. The only times you can use the passive voice is when it’s essential to highlight the action instead of who’s doing it.

• The car was driven by her son (passive).
• Her son drove the car (active).

You can use an advanced grammar checker to correct passive sentences in your text.

Dangling Modifiers

Dangling modifiers are one of the many pet peeves of editors. It’s a word, modifier, or phrase that describes a word in a sentence that is not clearly defined. 

Example: Sick of all the games, their relationship finally came to an end.

Who is sick of all the games? One might assume that the “relationship” is sick of all the games because it’s the closest noun to the modifier. Here’s the correct sentence.

Sick of all the games, Mary decided to end the relationship. 

“Mary” is being modified by the modifier “sick of all the games.”

It’s also much better to flip the sentence structure around. 

Mary decided to end the relationship because she was sick of all the games. 

Referring to a Brand or Entity as ‘They’

Calling a business or brand “they” is a sign of a bad writing habit. Although it makes sense because a company is made of several people, an entity in itself is still singular. 

“He” or “she” sounds wrong when the antecedent is genderless. Use “it” instead.

Example: FedEx reports a decline in its profit due to labor shortages.

It might seem strange to refer to FedEx as “it” or “its,” but it will sound more natural once you’re used to it. 

Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns typically include an apostrophe and an S. But where should you put the apostrophe?

Example: 

• Most of the student’s papers are missing.
• Most of the students’ papers are missing.

Both statements are correct but have different meanings. In the first sentence, the apostrophe is placed before the S. It implies that there is only one student whose papers are missing. The second sentence means many students have missing papers. 

Here are the general rules for using possessive nouns to avoid poor grammar:

• Add an apostrophe following the letter S if the noun is plural.
• Place an apostrophe before the S for a singular noun.
• Add an apostrophe after the S if you have a singular noun that ends with an S.

More Common Grammar Mistakes

Overusing adverbs.

The overuse of adverbs is one of many grammar errors you should avoid in your writing. It’s a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or a fellow adverb. You should avoid using too many adverbs, no matter how useful they are. However, completely avoiding adverbs is not recommended in formal documents, including business and academic writing.

Avoiding adverbs is not recommended in formal documents, including business and academic writing. It makes the writer look lazy and messy, especially when using filler adverbs and “-ly” adverbs.

Here are some filler adverbs to avoid:

Misplacing Apostrophes

I’ve already mentioned misplacing apostrophes in possessive nouns. But there are other ways you can misplace this punctuation. 

Remember that apostrophes indicate ownership or contracted words. 

• Can’t = Cannot.
• Shouldn’t = Shouldn’t.

Always place the apostrophe where the missing letters of the contraction are. For example, it should be “can’t” instead of “ca’nt” because the missing O in “cannot” is between the N and T.

Another rule to note is that you should never use apostrophes to make a word plural.

Two vs. Too. vs. To

These three words sound the same but should be used in different contexts. “Two” is a number that comes after one.

Example: I accidentally paid two times. 

“Too” shows a higher degree or an alternative to “in addition.”

Examples: 

• I’m too scared to try that ride.
• Is he joining us too ?

“To” is a preposition that indicates direction, contact, or purpose. You are likely to find this word before an infinitive verb.

• I’m going to her house this Monday.
• Apply some polish to the wooden furnishings.
• I want to purchase a dress for my graduation.

Here vs. Hear

“Here” and “hear” are also among the most classic grammar mistakes you might commit. The first word is a modifier that points somewhere close. It means “in, on, or at this location.”

Example: I’m here inside the mall.

“Hear” is a verb meaning the act of perceiving sounds using one’s ear. 

Example: I can’t hear your voice without the microphone. 

Confusing Adjectives and Adverbs

The difference between adverbs and adjectives is often confusing and can result in a poor writing style. Your text will sound uneducated and informal to your readers. 

• Incorrect: Thanks for the real good meal.
• Correct: Thanks for the really good meal.
• Better: Thanks for the good meal.

“Real” is an adjective. But you need to use its adverb form because you’re modifying the adjective “good” and not the noun “meal.”

However, “really” is a filler adverb, so it’s best to remove it altogether. 

Here’s another example:

• Incorrect: She rushed quick inside the room when the bell rang.
• Correct: She rushed quickly inside the room when the bell rang.

Pronoun Disagreement

Sometimes, you think you have the perfect grammar until you find out you’re using the wrong pronouns. Always check if your nouns and pronouns agree with each other, as not all grammar-checking platforms detect these mistakes.

Remember that singular pronouns always use singular nouns. Plural pronouns, on the other hand, go with plural nouns.

• Incorrect: Each girl must greet everyone when he comes in.
• Correct: Each girl must greet everyone when she comes in.

If the antecedent is vague or gender-neutral, you can use “they.” It’s now acceptable to use this plural pronoun even if the noun you’re referring to is singular.

Example: Each person must greet everyone when they come in.

You can also use “he or she,” but it might not show inclusivity to people in the middle of the gender spectrum. 

Comma Splice and Run-On Sentence

Run-on sentences combine two independent sentences or clauses without the proper conjunction or punctuation. The result is a compound sentence with an improper structure.

A comma splice is like a run-on sentence, except you’re using a comma to mix two clauses without a conjunction.

Here’s an example of an incorrect sentence structure:

Timmy is a kind little boy, he assisted the old lady when crossing the street.

There are many ways to fix this statement. First, you can separate them into two sentences.

Timmy is a kind little boy. He assisted the old lady when crossing the street.

Also, you can try replacing the comma with a semicolon. However, many style guides do not recommend using this proper punctuation to join two independent clauses.

Timmy is a kind little boy; he assisted the old lady when crossing the street.

Another solution is to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. The coordinating conjunctions include “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.”

Timmy is a kind little boy, for he assisted the old lady when crossing the street.

If you want to eliminate the comma, replace it with a subordinating conjunction.

Timmy is a kind little boy because he assisted the old lady when crossing the street. 

Lack of Subject-Verb Agreement

Many grammatical errors are caused by subject-verb disagreement. This oversight happens when you use an incorrect verb tense or auxiliary verb in your sentence. 

Your subjects and verb should agree with one another in number too. If the subject is singular, then so should your verb be. 

• Incorrect: The men is going to the basketball court.
• Correct: The men are going to the basketball court.

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is a statement that doesn’t have a complete subject or verb. It often occurs after the writer writes a related idea.

• Incorrect: Looking forward to working with you.
• Correct: I’m looking forward to working with you.

Many English writers fail to notice the fragments in their paragraphs because our incomplete thoughts may seem complete on their own. They think it’s enough to express an idea starting with a capital letter and ending with punctuation.

Here’s another example of an incomplete sentence and a complete sentence:

• Incorrect: Because of him
• Correct: Because of him, Kesha dyed her hair black.

Missing Comma in Compound Sentence

A compound sentence shows complete and connected thoughts and should always include a conjunction.

Aside from the conjunction, your compound sentence should always have a comma to separate the two ideas. 

• Incorrect: Megan is at school and Jane went with her.
• Correct: Megan is at school, and Jane went with her.

You can also separate two sentences into two to avoid overloaded sentences.

No Clear Antecedent

An antecedent refers to a word that comes before or after a pronoun. It allows your audience to understand which word the pronoun is replacing.

• Incorrect: This is so exciting.
• Correct: This party is so exciting.

The pronoun “this” should have an antecedent after it. Otherwise, your readers would have no idea what you’re talking about

Sometimes, your antecedent is part of the sentence but still lacks clarity. You can avoid confusion by fixing your sentence structure.

• Incorrect: Jonah’s father adopted the dog, and he was happy.
• Correct: Jonah’s father was happy when he adopted the dog.

Ending a Sentence in a Preposition

I bet this grammar rule is something you’ve never heard of. Never end your sentence with prepositions. Take the first sentence of this paragraph as an example. Here’s how you can correct it:

I bet you’ve never heard of this grammar rule.

Ending your statements with prepositions shows unprofessionalism and informalism. It’s only acceptable in casual conversations and friendly types of writing.

Affect vs. Effect

The confusion between the words “affect” and “effect” isn’t a matter of misspelling as much as an error in your choice of words. Both words have very similar meanings and pronunciations, yet they are of different parts of speech.

“Affect” is a verb that means “to create a shift in or act on.” 

Example: The UV rays affect the color of these sneakers.

“Effect” is a noun that refers to “result or consequence.”

Example: The changing color of these sneakers is the effect of the UV rays.

One trick to remember the difference is the acronym RAVEN.

R = Remember

A = Affect is a 

E = Effect is a

Well vs. Good

Another common grammatical error you should be aware of is mixing up “good” and well.” Both have the same meaning, but “well” is an adverb and “good” is an adjective.

That means “well” should modify a verb, adjective, or a fellow adverb. Below is an example.

She’s doing well in her studies.

“Good” should modify a noun or a pronoun. Take a look at this example.

Bruno is a good dog. 

One exception to this “good” vs. “well” debate is when the verb being modified is “taste.” A certain food should taste good instead of tasting well.

Fewer vs. Less

Some English speakers and writers also mix “less” and “fewer.” To remember the difference them just decide if the item is all one thing or a group of several ones. Use “fewer” for a group of many objects, and use “less” if it’s singular.

• Incorrect: There’s fewer ice cream in the tub
• Correct: There’s less ice cream in the tub.

Title Capitalization

Another grammar problem you should resolve in your writing is how you capitalize your titles and headings. The rule of thumb is always to capitalize the first and last words. You should also capitalize every verb, pronoun, and adjective in the title.

Longer conjunctions also require capitalization, along with long prepositions and adverbs.

Example: What I Learned About My Trip to Madrid 

Inflated sentences are characterized by wordiness because of the unnecessary fillers you’re using. Make your sentence as concise as possible so that readers will understand what you say. You don’t want them to be annoyed by your pointless words.

Make sure you’re using stronger verbs and nouns, so you don’t need to add “very,” “just,” and “really.” 

• Incorrect: It’s come to my attention that your payment for the rent is overdue, and I urge you to settle your payment as soon as possible.
• Correct: Your rent is overdue. Please settle your payment now.

Sure, the first statement sounds more polite. But it wastes a few seconds of your recipient’s time. 

Too Many Prepositional Phrases

Most complete sentences contain prepositional phrases. However, excessive use makes your text wordier. Focus on simplifying your statements.

• Incorrect: I went over to their house.
• Correct: I visited their house. 

“To their house” is a correct phrase. But it’s better to find a shorter way to say it.

Tautologies

Tautologies are phrases or expressions that say the same idea twice, making your writing longer and undesirable. English experts would also argue that tautologies make you sound foolish. 

Example: I want to see him personally.

The word “personally” repeats the idea of seeing someone. It doesn’t add new information, so it’s best to cut it.

Wrong Comma Usage

You already know that two independent clauses without punctuation indicate bad grammar. But there are other ways you can misuse a comma.

Some people forget to use a comma in a series of elements before the word “and.”

• Incorrect: red, orange, blue and green.
• Correct: red, orange, blue, and green.

Always use a comma to separate introductory words and direct address. 

• At first, I thought you were rude.
• Tania, you should audition. 

Then vs. Than

“Then” is an adverb which means “at that time” or “after that.” “Than” is a word that shows a comparison. 

• She tied a string to her brother’s loose tooth and then pulled it hard.
• You’re taller than me. 

Further vs. Farther

Many people use “further” and “farther” interchangeably. But, there’s actually a big difference between the two. 

“Farther” refers to physical distance.

Example: I traveled farther from the hills.

“Further” is for figurative distances.

Example: The business is falling further away from its aims.  

Set Yourself Up for Writing Success

Whether you’re a business owner, student, or blogger, correct grammar is the hallmark of precise and professional communication. 

You can improve your writing quality through simple corrections like differentiating between fewer and less or practicing subject-verb agreement. Take advantage of the list above to help you avoid common grammatical mistakes.

Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

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• Writing Tips

The 10 Most Common Grammar Mistakes

9-minute read

• 3rd February 2023

Whether you’re learning English online or in person, you’ve likely experienced trouble with grammar at some point. As a student, it can be frustrating when your teacher highlights grammatical errors in your writing (often without indicating why they’re errors).

In this post, we’ve compiled 10 common grammar errors in English with explanations and examples to help you avoid them in your writing. Believe it or not, even native English speakers unwittingly make these mistakes! By being aware of these errors, you’ll know what to watch out for, and your writing skills will improve.

1.   Subject-verb Agreement

This is a common mistake associated with grammar tenses , in which the subject doesn’t agree with the corresponding verb. Let’s consider this example:

The mayor is an example of a third-person subject (e.g., he , she , it , they ). Since this is in the present simple tense, the verb must be conjugated as signs to agree with the subject.

Subject–verb agreement errors often occur with collective nouns (e.g., family , audience , group ) and infinitive nouns (e.g., anybody , everybody , none ). Because these nouns appear to be more than one person, the writer erroneously assumes the verb shouldn’t be conjugated as the third person. You can avoid this type of error by:

●  Knowing which subjects are singular and plural

●  Making the verb agree with the closer subject when or, nor, either/or , or neither/nor connects two subjects

●  Watching out for subject complements (don’t confuse the subject complement for the real subject of a sentence)

Additionally, make sure you’re looking at the correct subject. Look at this example:

The writing (noun) in those paragraphs (noun) is (verb) horrible.

Because paragraphs is the last noun before the verb, it can be tempting to assume it’s the subject. However, it’s actually the object of a preposition ( in ). Therefore, writing is the correct subject of this sentence.

2.   Pronoun-antecedent Agreement

This occurs when a pronoun doesn’t agree with the noun it’s referring to (the antecedent).

Students and writers often don’t know which pronoun to use with animals, so they erroneously use plural pronouns, such as their, like in the above example. The straightforward rule is that singular and plural nouns must go with their respective singular and plural pronouns. An example of this error would be:

Boy is singular, and they is plural. Therefore, the correct version would be:

You can avoid this error by knowing which pronouns are singular and plural. Indefinite pronouns ( everybody , nobody , somebody , etc.) are often mistaken as plural when they’re actually considered singular. When compound antecedents are joined by and , both nouns become plural (e.g., Jack and Jill ).

You should also be careful with compound antecedents that are joined by or, nor, either/or , or neither/nor . The pronoun should agree with the closer antecedent.

Example: Neither the nurse nor the doctors like when their patients are in pain.

3.   Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Run-on sentences and comma splices occur when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined. Either a comma is missing, or it needs to have a conjunction after it in a sentence. Let’s consider this example of a run-on sentence:

As you can see, the sentence is missing a comma and is difficult to read. We would add a comma and a conjunction to improve readability:

Here’s an example of a comma splice:

Again, this doesn’t read well. To correct it, you could change the comma to a semicolon or add and after it.

To avoid run-on sentences, see if two or more independent clauses communicate more than one idea. If there is more than one idea, you must add a comma. Similarly, you can solve comma splice errors by:

●  Adding a conjunction

●  Changing the comma to a semicolon

●  Making separate sentences if necessary

4.   Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Modifiers add spice to sentences and descriptive speech. You can use modifiers in the form of adjectives or adverbs. For example, you can modify the word lion by adding an adjective: the fearsome lion or the powerful lion.

Modifiers need to be placed very close to the word they’re modifying. Unfortunately, writers sometimes misplace the modifiers by placing them too far away from the words they’re meant to connect with, thus changing the sentence’s meaning. Let’s consider an example of a misplaced modifier:

It’s not clear which word is being modified. Did she crawl for the day? Did she walk slowly? Had she thought about walking for an entire day but decided against it? We don’t know. However, if we move the modifier, we can change the sentence to match the writer’s intended meaning:

Now, we get it! She did walk, and she walked for nearly an entire day.

Dangling modifiers occur when something modifies a word or phrase that hasn’t been identified. Let’s take this example:

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Was the sun looking into the distance? That’s unlikely, unless it was one of those smiling cartoon suns. So, who was looking into the distance? To clarify, we should add the word being modified.

Much better! Now we know who was looking into the distance.

To avoid misplaced modifiers, you need to know the word or phrase you’re trying to modify and place the modifier very close to the intended word. With dangling modifiers, you always need to clarify what’s being modified. You can also rephrase the sentence so that it’s clear.

5.   Homophone Trouble

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. They’re also often spelled similarly, which makes them easy to confuse in writing. Take your and you’re . The former is a possessive adjective, while the latter is a contraction of you are . However, it’s easy to get them mixed up. Here are a few examples of using your and you’re :

Another common homophone error is there , they’re , and their . Take these examples:

Homophone errors might not matter when speaking, but they do in writing! So, it’s vital to know the differences between the meaning of those mentioned above:

●  There describes a location (i.e., the opposite of here ).

●  They’re is the shortened version of they are .

●  Their is the possessive form of they .

When working with homophones, take a moment to think about which word is correct by going through the different meanings of each spelling. This can be tedious at first, but with practice, it’ll become second nature.

6.   Adjective and Adverb Confusion

Confusing adjectives and adverbs results in writing that comes off as very informal or uneducated. You’ll often notice this issue with words ending in “-ly.” Let’s look at these examples:

This is what the writer actually meant:

To avoid such errors, you should know which word the adjective or adverb in question modifies. If the word modified is a noun or pronoun, use an adjective. If it’s a verb, also use an adjective. And if it’s an adverb, use an adverb.

7.   Overusing Adverbs

Writers tend to overuse adverbs, especially fiction authors. Adverbs are often overused to describe actions and events. Here’s an example from a work of fiction:

Because of the overabundance of adverbs, there’s more telling than showing. We could rephrase the passage with fewer adverbs to provide more kick:

See the difference? The new words carry the same meaning, but there’s more show than tell (paramount for fiction writers).

You can avoid this error by using adverbs sparingly, especially when describing actions and events. Think of different verbs that will convey the same meaning.

8.   Misplaced Apostrophes

Apostrophes can indicate that something belongs to someone or something else. For example:

Writers sometimes misplace apostrophes with regular plural nouns when describing what or who they belong to. For example:

Another misplaced apostrophe error occurs with it’s and its . For example:

Remember that it’s is short for it is . So, there’s no apostrophe at the end of its when it’s being used as a possessive. You should also remember to place the apostrophe at the end of regular plural nouns.

9.   Incomplete Comparisons

Comparisons compare one noun to another by using comparatives. The error occurs when a comparison is left incomplete. Take this example:

The reader will respond, “It was much hotter than when?” We need to complete the comparison in this sentence. Here’s one way:

When using comparisons, be sure to complete them. We can’t have comparisons if we don’t know who or what they’re being compared to.

10.             Mixed Verb Tenses

This is a form of faulty parallelism in which there are mixed verbs within a sentence. Take this example:

This sentence is unclear because it contains a verb in the present and past. Therefore, both verbs need to be in the same tense for consistency.

To avoid this error, remember to have consistency in verb tense. Determine if your sentence is referring to the past, present, or future, and then make sure all your verbs match that.

These are just a few examples of common grammar mistakes, but there are many other mistakes that people make. Practicing writing, reading extensively, and using grammar-checking tools will help you identify and correct mistakes. With time, practice, and patience, you’ll be able to improve your grammar skills and become a more confident writer.

Common Grammar Error FAQs

1. how do i know if a sentence is grammatically incorrect.

The subject and verb must both be singular or plural to make a sentence grammatically correct. In other words, the subject and verb must agree. Check for this after writing sentences.

2. What are some common grammar mistakes in academic writing?

Comma splices as well as dangling and misplaced modifiers are common errors in academic writing . The academic world also tends to frown upon contractions in writing ( they’re , it’s , can’t , etc.), as they’re considered informal.

3. How do I fix common grammar mistakes in my writing?

After you’ve finished writing your paper, we recommend proofreading it to catch common errors. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, we suggest leaving it up to our team of experts! We’ll check your work for common grammar mistakes, ensure perfect spelling, and much more. Consider submitting a 500-word document for free today!

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10 Grammatical Errors and How to Correct Them

By Hannah Yang

Even the most experienced writers sometimes make grammar errors.

Making a grammar mistake is completely understandable; there's no time for proofreading when you're in full creative flow.

But once you’ve drafted your story or article, it’s important to take a step back and make sure your sentences are constructed correctly.

So, what are the most frequent grammar errors you should watch out for?

This article will discuss the top ten most common grammar mistakes and how to fix them.

What Are Grammatical Errors?

What are the 10 most common grammatical errors, why you should avoid improper grammar.

Before we get into the list of most common grammatical errors, let’s start with a quick reminder of what counts as a grammatical error.

Grammatical Errors Meaning

A grammatical error is an instance of faulty or controversial language use. It makes it hard for the reader to understand what you're saying.

There are many kinds of writing mistakes, and it's important to distinguish grammar errors from other mistakes.

Grammar errors are different from factual errors, which occur when you use incorrect information in your writing.

Grammar errors are also different from typographical errors, which occur when you press the wrong key on your keyboard.

Most often, grammar mistakes occur when you construct an incorrect sentence.

For example, if you mix up two commonly confused words , or if you string two independent clauses together without an appropriate conjunction , those are grammar mistakes.

Luckily, the English language has an established set of grammar rules, so there’s usually a right and wrong answer when it comes to grammar mistakes.

As long as you learn the most common grammatical errors, and keep an eye out for them, you can make sure your writing is clean, successful, and error-free.

Let's look at the ten most common grammar mistakes in the English language and how you can fix them in your own writing.

Error #1: Commas

One of the most common grammar mistakes is the incorrect use of commas . Commas are used for three purposes:

• To separate words in a list
• To join compound sentences
• After introductory phrases

The first reason to use commas is to separate words in a list. You should include a comma between each item in a list, so it's clear that they're separate items.

Here are some examples of how to use commas to separate items in a list:

• You can invite your friends Tom, Betty, George, and Susan to come over for dinner tonight.
• Do you want whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or rainbow sprinkles on your ice cream sundae?
• I need to brush my teeth, do my chores, and finish my homework before I watch TV.

The second reason to use commas is to separate clauses in a compound sentence.

A compound sentence is a sentence that connects two independent clauses. With compound sentences, each clause can stand on its own as a separate and complete sentence.

Usually, these clauses are connected with a coordinating conjunction like and , or , or but . A comma must be used to divide the two clauses.

Here are some examples of how to use commas to divide a compound sentence:

• I like my coffee black , and he likes his coffee with cream and sugar.
• Do you want to come to the store with me , or do you want to stay at home?
• We've had a great time together , but I just don't see a long-term future for the two of us.

You should also use a comma after introductory phrases, such as after , although , however , indeed , unless , before , but , and , yet , so , etc. Without this, the passage becomes a run-on sentence .

Here are some examples of how to use commas after introductory phrases:

• Every morning, I go on a two-mile run to improve my cardiovascular health.
• Although he's been very generous, I don't think it would be wise to continue relying on his help.
• After we went to the store, we went straight home to put our groceries in the fridge.

A good rule of thumb is: if you pause when you say the sentence, put a comma where you paused.

Error #2: Subject/Verb Agreement

Another one of the most common grammar errors is to have a subject and a verb that don't agree in number.

Whenever a sentence has a single subject, it should use a singular verb (such as "he is"). When a sentence has multiple subjects, it should use a plural verb (such as "they are").

Here are some examples of subject/verb agreement :

• Incorrect: "My school have strict teachers, who always punish us for tardiness." Correct: "My school has strict teachers, who always punish us for tardiness."
• Incorrect: "The shelf of books are already full." Correct: "The shelf of books is already full."
• Incorrect: " Each of us are getting good grades in class.” Correct: “ Each of us is getting good grades in class.”

Error #3: Pronoun Usage

Pronoun mistakes occur in sentences where the pronoun does not agree in number with the noun to which it refers.

If you have a plural subject ("Sally and Timmy"), the pronoun you use to refer to that subject should always be plural ("they," "themselves").

If you have a singular subject ("Sally"), the pronoun you use to refer to that subject should always be singular ("she," "herself").

Pronoun errors are easy to fix. Simply switch to the correct pronoun, and your sentence will make sense again.

Here are some examples of how to use pronouns correctly:

• Incorrect: "It's every man for themselves out here." Correct: "It's every man for himself out here."
• Incorrect: "The puppies were so excited, she jumped on me when I walked into the shelter." Correct: "The puppies were so excited, they jumped on me when I walked into the shelter."
• Incorrect: "I told my kids to put his own toys away when he finished playing with them." Correct: "I told my kids to put their own toys away when they finished playing with them."

Error #4: Apostrophe Usage

Many writers incorrectly use apostrophes .

There are many reasons to use apostrophes, but the two main ones are:

• To create a contraction
• To make a noun possessive

A contraction is when you shorten words or connect words, often by removing letters. You should put an apostrophe in the place where letters have been removed.

Here are some examples of apostrophes that create contractions:

• "Is not" becomes " isn't "
• "Could have" becomes " could've "
• "She had" becomes " she'd "

The second purpose for apostrophes is to denote possession. In this case, you place the apostrophe before the additional s .

However, it’s important to remember apostrophes are never used after a possessive pronoun, such as his , hers , their , theirs , yours or ours .

Here are some examples of how to use apostrophes to denote possession:

• Correct: "I am going to Florida to meet my father's new girlfriend."
• Correct: "The teacher's blackboard is covered with chalk smudges, so it is hard to read what he is writing."
• Incorrect: “The apartment next door is her’s .” Correct: “The apartment next door is hers .”

Error #5: Colons and Semicolons

Writers often confuse the functions of colons and semicolons , which can lead to punctuation mistakes.

You use a colon when you’re about to provide a list, an explanation, or sometimes a quotation. Here are some examples of how to correctly use colons:

• "The local diner offers three ice cream flavors : chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla."
• "This was his dream car : a silver Cadillac."
• "My father always told me : ‘Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.’"

Semicolons should only be used to connect independent clauses. If each clause is a complete sentence, you can divide them with a semicolon instead of with a coordinating conjunction and a comma.

Here are some examples of how to correctly use semicolons:

• "I've never eaten chocolate ; I'm actually allergic to it."
• "She had never seen a rainbow before ; it was even more beautiful than she'd imagined."
• "You don't know what you did wrong ; it feels like everyone's blaming you for no reason."

Error #6: Dangling Modifiers

A modifier is a word or phrase that gives the reader more information about a subject.

It's important to make sure your modifiers are attached to the right subject in the sentence.

If they are not, the modifier becomes a dangling modifier , which is a word or clause that's attached to the incorrect subject.

If you find a dangling modifier in your writing, don't worry—they're easy to fix. You can leave the modifier the way it is and change the subject of the sentence to be the person or object the modifier describes.

Here are some examples of dangling modifiers and how to fix them:

• Incorrect: "Chewing slowly, the pepperoni pizza tasted delicious." Correct: "Chewing slowly, I thought the pepperoni pizza tasted delicious."
• Incorrect: "Dressed up in various costumes, candy is collected by thousands of trick-or-treaters every Halloween." Correct: "Dressed up in various costumes, thousands of trick-or-treaters collect candy every Halloween."
• Incorrect: "Kicking and screaming, the exasperated father dragged his toddler out of the grocery store." Correct: "Kicking and screaming, the toddler was dragged out of the grocery store by his exasperated father."

Error #7: Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments occur when you write a sentence that doesn't include a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.

If you've forgotten to include a subject or a verb in the sentence, that means your sentence is incomplete. That's why we call it a fragment—it's only one part of the whole.

You can also create a sentence fragment by failing to form a complete thought. For example, “I ran to” contains a subject and a verb, but is not a complete sentence.

To fix a sentence fragment, you can either attach it to an independent clause, insert the missing subject or verb, or finish the thought.

Here are some examples of sentence fragments and how to fix them:

• Incorrect: "Had strange and vivid dreams last night." Correct: "I had strange and vivid dreams last night."
• Incorrect: "A young girl in the corner, holding a red balloon." Correct: "A young girl stood in the corner, holding a red balloon."
• Incorrect: "The legendary ship was manned by pirates. Sailed out toward the horizon one day, never to be seen again." Correct: " The legendary ship, which was manned by pirates, sailed out toward the horizon one day, never to be seen again."

Error #8: Their vs There

There can either be an adverb , adjective , or pronoun depending on how it is used, and usually indicates place.

Their is a plural possessive pronoun that means “belonging to them.”

These two words are an example of confusing homophones —words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.

It’s important to make sure you’re using the right word so your reader doesn’t get confused.

Here are some examples of how to use their correctly:

• "Sarah and Jane asked if you want to have dinner at their apartment tonight."
• "Did your parents leave their toothbrushes at the hotel?"
• "My friends played one of their classic pranks on me again."

And here are some examples of how to use there correctly:

• "We'll head over there immediately."
• "Do you see that woman standing there ?"
• "How can you not see it? It's right there !"

Error #9: Which vs That

Mixing up which and that is a common grammatical error made by experienced and novice writers alike. These two words serve similar functions in a sentence, but they are not interchangeable.

The word which should be used to introduce non-restrictive clauses—an additional, but not essential, part of a sentence.

The word that introduces a restrictive clause, which is a necessary part of a sentence that cannot be removed.

This error has a simple solution: figure out if the clause you're adding is restrictive or non-restrictive, and choose the right word to match.

Here are some examples of how to use which and that correctly:

• Incorrect: "I want a puppy, which won't bite me when we play." Correct: "I want a puppy that won't bite me when we play."
• Incorrect: "This cake that has cherries on top is delicious." Correct: "This cake, which has cherries on top, is delicious."
• Incorrect: "My new laptop that has more processing power than my old one is working beautifully." Correct: "My new laptop, which has more processing power than my old one, is working beautifully."

Error #10: Who vs Whom

Who and whom are two commonly confused pronouns.

Who refers to the subject of a sentence, while whom refers to the object of a sentence.

In English, subjects do the action, while objects receive the action.

Here's another way to think of it: who should be used to describe someone performing an action (“Who sent this email?”), while whom should be used to describe someone on the receiving end of an action (“To whom should I send this email?”)

Here are some examples of how to use these two words correctly. The first example in each set describes the subject of the sentence; the second describes the object of the sentence.

• " Who is your favorite?" vs " Whom do you like more?"
• " Who will ask you to the school dance?" vs "With whom do you want to go to the school dance?"
• " Who will receive this invitation?" vs "To whom should I address this invitation?"

The main reason for avoiding improper grammar is to improve the clarity of your writing.

Poorly structured sentences make it hard for readers to understand what you’re saying, which makes it harder for you to communicate effectively.

Furthermore, grammatical mistakes can make you lose credibility in the eyes of your readers.

They might assume you have poor writing skills, or that you haven’t bothered to read and edit your writing. If you don’t care about your writing, why should your readers?

You can use an online grammar checker like ProWritingAid to catch your grammatical errors. With just a few clicks, you can run a comprehensive grammar check.

An online grammar checker will highlight all of your misused words, punctuation errors, spelling errors, and more.

On a deeper level, ProWritingAid will look at your sentence structure to catch subtle errors and help you improve the clarity of your writing.

English is not an easy language to master. So, if this article has helped you in any way, here’s to your improvement. Happy writing!

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20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers

Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas., this guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers..

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them

One of the most common challenges experienced by people who are learning english as a second language is choosing the right word for the right context..

The English language is well known for being the language of international communication in the modern world – and wherever you originate from, and whatever native tongue you speak, it’s likely that learning English will be invaluable in both your personal and professional lives. Of course, the English language frequently frustrates new learners with various grammatical hurdles and stumbling blocks.

Signing up for our courses at Oxford International English School is a great way to improve your English language skills.

Common English Grammar Mistakes 

1) present and past tense .

Present tenses in English are used to talk about the present, the future and to summarise a book, film or play when telling a story in the present tense.  

There are four present tense forms in the English language.  

Present Simple:  I Work  

Present Continuous :   I am Working  

Present Perfect :   I have worked  

Present perfect continuous :  I have been working  

You can use the past tense to talk about events or situations that have finished. You can also use past tense in English to talk about long-standing events and situations that have already happened in the past.  

For example :  When I was a young child, I lived in the countryside.  

Here are some frequently used examples of verbs in past simple:  are, was, were and went.  

2) How To Avoid the Overuse of Adverbs

Adverbs are a varied class of words that work in many different ways to express many different kinds of meaning.   

This can make adverbs a useful word group. You should, however, avoid overusing these words to describe actions and events.   

The most commonly overused adverbs are manner adverbs, this particular type of adverb modifies the verb.  

For example :  

Emily Scott shook her head  vigorously .  

He was in a good mood now, smiling  broadly  as he grabbed his mug of tea.  

A common issue in story writing occurs when you rely too heavily on manner adverbs in your stories.  

For example: 

The curtain opened quickly, and Ben came slowly into the room. He saw Emma looking flirtatiously with Jack and walked over to her aggressively. ‘Why are you here?’ he screamed angrily.  

Here is the same extract with the manner verbs highlighted:  

The curtain opened  quickly,  and Ben came slowly into the room. He saw Emma looking  flirtatiously  with Jack and walked over to her  aggressively . ‘Why are you here?’ he screamed  angrily .  

The correct use of adverbs is to show not tell the reader what is happening in the story.  

3) Your/You’re 

These words are also troublesome homophones that cause many problems.  

“ Your ” indicates a possession – and defines that something belongs to you.  

“ You’re ” is short for “ You are ”.  

Here is how not to use these words:  

Your  beautiful.  

Do you know when  your  going?  

Can I have  you’re  coat?  

How to get it right:  

You’re  beautiful.  

Do you know when  you’re  going?  

Can I have  your  coat?  

4) Misplacing Apostrophes  

You find apostrophes a little tricky, but once you follow the rules, it will become easy. P utting an apostrophe in the wrong place is a common mistake.  

Apostrophes indicate something belongs to something or is owned by someone else.  

To show that something belongs to one person, place the apostrophe before the letter ‘S.’  

For example – “ The girl’s sheep”.  

To show that something belongs to more than one person, you need to place the apostrophe after the letter ‘S’.  

For example  – “ The girls’ sheep”.  

Apostrophes are also used in contracted words such as “ Can’t”  to indicate that the ‘O’ is missing from “ Cannot. ”  

Apostrophes should never be used to make a word plural.  

5) There / Their /They’re  

You may find that these pesky homophones, a little bit of a headache.  

Use “There” to refer to a place that isn’t here, for example, “Over there.”  

Use “Their” to refer to how owns something – showing that something belongs to that person.  

Use “They’re” is a shortened version of “They are”.  

Their  going to be here soon.  

We should contact  they’re  friend.  

Can we use  there  house?  

They’re   is   is  an argument that says.  

Here is how you use these words correctly:  

They’re  going to be here soon.  

We should contact  their  friend.  

Can we use  their  house?  

There  is an argument that says.  

6) Confusing similar spellings and words

The English language is quite rich in words which sound similar, or are spelled similarly, but which have different meanings and need to be used in different contexts.

Perhaps the most common stumbling block experienced by people who are learning English as a second language is making sure to use the right word in the right context, rather than a similar but improper one. Our English language courses are designed to address this issue, helping learners to confidently choose the correct words in various contexts.

The only way to avoid this issue is to learn which words fit in which context, on a case-by-case basis.

Here are some words people often mix up:

“ Two,” “too,” and “to”

“Here” and “hear”

“ Your” and “you’re”

“Weather” and “whether”

7) Using incomplete comparisons

Many words in the English language imply a comparison – and using them without “completing the comparison” is a common grammatical mistake.

Here’s an example of an incomplete comparison:

“It was much hotter today.”

To make this example grammatically correct, you would need to complete this comparison. Here’s one way you could do that:

“It was much hotter today than yesterday.”

8) Getting adjectives and adverbs confused

Confusing your adjectives and adverbs often results in speech or writing that comes off as very informal, and even uneducated – and it’s a great way of infuriating many English teachers.

Often, you’ll notice this issue happening with words that end in “-ly.”

Here are a couple of grammatically incorrect examples:

“It was a real nice day today.”

“I ran quick to the bus stop.”

And here’s how these two examples would look if they were made grammatically correct:

“It was a really nice day today.”

“I ran quickly to the bus stop.”

9) Misplacing your modifiers

Language would be pretty dull without words to add a bit of extra flavour to sentences and descriptive speech.

This is exactly where modifiers come in.

With modifiers, “the tiger” can become “the fearsome tiger,” “the sunrise,” can become “the beautiful sunrise,” and so on.

The issue is that these modifiers need to be placed very close to the word they’re modifying, or else the meaning falls apart.

“Misplacing your modifiers” means that you are putting these modifiers too far away from the terms they are meant to be modifying, in your sentence.

The result is confusion.

In fact, misplaced modifiers can even completely change the meaning of your sentence in unintended ways.

Here’s an example of a misplaced modifier:

“He almost walked for the entire day.”

And here’s how this example would read with the modifier in the right place:

“He walked for almost the entire day.”

In the example with the misplaced modifier, it is not clear if he “crawled”, “ran slowly”, or simply “thought about walking” for the entire day.

In the correct example, the meaning is clear.

10) Falling into pronoun disagreement

A common grammatical mistake for English learners is for their pronouns and nouns to disagree, when dealing with singular and plural examples.

The straightforward rule is that singular pronouns must go with singular nouns, and plural pronouns must go with plural nouns.

So, for example:

“Every boy must sign in when they arrive” is incorrect. “Boy” is singular, and “they” is plural.

The correct phrasing here would be:

“Every boy must sign in when he arrives.”

Grammar and punctuation are essential in the English  language and gaining confidence in how to avoid any grammatical errors is a valuable part of your learning journey.   

You should practice developing your grammar daily; it will help you to become a confident writer with a firm grasp on the English language.  

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10 most common grammar mistakes in english (& how to fix them).

• By Matthew Jones

Even native speakers make common grammar mistakes from time to time. Nobody has perfect grammar and with so many rules to remember, you shouldn’t feel bad about making mistakes when speaking or writing English. That said, you should always aim to make as few errors as possible.

One of the best ways to improve your language abilities is by learning how to recognize the most common grammar mistakes in English. Whether you want to write the perfect college entrance essay or sound more professional in your next job interview, there are a few English grammar mistakes that you will want to avoid.

So, let’s take a closer look at the 10 most common grammar mistakes in English writing and speaking .

5 Most Common Grammar Mistakes in English Writing

Though there is some crossover between written and spoken grammar mistakes, some errors are very specific to writing (misspelled words, apostrophe or comma placement, etc).

Even though some of the mistakes below can be made in both formats (writing and speaking), some are more common in one than the other. Here are some of the most common grammar mistakes in English writing:

Their, They’re, or There?

When spoken, the words “there,” “their,” and “they’re” all sound virtually the same. However, they each have very different meanings.

• I visited my grandparents over the weekend. Their house is beautiful.
• My friends didn’t bring umbrellas. They’re going to get wet.
• I traveled there during my vacation. (adverb)
• We can go there or stay here. (noun)
• There is someone at the door. (pronoun)
• There, we did it! (interjection)
• I will always be there for you. (adjective)

You’re vs. Your

Just like the previous example, this one occurs when people confuse two or more words that sound the same. However, “you’re” and “your” mean completely different things.

• I think you’re going to like the movie.
• I forgot to return your pencil.

It’s vs. Its

Are you beginning to see a pattern? When you’re speaking, no one can tell if you’re confusing “it’s” or “its” (as long as the rest of the sentence makes sense). In writing, these common grammar mistakes become much more obvious.

• Have you read this book? It’s one of my favorites.
• Look at that tree! Its leaves are so beautiful!

Who’s vs. Whose

While they may sound the same in speech, you can’t mix up “who’s” and “whose” in writing. One is a contraction, while the other is a possessive pronoun.

• Who’s going to the party tonight?
• He’s the professor who’s mean to everyone.
• Whose pencil is this?
• She’s the woman whose car was stolen.

Then vs. Than

One of the most common grammar mistakes in writing is the erroneous use of “then” and “than.” Thankfully, the grammar rules for these two are pretty simple.

• First I brush my teeth, then I take a shower.
• I weigh less than I did five years ago.

5 Most Common Grammar Mistakes in English Speaking

Now that we’ve covered mistakes people make while writing, it’s time to look at some of the most common grammar mistakes in English speaking . Many native English speakers get lazy when speaking, which often results in incorrect grammar. This makes it all the more confusing for those who are learning to speak English as a second language.

Here are the most common spoken grammar mistakes in English:

Most intermediate English students know that “I” is the subject pronoun, while “me” is the object pronoun. However, people often mix them up when a sentence includes multiple subjects, multiple objects, or both.

• Kevin threw the ball at my friend and me . *if you remove “my friend,” you’re left with “Kevin threw the ball at me” (CORRECT) as opposed to “Kevin threw the ball at I” (INCORRECT).
• My brother and I went to the movies. *Again, if you remove “my brother,” you’re left with “I went to the movies” (CORRECT), as opposed to “me went to the movies” (INCORRECT).
• My friends are studious, but no one is more studious than I am.

Who, That, or Which?

When used as pronouns, “who, “that,” and “which” often get mixed up. While “who” is pretty easy to use (as it almost always refers to people), the other two can be a little confusing.

• I talked to the man who took my bag.
• Rufus is the dog who always barks at me.
• The woman that works at the library knows me. (Since the word refers to a person, “who” could also be used here)
• I don’t like to watch movies that last for more than two hours.
• The red car, which almost never starts, finally broke down today.

Less vs. Fewer

Differentiating between countable and uncountable nouns often causes problems for English students. As a result, mixing up “less” and “fewer” is one of the most common mistakes in English speaking. It can help to put nouns with numbers to see if they are countable or uncountable. For example, you can have “three dollars” (countable), but you can’t have “three money” (uncountable).

• I have less money today.
• There were fewer people at the meeting.

Who vs. Whom

Many native speakers forego using “whom” in casual conversations entirely, as it can sound somewhat formal. However, if you want to avoid making a grammatical mistake, you have to know when to use both “who” and “whom .”

• Who is the man? * Test: “he is the man” (CORRECT) vs. “him is the man.” (INCORRECT)
• He’s the only one who forgot to do his homework. *Test: “He forgot to do his homework” (CORRECT) vs. “him forgot to do his homework. ” (INCORRECT)
• He is the man with whom I was speaking. *Test: “I was speaking with him” (CORRECT) vs. “I was speaking with he.” (INCORRECT)
• Whom do you prefer? *Test: “Do you prefer him/her?” (CORRECT) vs. “ Do you prefer he/she?” (INCORRECT)

Look, Watch, or See?

All three of these words refer to actions related to sight, but they each have unique definitions. While you can use all of these as action verbs (“look” and “see” can also serve as nouns), the context in which you use them will vary.

• Look over there!
• What are you looking at?
• Did you watch the movie?
• I like to watch my dogs play.
• It’s cloudy, so you won’t see the moon tonight.
• I see one rock and two trees.

If you’d like to learn more about common grammar mistakes in English, visit Magoosh Speaking today.

Matthew Jones

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15 Common Grammar Mistakes That Kill Your Writing Credibility

I love to write, but I’m not so crazy about grammar.

Learning about words that dangle, split, and get misplaced isn’t my idea of fun.

However, as an English major in college, I had it drilled into my head that poor grammar revealed laziness and a lack of respect for the reader.

It’s the literary form of bad manners and exposes the writer as someone who isn’t serious about the craft.

If you’re an author, particularly a self-published author, you need to do everything possible to win your readers’ hearts and minds.

When they are distracted by grammatical errors or confused by the meaning of a sentence, they aren’t likely to buy your next book — or finish the one they are reading.

As tedious as grammar may be to those of us who just want to write, it is well worth a few minutes of your time to refresh the basics and make sure you don’t fall into one of the problematic grammar traps.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

2. sentence fragments, 3. missing comma after introductory element, 4. misusing the apostrophe with “its”, 5. no comma in a compound sentence, 6. misplaced or dangling modifier, 7. vague pronoun reference, 8. wrong word usage, 9. run-on sentence, 10. superfluous commas, 11. lack of parallel structure, 12. sentence sprawl, 13. comma splice, 14. colon mistakes, 15. split infinitives.

(Side note: If you want the peace of mind that you’re publishing with good grammar and punctuation, then check out the free Grammarly proofreading tool .)

Here are 15 common grammar mistakes that can kill your credibility as a writer:

The subject and verb of a sentence must agree with one another in number, whether they are singular or plural. If the subject of the sentence is singular, its verb must also be singular; and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Incorrect: An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me.

Correct: An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me.

Incorrect: The two best things about the party was the food and the music.

Correct: The two best things about the party were the food and the music.

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences that don’t have one independent clause. A fragment may lack a subject, a complete verb, or both. Sometimes fragments depend on the proceeding sentence to give it meaning.

Incorrect: He gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument. In spite of everything.

Correct:  In spite of everything, he gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument.

Incorrect: The boys snuck home late that night. Then waited for the consequences.

Correct: The boys snuck home late that night, then waited for the consequences.

A comma should be used after an introductory word, phrase, or clause. Using a comma gives the reader a slight pause after an introductory element and often can help avoid confusion.

Incorrect: In case you haven’t noticed my real name doesn’t appear in the article.

Correct: In case you haven’t noticed, my real name doesn’t appear in the article.

Incorrect:  Before she had time to think about it Sharon jumped into the icy pool.

Correct: Before she had time to think about it, Sharon jumped into the icy pool.

You use an apostrophe with it’s only when the word means it is or i t has.  Without the apostrophe, it means belonging to it.

Incorrect: I don’t believe its finally Friday.

Correct: I don’t believe it’s (it is) finally Friday.

Incorrect: The cat was licking it’s tail.

Correct: The cat was licking its tail.

A comma separates two or more independent clauses in a compound sentence separated by a conjunction. The comma goes after the first clause and before the coordinating conjunction that separates the clauses.

Incorrect: The man jumped into a black sedan and he drove away before being noticed.

Correct : The man jumped into a black sedan, and he drove away before being noticed.

Incorrect: She was beautiful and she was happy and she was full of life.

Correct: She was beautiful, and she was happy, and she was full of life.

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated improperly from the word it modifies or describes. Sentences with this error can sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

Incorrect : While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a sparkly girl’s bracelet.

Correct: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a girl’s sparkly bracelet.

Incorrect: After finally setting off on the trail, the morning felt more exciting.

Correct: After finally setting off on the trail, he felt the morning was more exciting.

A pronoun can replace a noun, and its antecedent should be the person, place, or thing to which the pronoun refers. A vague pronoun reference (including words such as it, that, this, and which) can leave the reader confused about what or to whom the pronoun refers.

Incorrect: When Jonathan finally found his dog, he was so happy. (The dog or Jonathan?)

Correct:  Jonathan was so happy when he finally found his dog.

Incorrect: Don felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of Marie’s decision. This is what ended everything. (What ended everything? Don’s anger and bitterness or Marie’s decision?)

Correct: Don felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of Marie’s decision. Her choice ended everything.

There are a variety of words and phrases that are commonly confused and misused in sentences. Misusing these words can change the meaning of the sentence or simply reflect carelessness on the writer’s part. There are hundreds of these commonly confused words, so when in doubt, always check the definition and correct spelling of the word.

Incorrect: She excepted his offer to drive her home.

Correct: She accepted his offer to drive her home.

Incorrect: It was a breathe of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.

Correct: It was a breath of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.

A run-on sentence occurs when you connect two main clauses with no punctuation .

Incorrect: She tried to sneak out of the house her mother saw her leaving.

Correct: She tried to sneak out of the house, but her mother saw her leaving.

Incorrect: He ran through the field as fast as he could all the while rain was soaking him to the bone.

Correct: He ran through the field as fast as he could. All the while rain was soaking him to the bone.

More Related Articles:

6 Excellent Writing Prompt Generators To Inspire Content Ideas

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99 Positive Words That Start With E To Describe A Person

It’s a typical writing mistake to throw commas around liberally when they aren’t necessary. There are dozens of examples of this error, but here are a few common mistakes.

Incorrect: The woman never went into the city, because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic.

Correct: The woman never went into the city because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic.

Incorrect: He wants to get a degree in engineering, or medicine.

Correct: He wants to get a degree in engineering or medicine.

Example 3: 

Incorrect: Sam knew immediately, what was going to happen next.

Correct: Same knew immediately what was going to happen next.

Example 4: 

Incorrect: Old cars, that have been left in a junkyard, are an eyesore.

Correct: Old cars that have been left in a junkyard are an eyesore.

Example 5: 

Incorrect: The bouquet of flowers on the table, belongs to Mary.

Correct: The bouquet of flowers on the table belongs to Mary.

Faulty parallelism occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are similar in meaning but not parallel (or grammatically similar) in form. It often occurs with paired constructions and items in a series.

Incorrect: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemist, and research scientist.

Correct: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemistry, and research science.

Incorrect: The key directives of his boss were clear:

• Meet monthly sales quotas.
• Aggressive marketing techniques.
• Reporting in every day.

Correct: The key directives of his boss were clear:

• Meet monthly sales goals.
• Practice aggressive marketing techniques.
• Report in every day.

A sentence can become a burden to read when there are too many equally weighted phrases.

Example 1: 

Incorrect: Jason was planning to attend his friend’s wedding on June 30, but at the last minute he found out he had jury duty, so he couldn’t attend the wedding, and he felt really guilty about it.

Correct: Unexpectedly Jason was called for jury duty and couldn’t attend his friend’s June 30 wedding. He felt guilty about missing it.

A comma splice occurs when two separate sentences are joined with a comma rather than a period or semicolon. Writers often create comma splices when using transitional words, such as however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, or furthermore.

Incorrect: My intention was to take her out to dinner, however I decided not to invite her after all.

Correct: My intention was to take her out to dinner; however, I decided not to invite her after all.

Example 2: 

Incorrect: My sisters and I love to go shopping, we then have lunch together when we’re done.

Correct: My sisters and I love to go shopping. We then have lunch together when we’re done.

A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a word, phrase, clause, list, or quotation. The colon signals that what follows proves or explains the sentence preceding the colon.

Incorrect: People move to Florida for: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks.

Correct: People move to Florida for three reasons: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks.

An infinitive is the word “to” with a verb. A split infinitive separates the word “to” and the verb with another word (often an adverb). There are no grammar rules that prohibit split infinitives, but many experts disapprove of them. If the sentence sounds awkward by correcting the split, our rule of thumb is to go with what makes the most sense in the context of your writing and for the ease of reading. (For example, “To boldly go where no man has gone before” would sound awkward and less powerful as, “To go boldly where no man has gone before.”)

Incorrect: She tried to quickly finish the book before she had to leave.

Correct: She tried to finish the book quickly before she had to leave.

Incorrect: He wanted to gradually improve his strength by increasing the weight.

Correct: He wanted to improve his strength gradually by increasing the weight.

As a serious author, you want to put your best foot forward with your writing. There are times and reasons to break some of the rules of grammar, but it’s wiser to break them knowing what they are and why you should stray.

Whenever you’re in doubt about a rule, take a brief moment to look it up. You’ll save yourself some embarrassment, and you’ll show your readers that you respect language and revere the art of writing well.

19 thoughts on “15 Common Grammar Mistakes That Kill Your Writing Credibility”

#10 says “it’s common writing mistake” by the way!

Yes good point. I’m going to harp on the word ‘writing’, because it brought to mind another issue. Even though the topic is about grammar, I’d like to ask anyone wants to explain one thing. Why do so many youngsters hold the writing tool, be it a pencil, pen or other in such awkward way? It makes them uncomfortable with the ergonomics. The way in which they hold the pencil (e.g.) only pretty much engages the wrist. The most ergonomically efficient way is for you to hold it so the process engages the two knuckles of the fingers and the one of the thumb. Together they enable you to roll your hand with the wrist to draw smooth flowing concentric circles w/o stopping, pausing etc. That’s the first exercise we were taught to do before starting cursive writing. Once you become adept at it you can be better at tracing, drawing, sketching and painting and so on. If you play racket/paddle sports you will likely understand that the ‘grip’ is the ‘foundation’ to hitting adeptly. Without that grip (appropriate to the specific shot/stroke) your shot execution will not be at its peak efficiency.

The last point on this page was worded incorrectly. It should say; “He wanted to improve his strength by gradually increasing the weight in each workout.

Why though? It seems fine to me. The sentence you used has a different meaning than the one in the example.

#12 correct suffers from #3. That is, unless “Unexpectedly Jason” is the guy’s name or a trademark or something. #15 correct suffers from #6. Nobody WANTS to improve their strength gradually: they want to improve their strength period, and this is done by gradually increasing the weight.

#5 contradicts #13 because although “however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, and furthermore” are subordinating conjunctions, you can also use subordinating conjunctions with a comma to separate two independent clauses.

Look, all of the above mistakes as well as numerous other ones are what I’d like to point out.It really irks me when I hear and read stuff that’s wrong. ‘Irregardless’ is not a word. It’s either ‘regardless’ or ‘irrespective.’ How about, ‘the whole entire’? Redundancy! I heard some one the other day say ‘I don’t agree with it, although I don’t not agree with it either’. She meant to say ‘I don’t disagree with it either’. I can and would love to go on and on with this. I just don’t have the time or patience at the moment. I truly fear for our kid’s and grandkid’s lack of education when I compare it to my education. Cheers! Can you point out any mistakes here?

Yep – loads! Your first sentence as a whole is awkward – you can’t say ‘all of the above mistakes are what I’d like to point out’. You could fix this by saying ‘I’d like to point out the above mistakes, as well as numerous others.’ Although, pointing out mistakes that have just been pointed out seems redundant. Someone is one word. While it wouldn’t be acceptable in formal writing, people can say ‘I don’t not agree with it either’ to stress their evenly split opinion of something. And you’ve used apostrophes incorrectly twice in a row with ‘kid’s and grandkid’s’ unless you are specifically referring to the lack of education of your one ‘kid’ and your one ‘grandkid’.

Jane Schroeder, I believe you pointed out every mistake I inserted but one. Perhaps if you can or care to take the time, you may/might be inclined to jump on it, lol! Is it ‘may’ or ‘might’ or other in this post? Cheers!

Hmmm – the missing space between the first sentence and the next? But that is just an easy typo…. Oh, I know! ‘some one’ – should be someone. 🙂

You already pointed out that some one should be ‘someone’. Gotcha! Missing space between the first sentence and the next? No. It’s the ‘period’ (aka, full stop)between the first sentence and the next. It’s not spaced out, lol! 🙂

I hate to point out a grammatical error here, but I think it’s fair due to the nature of the article.

In #2, example 2, the work “sneak” is incorrectly used. The principal parts for sneak are technically, “sneak, sneaked, has sneaked.” Snuck is used in the jocular sense and will probably one day become official, but for now, it is incorrect.

Number 11 also needs a comma after the introductory phrase “All the while.”

Jocular sense or colloquial sense?

#2: “Sometimes fragments depend on the proceeding sentence to give it meaning.” Is this irony, or what? Not only have you got a noun-pronoun agreement error (“fragments” are plural, so you must need to give “them” meaning, not “it”, you also have an incorrect word (“the proceeding sentence” makes absolutely no sense – I suspect it should have been “the preceding sentence”). You are not a terribly good advert for your own advice…

Number 10, example #3 – Pretty sure Same should be “Sam”

Example 3: Incorrect: Sam knew immediately, what was going to happen next. Correct: Same knew immediately what was going to happen next.

Of these, I think Split Infinitive is the error that is most likely to trip me up. Split infinitives typically “feel” better to me than the correct construction. “To boldly go…” has a clear meaning to me, and feels more dynamic than “To go boldly…” Maybe it’s because I grew up watching Star Trek.

I once noticed a rather oversized billboard due to its uncommon size. I pulled off the roadway to read the whole thing. Across the top it read ‘ sex ‘ in capital (upper case/block) letters. It went on to say (read) ‘now that we have your attention, we’d like to tell you that the city you’re about to enter is climate controlled’. Hmmm! Envisioning a huge glass dome draped over a small city made me smile. I thought to myself, is this a prototype or a completed product, replete with all the necessary accoutrements? Turns out it didn’t exist. Wow! Why would they even incur the expenses for advertising it? Apparently it was a project someone was working on. Details may be forthcoming, but I’m not sure if that is a fact.

My pet peeve is the shifting of nouns into verbs. You can’t “access” information any more than you can “kangaroo” information, but the ship has sailed on that one. Two cars can have an impact, but people can’t be impacted by interesting ideas; that’s because the ideas aren’t really “impactful”. In my day, we could be affected by powerful ideas. It was less painful in a couple of ways. Then there are those who insist on telling us they are “transitioning” from one idea to another, because they thing it sounds more “impactful” than saying “changing.” Children now “transition” from elementary school to secondary school. That’s rather magical, because apparently they do so without making the transition…they’re just “transitioning” during the summer in between. And suddenly, everyone talks about “going forward” and “moving forward” instead of using “in the future” or “later”. This is a spatial reference being used to describe something that is temporal. Language changes; that is one of the wonderful things about it. But people adopt catchy new expressions uncritically, and when we use words without thinking about them we are harming ourselves intellectually.

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26 Common Mistakes in English

You made an English mistake, and you’re feeling so embarrassed!

That’s okay. Embarrassment is universal, and everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language . Often, when you’re learning a new language, embarrassment occurs as the result of a spoken or written error .

But you need to make mistakes to learn better !

In this post, we’ll go over the 26 most common mistakes in English grammar , speaking and writing.

Grammar Mistakes

1. it’s or its, 2. subject-verb agreement, 3. gone or went, 4. watch, look, see, 5. pronoun misplacement, 6. may vs. might, 7. fewer vs. less, 8. could, should or would, 9. bring vs. take, 10. make vs. do, 11. adjective order, 12. me vs. myself, 13. there, their or they’re, 14. a vs. the, speaking and writing mistakes, 15. future tense, 16. literally or figuratively, 17. loan or borrow, 18. casual or formal, 19. since or for, 20. academic english or casual texting language, 21. punctuation, 22. run-on sentences, 23. apostrophes, 24. capitalization, 25. using too many commas, 26. forgetting hyphens.

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Example Mistake: The spider spun it’s web. Its a very beautiful web.

“Its” (without an apostrophe) is the possessive version of a pronoun. It also happens to be one of the most commonly misused words in English . 

In the above example, we should use the possessive “its” to talk about the spider’s web because the web belongs to the spider.

“It’s” (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of  “it is” or “it has.”

When talking about the beauty of the web, we’re saying that  it is  a very beautiful web. Therefore, we should use the contraction “it’s” instead of “its.”

So, if you’re not sure which spelling to use—”it’s” or “its”— try adding “it is” or “it has”  to the sentence. If neither of those phrases works, then its is the word you’re looking for.

Correction: The spider spun its web. It’s a very beautiful web.

Example Mistake:  The list of items are on the desk.

In the above sentence, the list of items is one singular list, so it’s incorrect to use “are.” We should use “is.”

Correction:  The list of items is on the desk.

Example Mistake:  She had already went to the bathroom before they got in the car.

If you aren’t sure whether to use “gone” or “went,” remember that “gone” always needs an auxiliary verb before it.

Auxiliary verbs include: has, have, had, is, am, are, was, were, be .

“Went” can’t have an auxiliary verb before it.

In the sentence above, we used “went” even though the auxiliary verb “had” is also present. Since the word “had” is there, we should use “gone” instead of “went.”

Correction: She had already gone to the bathroom before they got in the car.

Example Mistake:  Stop  watching  my private journal. / I look at the snow falling. / I don’t play tennis, but I look at them playing every day.

“See,” “look” and “watch” are often confusing because their meanings are similar. Here’s the difference between the three verbs:

• Look — to look at something directly.
• See — to see something that comes into our sight that we weren’t looking for.
• Watch — to look at something carefully, often at something that’s moving.

So, we can “see” something even if we don’t want to, but we can only “look” at something on purpose.

Correction: Stop looking at my private journal. / I watch the snow falling. / I don’t play tennis, but I see them   playing   every day .

Example Mistake:  Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it.

The pronoun (it) in the sentence should replace nouns, but here it’s unclear which noun it’s standing in for.

The singular noun closest to the word “it” is “nose,” so it seems that “hold it” means to hold your nose. But we want someone to hold their breath—not their nose.

When we use pronouns properly, it should be easy to understand which single noun the pronoun stands for. Make sure to be very clear. If it’s unclear, don’t use the pronoun or change the sentence!

Correction: Take a breath through your nose and hold your breath.

Example Mistake: He may have eaten the last piece of cake.

Deciding when to use “may” rather than “might” can be tricky because the difference between these two verbs is quite small.  They both indicate that something is possible, but “might” suggests slightly more uncertainty than “may.”

“I  might  take a trip to India next year” means that maybe you will go to India, but maybe you won’t. “I  may  have a slice of cake after dinner” expresses slightly more certainty that you’re going to eat that cake.

The rule that “may” becomes “might” in the past tense is even more confusing. So, in the present tense, you would say “he may  eat the last piece of cake,” but in the past tense, this sentence becomes “he might have eaten the last piece of cake.”

Correction: He might have eaten the last piece of cake.

Example Mistake: I wish you would turn off the lights, so we could use fewer electricity.

This mistake is difficult for English learners and native English speakers. Both “fewer” and “less” describe the opposite of “more,” but you need to look at the noun to decide which word to use.

“Fewer” is used for countable nouns, like books, cars, people or cups. Basically, if a number can come before the noun, like 2 books, 10 cars, 100 people or 5 cups, then the noun is countable.

“Less” is used for uncountable nouns, like love, water, electricity or science. If you can’t make the noun plural, then it’s an uncountable noun.

For example, you would say “This parking lot is too crowded. I wish there were fewer  cars,” but “I wish you would turn off the lights, so we could use less  electricity.”

Correction: I wish you would turn off the lights, so we could use less  electricity.

Example Mistake: That shirt looks great on you. I think you would buy it.

“Should” is used to give advice:

That shirt looks great on you. I think you should buy it.

“Would” is used to describe unlikely or unreal situations:

I would  love to go to Italy, but I don’t have enough money.

“Could” can be used in three ways:

• To describe a past ability (“When I was younger, I could run twice as fast.”).
• To describe possibilities in the future (“If we work really hard, I think we could save up enough money for a vacation this year.”).
• To make polite requests (“ Could I have a cup of tea?”).

Correction: That shirt looks great on you. I think you should buy it.

Example Mistake: Please take me a snack.

“Bring” suggests movement toward  the speaker, making it similar to “come.” You ask people to bring things to the place where you already are.

“Take” suggests movement away from the speaker, making it similar to “go.” You take things to the place where you are going. You could say “Don’t forget to take your book to school” or “Please take me home.”

Correction: Please bring me a snack.

Example Mistake: I need to do dinner.

“Make” usually means to create or produce something, as in “I need to make  dinner” or “We made a strawberry cake yesterday.”

“Do” often requires an action or an activity, as in “ do  some exercise” or “ do business.”

However, there are no clear-cut (clear) rules for these two verbs, and there are many exceptions as well as collocations you will need to learn by heart.

Here’s a helpful video from FluentU’s English YouTube channel you can watch to learn more about these two words:

You can also read this post on the differences between “make” and “do” that inspired the video.

Correction:  I need to make dinner.

Example Mistake: It’s a red big car.

If you’re using more than one adjective to describe a noun, they need to go in a specific order in the sentence. This is why “it’s a big red car” is correct, but “it’s a red big car” sounds wrong.

The normal adjective order is:

1) quantity or number 2) quality or opinion 3) size 4) shape 5) age 6) colour 7) nationality 8) material

Of course, using more than three adjectives to describe one noun is unusual, so you’ll rarely need to use all of these at once.

Correction: It’s a big red car.

Example Mistake: I cleaned the entire house by me.

“Me” is an object pronoun, so it refers to the person who receives the verb’s action.

For example, you could say:

My parents want me to help with the chores more.

Please call  me if you have any questions.

“Myself” is a reflexive pronoun—like himself, itself or themselves. For example, you could say:

I gave myself  a break from studying today.

Correction: I cleaned the entire house by myself.

Example Mistake:   Their are five cafes on this street.

“There” is used to specify a place, as in this sentence:

The book is over there  on the table.

It can also be used with the verb “to be” to indicate the existence of something.

“Their” is a possessive adjective—like my, your, or his. For example:

That’s their  house.

Lastly, “they’re” is a contraction of “they are,” so it is the subject “they” plus the verb “are.” For example, you could say:

T hey’re going to play soccer with us tonight.

Correction:   There are five cafes on this street.

Example Mistake: A movie was very interesting.

When you’re talking about something in a general way, use the indefinite article “a.”

But if you’re talking about something specific that everyone in the conversation is familiar with, then use “the.”

For example, if I say “Let’s watch a movie,” I’m suggesting that we watch any movie.

However, if I say “Let’s watch the movie,” I’m referring to a specific movie that you and I have already talked about watching together.

Correction: The movie was very interesting.

Example Mistake:  I will be going to the dance party yesterday.

The future tense is being used to talk about the wrong time in the sentence above, since it’s talking about something that happened in the past.

You should only use the future tense when something has not happened yet but will happen in the future.

Correction: I will be going to the dance party tomorrow.

Example Mistake: I’m literally melting because it’s so hot. / Figuratively speaking, it’s 100 degrees out here.

This is a mistake because “literally” means “actually,” while “figuratively” means not real.

“Figuratively” is used to exaggerate or enlarge the meaning of something.

Correction: Figuratively speaking, I’m   melting because it’s so hot. / It’s literally 100 degrees out here.

Example Mistake: Can you borrow me that book? You can loan me my notes.

The listener may be confused, since “loan” means “to give” and “borrow” means “to take.” You simply have to memorize these to get the correct meaning.

For example, “borrow me that book” means “take me that book” in the above example.

Where do you want the listener to take the book? That isn’t what you meant to say!

Instead, you’d like to use the book, so you want someone to give it to you.

Correction: Can you loan me that book? You can borrow  my notes.

Example Mistake: (At a job interview) “Hey, what’s up?”

Know your audience!

Casual talk is for friends, not your boss. This isn’t formal—it’s slang. It can even be considered inappropriate or rude.

To speak more formally in English , you should avoid contractions (say “how is” instead of “how’s”) and try to be more polite.

Correction: “Hello, how is everything going?”

Example Mistake:  I have known him for always. I saw him since last year.

You use “for” if you don’t have to calculate the time (because the amount of time is indicated in the sentence already). You use “since” if you do have to calculate it, because you only have the starting point.

Correction: I have lived here for  two months. / I have lived here since  1975.

To get familiar with more confusing and similar English words, I recommend watching this video:

Example Mistake: (In an academic paper) If u want to know my opinion tho, IDK who should be president.

Try to break the habit of using text language to communicate your ideas. Write everything out completely.

This text style is inappropriate language to use for academic purposes. Slang words like “IDK” (which stands for “ I d on’t k now”) are good for conversation and texting only.

Correction: If you want to know my opinion, I do not know who should be president.

Example Mistake: (In a business letter) Dear Mrs. Jones : I am still interested in the job and wanted to thank you for the interview ! I hope you will consider me for the following programs , A, B and C.

Be sure you understand the purpose of your punctuation.

In the example above, when you address Mrs. Jones, you should only include a comma.

Colons (:) are used when you want to list something, and usually not when you’re addressing someone.

The exclamation point may be viewed as unprofessional. Often, they’re used to illustrate strong emotions, which a potential employer might not care for.

Correction: Dear Mrs. Jones , I am still interested in the job ,  and I wanted to thank you for the interview . I hope you will consider me for the following programs : A, B and C.

Example Mistake:  I am a woman and I am a good mother and I am an office worker.

If you can’t say it in one breath, you shouldn’t write it like that, either.

A run-on is a sentence where two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined without appropriate punctuation.

The example is missing a period after “woman,” and it should contain two separate sentences.

Correction: I am a woman. I am a good mother and an office worker.

Example Mistake:  A woman s hat was left on the bus. / Two dogs use the dish. It is the dog s’s  dish.

Apostrophes indicate that a noun owns something. There are no apostrophes in the first sentence, even though it’s talking about the hat owned by the woman.

There is more than one dog in the second sentence, but the apostrophe is not used correctly. Singular nouns always add ‘s  when you’re indicating possession, even if the noun ends with “s.”

Plural nouns not ending in “s” also take an ‘s .  However, plural nouns that end with “s” have an apostrophe added after the “s.”

Correction: A woman ‘s  hat was left on the bus. / Two dogs use the dish. It is the dog s’ dish.

Example Mistake:  one rainy day, i saw sarah at Union street library.

In this example, Union is the only word that has been capitalized when there should be more.

You should always capitalize the word when it’s:

• The first word in a sentence. In this sentence, the first word is “one,” so “one” should be capitalized.
• The pronoun “I.” Always capitalize “I.”
• A name that someone gave to a person, thing or place. “Sarah” should be capitalized, and “Union Street Library” should be completely capitalized because it’s the given name of a location.

Correction: One rainy day, I saw Sarah at Union Street Library.

Example Mistake: “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe he (or she) asked me out, this is the best day ever, I’ve been dreaming about this, I have no idea what to wear!”

Commas are not enough to slow down this sentence. Without a real break between those thoughts, the sentence becomes run-on.

If you use too many commas in your writing, you might be trying to fit too many thoughts into one sentence. You might also be creating run-on sentences.

Luckily, there are two very simple ways to fix this common mistake:

• Replace the comma with a period (I’ve been dreaming about this. I have nothing to wear.)
• Add a  connecting word after the comma ( I’ve been dreaming about this, but I have nothing to wear. )

For more about the often-misused comma, check this page .

Correction: “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe he (or she) asked me out. This is the best day ever! I’ve been dreaming about this, but I have no idea what to wear!”

Example Mistake: He is an eight year old boy.

Hyphens connect ideas . They’re the glue that holds descriptions together. They’re a pretty big deal!

For example, the phrase: “dog-eating cat.”

By placing that little line between the words “dog” and “eating,” you’re marking them as a single description. This means that, with the hyphen, you have a cat who eats dogs.

Without the hyphen, the words “dog” and “eating” are not connected, changing the way the phrase is read. You now have “dog eating cat,” or a dog that’s actually eating a cat.

Are you scheduled to work twenty four-hour shifts or “twenty-four-hour shifts?” Are you a “ small  business owner,” or a “small-business owner?”

For the full details about hyphens and how to use them,  GrammarBook.com  and  Penn Foster  have clear guides.

Correction: He is an eight-year-old boy.

By avoiding these common mistakes in English, you can start speaking and writing more correctly.

You can also use language learning programs to help you speak or write. For example, FluentU teaches you English with videos.

Just take a deep breath and tell yourself that failure is just a part of the learning process. Learn from your mistakes, and watch your skills improve !

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• 14 Common Grammatical Mistakes in English – And How to Avoid Them

A huge number of native English speakers make frequent English slip-ups that bring on the wrath of the UK’s army of grammar pedants, and it’s mainly because they weren’t taught properly at school. But for you, help is at hand. So that you can learn the rules from the word go, we’ve put together this guide to some of the most common mistakes people make when writing in English. Learn them all, and you’ll get your knowledge of English off to a better start than most Brits! Even if you’re a native speaker, you may find some useful advice here to make your use of English the best it can be. Some of this information might also be useful if you’re planning on attending one of our summer schools this year: Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , Yale Summer School or Berkeley Summer School . 

1. Misplaced apostrophes

Apostrophes aren’t difficult to use once you know how, but putting them in the wrong place is one of the most common grammar mistakes in the English language. Many people use an apostrophe to form the plural of a word, particularly if the word in question ends in a vowel, which might make the word look strange with an S added to make it plural.

Apostrophes indicate possession – something belonging to something or someone else. To indicate something belonging to one person, the apostrophe goes before the ‘s’. For instance, “The girl’s horse.” To indicate something belonging to more than one person, put the apostrophe after the ‘s’. For example, “The girls’ horse.” Apostrophes are also used to indicate a contracted word. For example, “don’t” uses an apostrophe to indicate that the word is missing the “o” from “do not”. Apostrophes are never used to make a word plural, even when a word is in number form, as in a date.

How not to do it:

The horse’s are in the field Pen’s for sale In the 1980’s Janes horse is over there The girls dresses are ready for them to collect

How to do it properly:

The horses are in the field Pens for sale In the 1980s We didn’t want to do it Jane’s horse is over there The girls’ dresses are ready for them to collect

2. Your/you’re

We covered this one before in our post on homophones, but it’s such a widespread problem that there’s no harm in covering it again.

“Your” indicates possession – something belonging to you. “You’re” is short for “you are”.

Your beautiful Do you know when your coming over? Can I have one of you’re biscuits?

You’re beautiful Do you know when you’re coming over? Can I have one of your biscuits?

3. Its/it’s

We said earlier that apostrophes should be used to indicate possession, but there is one exception to this rule, and that is the word “it”. Unsurprisingly, this exception gets lots of people confused.

“It’s” is only ever used when short for “it is”. “Its” indicates something belonging to something that isn’t masculine or feminine (like “his” and “hers”, but used when you’re not talking about a person). If it helps, remember that inanimate objects can’t really possess something in the way a human can.

Its snowing outside The sofa looks great with it’s new cover

It’s snowing outside The sofa looks great with its new cover

4. “Could/would/should of”

This common mistake arises because the contracted form of “could have” – “could’ve” – sounds a bit like “could of” when you say it out loud. This mistake is made frequently across all three of these words.

When people write “should of”, what they really mean is “should have”. Written down, the shortened version of “should have” is “should’ve”. “Should’ve” and “Should have” are both correct; the latter is more formal.

We could of gone there today I would of done it sooner You should of said

We could’ve gone there today I would have done it sooner You should’ve said

5. There/their/they’re

We’ve met this one before, too; it’s another example of those pesky homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings.

Use “there” to refer to a place that isn’t here – “over there”. We also use “there” to state something – “There are no cakes left.” “Their” indicates possession – something belonging to them. “They’re” is short for “they are”.

Their going to be here soon We should contact they’re agent Can we use there boat? Their is an argument that says

They’re going to be here soon We should contact their agent Can we use their boat? There is an argument that says

6. Fewer/less

The fact that many people don’t know the difference between “fewer” and “less” is reflected in the number of supermarket checkout aisles designated for “10 items or less”. The mistake most people make is using “less” when they actually mean “fewer”, rather than the other way round.

“Fewer” refers to items you can count individually. “Less” refers to a commodity, such as sand or water, that you can’t count individually.

There are less cakes now Ten items or less

There are fewer cakes now Ten items or fewer Less sand Fewer grains of sand

7. Amount/number

These two work in the same way as “less” and “fewer”, referring respectively to commodities and individual items.

“Amount” refers to a commodity, which can’t be counted (for instance water). “Number” refers to individual things that can be counted (for example birds).

A greater amount of people are eating more healthily

A greater number of people are eating more healthily The rain dumped a larger amount of water on the country than is average for the month

8. To/two/too

It’s time to revisit another common grammar mistake that we also covered in our homophones post, as no article on grammar gripes would be complete without it. It’s easy to see why people get this one wrong, but there’s no reason why you should.

“To” is used in the infinitive form of a verb – “to talk”. “To” is also used to mean “towards”. “Too” means “also” or “as well”. “Two” refers to the number 2.

I’m to hot It’s time two go I’m going too town He bought to cakes

I’m too hot It’s time to go I’m going to town He bought two cakes

9. Then/than

Confusion between “then” and “than” probably arises because the two look and sound similar.

“Than” is used in comparisons. “Then” is used to indicate something following something else in time, as in step-by-step instructions, or planning a schedule (“we’ll go there then there”).

She was better at it then him It was more then enough

She was better at it than him It was more than enough We’ll go to the baker first, then the coffee shop

10. Me/myself/I

The matter of how to refer to oneself causes all manner of conundrums, particularly when referring to another person in the same sentence. Here’s how to remember whether to use “me”, “myself” or “I”.

When referring to yourself and someone else, put their name first in the sentence. Choose “me” or “I” by removing their name and seeing which sounds right. For example, with the sentence “John and I are off to the circus”, you wouldn’t say “me is off to the circus” if it was just you; you’d say “I am off to the circus”. Therefore when talking about going with someone else, you say “John and I”. You only use “myself” if you’ve already used “I”, making you the subject of the sentence.

Me and John are off to the circus Myself and John are going into town Give it to John and I to look after

John and I are off to the circus John and I are going into town Give it to John and me to look after I’ll deal with it myself I thought to myself

11. Invite/invitation

This mistake is now so common that it’s almost accepted as an alternative, but if you really want to speak English properly, you should avoid it.

“Invite” is a verb – “to invite”. It refers to asking someone if they’d like to do something or go somewhere. “Invitation” is a noun – “an invitation”. It refers to the actual message asking someone if they’d like to do something or go somewhere.

I haven’t responded to her invite yet. She sent me an invite.

I haven’t responded to her invitation yet. She sent me an invitation. I’m going to invite her to join us.

12. Who/whom

Another conundrum arising from confusion over how to refer to people. There are lots in the English language!

“Who” refers to the subject of a sentence; “whom” refers to the object. “Who” and “whom” work in the same way as “he” or “him”. You can work out which you should use by asking yourself the following: “Who did this? He did” – so “who” is correct. “Whom should I invite? Invite him” – so “whom” is correct. “That” is often used incorrectly in place of “who” or “whom”. When referring to a person, you should not use the word “that”.

Who shall I invite? Whom is responsible? He was the only person that wanted to come

Whom shall I invite? Who is responsible? He was the only person who wanted to come

13. Affect/effect

It’s an easy enough mistake to make given how similar these two words look and sound, but there’s a simple explanation to help you remember the difference.

Affect is a verb – “to affect” – meaning to influence or have an impact on something. Effect is the noun – “a positive effect” – referring to the result of being affected by something. There is also a verb “to effect”, meaning to bring something about – “to effect a change”. However, this is not very commonly used, so we’ve left it out of the examples below to avoid confusion.

He waited for the medicine to have an affect They were directly effected by the flooding

He waited for the medicine to have an effect They were directly affected by the flooding

14. I.e. and e.g.

These two abbreviations are commonly confused, and many people use them interchangeably. However, their uses are very different.

I.e. means “that is” or “in other words”. It comes from the Latin words “id est”. E.g. means “for example”. It comes from the Latin words “exempli gratia”. Only use “i.e.” and “e.g.” when writing informally. In formal documents, such as essays, it is better to write out the meanings (“for example” or “that is”).

He liked many different cheeses, i.e. cheddar, camembert and brie. He objects to the changes – e.g. he won’t be accepting them.

He liked many different cheeses, e.g. cheddar, camembert and brie. He objects to the changes – i.e. he won’t be accepting them.

We hope you’ve found this a useful reference guide as you continue your journey to become fluent in English. If you’d like to learn even more about the ins and outs of English grammar, why not enrol on one of our English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses this summer?

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50 Common Grammar Mistakes in English

Below are some of the most common English mistakes made by ESL students , in speech and in writing. Go through the examples and make sure you understand the corrections. Then try the grammar test at the end to check your progress.

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What Is a Grammatical Error?

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Grammatical error is a term used in prescriptive grammar  to describe an instance of faulty, unconventional, or controversial usage, such as a ​ misplaced modifier  or an inappropriate verb tense . Also called a usage error . Compare grammatical error with correctness.

It's also known as: error, usage error, grammar error or mistake, bad grammar

Grammatical errors are usually distinguished from (though sometimes confused with) factual errors, logical fallacies ,  misspellings , typographical errors , and faulty punctuation .

Interestingly, many people tend to view usage errors primarily as gaffes or potential sources of embarrassment, not as impediments to effective communication. According to an ad for an "amazing book" on usage, "Mistakes in English can cause you embarrassment, hold you back socially and on the job. It can make you look awkward and hide your true intellect." (Note that in the ad's second sentence, the singular pronoun it has no clear referent. Many English teachers would regard this as a grammatical error—specifically, a case of faulty pronoun reference .) 

Examples and Observations

In "Correct English," J. T. Baker says "The expression 'grammatical error' sounds, and is, in a sense, paradoxical, for the reason that a form cannot be grammatical and erroneous at the same time. One would not say musical discord ... Because of the apparent contradiction of terms, the form grammatical error should be avoided and 'error in construction,' or 'error in English,' etc., be used in its stead. Of course one should never say, 'good grammar' or 'bad grammar.'"

“We believe, as do most linguists, that native speakers do not make mistakes,” per Peter Trudgill and Lars-Gunnar Andersson, who were quoted in "Errors in Language Learning and Use."

Garner on Grammatical Errors

"If descriptivists believe that any linguistic evidence validates usage, then we must not be descriptivists. Hardly anyone wants to be a nonjudgmental collector of evidence. It’s far more interesting and valuable to assemble the evidence and then to draw conclusions from it. Judgments. Rulings. To the extent that 'the masses' want such reasoning—as one could only wish—it’s because they want to use language effectively," says Bryan A. Garner in his New York Times article, "Which Language Rules to Flout. Or Flaunt?"

In "Garner's Modern American Usage," Garner notes "Because grammatical may mean either (1) 'relating to grammar' [grammatical subject] or (2) 'consistent with grammar' [a grammatical sentence], there is nothing wrong with the age-old phrase grammatical error (sense 1). It's as acceptable as the phrases criminal lawyer and logical fallacy ."

Grammar and Usage

"Usage is a concept that embraces many aspects of and attitudes toward language. Grammar is certainly only a small part of what goes to make up usage, though some people use one term for the other, as when they label what is really a controversial point of usage a grammatical error," according to "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary."

Error Analysis

"Error analysis, as a descriptive rather than a prescriptive approach to error, provides a methodology for determining why a student makes a particular grammatical error and has been a potentially valuable borrowing from this field [research in second-language acquisition], one that could have altered the prescriptive drilling of standard forms which still comprises much of basic writing texts. Unfortunately, however, error analysis in the composition classroom has generally served to simply keep the focus on error," says Eleanor Kutz in "Between Students' Language and Academic Discourse."

The Lighter Side of Grammatical Error

Here's some dialog from the 18th episode of The Simpson's 12th season, the "Trilogy of the Error."

First mobster : Hey. They's throwin' robots. Linguo : They are throwing robots. Second mobster : It's disrespecting us. Shut up a'you face. Linguo : Shut up your face. Second mobster : Whatsa matta you? First mobster : You ain't so big. Second mobster : Me an' him are gonna whack you in the labonza. Linguo : Mmmm...Aah! Bad grammar overload. Error. Error. [Linguo explodes]

Baker, Josephine Turck, editor. Response to a letter. Correct English , 1 Mar. 1901, p. 113.

Garner, Bryan A. Garner's Modern American Usage . 3rd ed, Oxford University Press, 2009.

Garner, Bryan A. "Which Language Rules to Flout. Or Flaunt?" The New York Times , 27 Sept., 2012.

Kutz, Eleanor. "Between Students' Language and Academic Discourse: Interlanguage as Middle Ground." Negotiating Academic Literacies , edited by Vivian Zamel and Ruth Spack. Lawrence Erlbaum, 1998.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed, 2003.

"Trilogy of Error." The Simpsons , written by Matt Selman, directed by Mike B. Anderson, 20th Century Fox, 2001.

Trudgill, Peter and Lars-Gunnar Andersson. 1990, quoted by Carl James in Errors in Language Learning and Use . Addison Wesley Longman, 1998.

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English Grammar Mistakes That (Even!) Native Speakers Make

What’s inside…

Table of contents, even native english speakers make mistakes, the most common english grammar mistakes, video: english grammar mistakes that (even) native speakers make.

The fact that even a native speaker can make grammar “mistakes” does not mean that they’re uneducated or that they don’t speak English well. Even though we know the correct grammar rules and words to use, native speakers often bend these rules and modify our speech based on how formal we want to sound, regional differences, or whether we want to speak faster, for example.

Often, English learners (like you) might notice an unconscious grammatical error right away. Those who are learning a language tend to pay closer attention to the language’s official rules.

By the end of this article, I hope you will understand that making mistakes is normal—even for native speakers. You might also change your opinion about mistakes when it comes to language learning!

Let’s look at a few sentences together—see if you can find the error.

– How many people are coming to the party? – I think there’s around 30 people coming!

Did you notice the mistake here? In this sentence, the second person uses the contraction “there’s.” But “there’s” means “there is.” Because we’re talking about 30 people, we cannot use the singular form of the verb. Instead, we need to use the plural form. So it needs to be “there are.”

– How many people are coming to the party? – I think there are around 30 people coming!

This is a very common tendency that often goes unnoticed by native speakers. You might also notice this mistake being made with other contractions. For example:

– Here’s all of the clothes I bought.

The correct form should be:

– Here are all of the clothes that I’ve bought.

Mistakes like these are often made because we want to try and find faster ways of saying something. Saying “here’s” or “there’s” (although grammatically incorrect) when we need the plural form is much faster than saying “here are” or “there are.”

Maybe we need to invent a contraction like “here’re…” 🤔

– What did you do last night? – Me and Sarah went to the cinema to watch a horror film.

Did you notice the mistake?

The second person says “me and Sarah,” but they should have said, “Sarah and I.”

Let’s talk about this grammar rule a bit more. “I” is always used as a subject , but “me” is always used as an object . So, “I” is used to talk about the person who performs the action:

• I went to the cinema.
• I saw a film.

We couldn’t say, “me went to the cinema” or “me saw a film.” “Me” can be used as either a direct or indirect object :

• She came to the cinema with me.
• She watched a film with me.

A good way of remembering when to use “I” and when to use “me” is by asking yourself, would the sentence make sense if I took out the other person?

For example, let’s take the original sentence, “Me and Sarah went to the cinema to watch a horror film.” If we remove “and Sarah,” the sentence becomes “me went to the cinema to watch a horror film.” The sentence no longer sounds correct. If we say “I went to the cinema to watch a horror film,” it sounds correct.

So we know that we need to say, “Sarah and I went to the cinema to watch a horror film.”

– I’m sorry to hear you lost your job. How are you feeling? – Thank you. I don’t feel great. It’s really had a negative affect on my mental health. 

Okay, firstly, maybe don’t correct someone’s grammar if they’re telling you how they feel. That can wait… But for the purpose of this lesson, can you find the mistake?

The person should have said, “it’s really had a negative EFFECT on my mental health.” Native speakers often confuse affect and effect . However, “ affect “ is the verb, and “ effect “ is the noun . Something affects something and might cause an effect.

Confusing? I know…

Unfortunately, these aren’t the only confusing words. We have a lot of homophones and homonyms in English. These are words that sound the same (or are even spelled the same) but have different meanings. Other examples include:

• there / their / they’re
• your / you’re
• lose / loose

(Remember: “there” is a location, “their” is belonging to, and “they’re” is “they are.” “Your” means belonging to, and “you’re” means “you are.” The last example has a slightly different spelling and slightly different pronunciation. But they still get confused and they have different meanings. Lose is a verb meaning the opposite of “to win,” whereas loose is an adjective meaning the opposite of “tight.” For example, “My trousers are a bit loose. I need a belt.”)

– Wow, I had 8 hours of sleep last night. I feel great! – Yeah, I slept good too!

Here, the issue is confusion between adjective and adverb . Many English learners get “good” and “well” confused, but native speakers make this mistake too!

“ Good “ is an adjective , whereas “ well “ is an adverb . This means that “good” should modify a noun, whereas “well” modifies a verb. Since “sleep” is a verb, we should say, “I slept well” rather than “I slept good.”

Also, we should say, “He can sing well” rather than, “He can sing good.” (And “I speak English well,” instead of “I speak English good,” since “speak” is a verb!)

So, that means that our example should be:

– Wow, I had 8 hours of sleep last night. I feel great! – Yeah, I slept well too!

– How’s the new diet going? – Not bad. I’ve definitely been eating less cookies!

Can you spot this mistake?

The second person should have said, “I’ve definitely been eating fewer cookies.” This is another common mistake among both English learners and native speakers: “fewer” vs. “less.”

The trick to getting this right is knowing whether the noun is countable, like cookies, or uncountable, like milk! We use “fewer” with countable nouns and “less” with uncountable nouns.

Now that I’m eating fewer cookies , I’m also drinking less milk.

– Did you ask that guy at the party for his number? – No, but I should of!

Did you notice the mistake here? This one is definitely the most common when speaking. Native speakers often say “should of” or even “would of” or “could of.” This is because the correct form of these is “should have,” “would have,” and “could have,” but the contractions are “should’ve,” “would’ve,” “could’ve.”

Over time, this has led to people saying it like “of” because, let’s be honest, it does sound kind of like that. But of course, it doesn’t make sense grammatically because “ have “ is a verb and “ of “ is a preposition. We can’t just switch them.

Have you noticed native speakers making these mistakes? Can you think of any other common mistakes that we haven’t mentioned?

In any case, I hope this list of common mistakes made by native speakers will make you feel less pressure to always have perfect grammar!

If you like, you can review this same list in video format. Our teacher Lizzie Jane explains common grammatical errors that native English speakers like herself make in depth. Even more importantly, she offers explanations for why these mistakes are made, or which rules are being bent.

The video is also available on YouTube . The video is in English, of course, but subtitles are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese! You can also adjust the playback speed. Watching videos in your target language is a great exercise to help you practice listening comprehension.

If you enjoyed our video on common English grammar mistakes, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications. This way you won’t miss any of our content in English (and other languages)!

If you’d like to keep exploring English grammar, we recommend:

• Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns [VIDEO]
• How to Use Grammar Check Tools to Improve Your English [VIDEO]
• 15 Facts About English That You May Not Know [VIDEO]

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Lizzie is an English teacher and content creator from Scotland, UK. She loves learning other languages and enjoys sharing this love of languages through teaching and creating content on social media. She speaks: English, French and Spanish

Natalie is a translator from the United States. She has taught French in the US and English in France, and she always enjoys learning and helping others make connections with languages. She speaks English and French, and is learning Italian.

Grammar check | Essay checker | Writing checker

September 27, 2018

50 Common Errors

by Nicholas Walker , under Grammar

Here are 50 common errors that my college ESL students often make in their writing and speaking. Mistakes are shown in context, with incorrect sentences, corrections, and a rule to explain how to avoid the usual mistakes that students make in their writing. Search for an error using CTRL + F. If you see a mistake, gaff, slip up or blunder that you or your students make, be sure to eliminate it with the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker .

In time, I will add links to online practice activities for each one. Until then, try the offline error correction card game below. Students enjoy it and learn a lot from playing this mildly competitive group activity.

If you love errors and want more, I can recommend Professor Paul Brians’ collection of errors in university writing . For a shorter, more focused list of common errors, try here . 

Sometimes, context plays a role in determining if a phrase is used correctly. It all depends on how you use it. If you want a good example of a contextual error, a phrase in a correct sentence and the same phrase an incorrect sentence, have a look at my blog post on “ Make no sense and have no sense .” You’ll see how challenging it is to detect common errors using a grammar checker .

Download all 50 errors and play the  error correction card game

Remembering how to correct errors.

Of course, it is one thing to read a list of errors and another thing to make them stick in your memory. If you really want to remember how to correct mistakes and when the pressure is on, you should consider using an oral practice strategy .

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to take a grammar course or an IELTS vocabulary course . Teachers have tricks to help learners avoid slip ups and mistakes.

But the best way of all is to use an online grammar checker to check your writing for errors while you are exchanging meaningful messages with other people or writing essays for your teacher.

1. Adjective agreement error

INCORRECT: We sell t-shirts and some others clothes.

CORRECT:   We sell t-shirts and some other clothes.

RULE: Adjectives and noun modifiers should not take a plural form when they modify plural nouns in English. There are, however, a few noun modifiers that end in an –s: operations, arms, sports, jobs, forensics, physics

2. Adjective form error

INCORRECT:  When I heard the news, I was very anger .

CORRECT:   When I heard the news, I was very angry .

RULE:   Use the adjective form not the noun form in this context.

3. Adverb error

INCORRECT:   I trust more my parents than my friends.

CORRECT:   I trust my parents more than my friends.

RULE:    The adverb is in the wrong place . Do not separate more from than .

4. Article and plural noun error

INCORRECT:  My sister has a children .

CORRECT:  My sister has a child .

RULE:     Don’t use indefinite articles with plural words.

5. Article and uncountable noun mistakes

INCORRECT:  I have a brown skin.

CORRECT:  I have brown skin .

RULE:     Don’t use an article with uncountable nouns like “skin”.

6. Aspect error

INCORRECT:  Every day, I am waking up late.

CORRECT:  Every day, I wake up late.

RULE:     Use the Present Simple, not the Present Progressive, for normal routines.

INCORRECT:  He is deserving to win the award.

CORRECT:  He deserves to win the award.

RULE:     Use the simple aspect form of “deserving” in this context. When expressing a fact, these stative verbs tend not to use the progressive aspect: agree, appear, believe, belong, concern, consist, contain, deny, depend, deserve, disagree, dislike, doubt, fit, hat, hear, imagine, impress, include, involve, know, like, love, matter, mean, mind, need, own, pleas, prefer, promise, realize, recognize, remember, see, seem, smell, sound, suppose, surprise, taste, think, understand, want, wish.

7. Auxiliary error

INCORRECT: We don’t will have an exam next Tuesday.

CORRECT: We won’t have an exam next Tuesday.

RULE:     You cannot negate a modal auxiliary in this way. Use “won’t” instead.

8. Capitalization error

INCORRECT:    I work at Bordeaux jail as a prison guard.

CORRECT:   I work at Bordeaux Jail as a prison guard.

RULE:     Capitalize every lexical word in the name of an institution. Don’t capitalize prepositions and conjunctions.

9. Collocation error

INCORRECT:  I moved here to be closer from school.

CORRECT: I moved here to be closer to school.

RULE:     The usual collocation for closer is to not from .

INCORRECT:  Success depends of you.

CORRECT:  Success depends on you.

RULE:   The usual collocation for depend is on not of .

10. Comparative adjective error

INCORRECT:  If I learn a second language, finding a job will become more easy for me.

CORRECT:  If I learn a second language, finding a job will become easier for me.

RULE:     Remove the word “more” and simply write “easier.” English has two comparative adjective forms. Add -er to the end of one or two syllable adjectives. Use ‘more’ with longer adjectives. Here is a list of adjectives that usually take –er: big, black, bold, brave, bright, busy, clean, clear, clever, cold, cool, dark, dear, deep, dirty, dry, easy, fair, fast, fat, fine, funny, great, green, happy, hard, healthy, heavy, high, hot, kind, large, late, lazy, light, long, low, lucky, mad, merry, narrow, naughty, near, new, noisy, old, pale, poor, pretty, proud, quick, red, rich, sad, safe, shallow, sharp, short, slow, small, smooth, strong, sweet, tall, thick, thin, tiny, ugly, warm, wealthy, wet, white, wide, wild, wise, young, angry, little, short, blue, yellow, pink, orange, simple, shy.

INCORRECT:  So my job will be more easier for me if I am able to speak English as well as I can speak French.

CORRECT:  So my job will be easier for me if I am able to speak English as well as I can speak French.

RULE:     Do not use both – er and more . This is called a double comparative. Remove the word ‘more’ and simply write “easier.”

11. Contraction error

INCORRECT:    That’s who I’m .

CORRECT:     That’s who I am .

RULE:     Do not end a sentence with a pronoun + verb contraction.

INCORRECT:    I did’nt know the answer.

CORRECT:     I didn’t know the answer.

RULE:     The apostrophe points to what is missing. In this case, it is the “o” in “not.” Revise: didn’t

12. Conditional error

INCORRECT:    If I will get a better job, I will buy a car.

CORRECT:     If I get a better job, I will buy a car.

RULE:  Do not put “will” in “If” clauses. Use the Present Simple instead.

INCORRECT:  Wouldn’t it be great if there is a Google grammar checker?

CORRECT:    Wouldn’t it be great if there were a Google grammar checker?

RULE:  In a second conditional structure, we put a past form in the if-clause.

13. Double negative error

INCORRECT:    I made her cookies but she didn’t eat none .

CORRECT:     I made her cookies but she didn’t eat any .

RULE:     This is called a double-negative error since “didn’t” and “none” are both negative. Use “any” instead of “none.”

INCORRECT:    In my opinion, video games don’t hurt nobody .

CORRECT:     In my opinion, video games don’t hurt anybody .

RULE:     This is called a double-negative error since “didn’t” and “nobody” are both negative. Use “anybody” instead of “nobody.”

14. Double subject error

INCORRECT:    Me, I like to dance.

CORRECT:    I like to dance.

RULE:     Start your sentence with “I” not “me, I.”

INCORRECT:    What I’m sure about it’s that I was the first one to arrive.

CORRECT:    What I’m sure about is that I was the first one to arrive.

RULE:     The pronoun “it” in this sentence is unnecessary since you already have a subject, “What I’m sure about.”

15. Future tense error

INCORRECT:    In the future, we go on a trip to Africa.

CORRECT:    In the future, we will go on a trip to Africa.

RULE:     Don’t forget the auxiliary verb “will” for future events. You can, however, use the Simple Present for future scheduled events. Here is an example:  My train leaves at 10:20.

INCORRECT:    I gonna be rich one day.

CORRECT:    I am going to be rich one day.

RULE:     The word  gonna  is slang. Make sure you develop full command of  am/is/are going to for contexts where slang would be considered inappropriate.

INCORRECT:    When I will arrive, I will give you the money I owe you.

CORRECT:    When I arrive , I will give you the money I owe you.

RULE:     Do not use “ will ” in clauses that begin with  as soon as, the moment, before, after, once, if,  or  when . These time clauses already have a future meaning. Use the Present Simple instead.

16. Gerund error

INCORRECT:     We talked about to go , but in the end decided to stay home.

CORRECT:     We talked about going , but in the end decided to stay home.

RULE:     You cannot use an infinitive form after a preposition. Use a gerund instead.

INCORRECT:     The first thing I do when I arrive is going to my locker to hang up my coat.

CORRECT:     The first thing I do when I arrive is go to my locker to hang up my coat.

RULE:     Use a bare infinitive not a gerund in this context.

17. H epenthesis

INCORRECT:      He his my best friend.

CORRECT:      He is my best friend.

RULE:      An “h” was added to “is” by mistake. “His” is a possessive form. “Is” is a verb.

18. His or her instead of its

INCORRECT:      The New Democratic Party is increasing his popularity.

CORRECT:      The New Democratic Party is increasing its popularity.

RULE:       A political party is not a person. Use “ its ” for a non-person.

19. Idiomatic expression error

INCORRECT:       They jumped on the occasion.

CORRECT:       They jumped at the chance.

RULE:       This is a rather unnatural phrase in English. Try “jumped at the chance” instead.

INCORRECT:       This singer is very known.

CORRECT:       This singer is well -known.

RULE:       This is a rather unnatural phrase in English.

20. Infinitive error

INCORRECT:       I would like to thanks all my friends for their help.

CORRECT:       I would like to thank all my friends for their help.

RULE:       Use the base form of the verb with “to”.

INCORRECT:       We were supposed to went early, but we woke up late.

CORRECT:       We were supposed to go early, but we woke up late.

RULE:      Use the base form of the verb with “to”. See more conjugations of “to go” here .

INCORRECT:      While I was waiting for Courtney for shopping , I dropped coffee on my new yellow shirt.

CORRECT:     While I was waiting for Courtney to shop , I dropped coffee on my new yellow shirt.

RULE: Use an infinitive form after the verb “wait.”

21. Intensifier error

INCORRECT:       I very like ice cream.

CORRECT:       I really like ice cream.

RULE:        Use “ really ” to intensify a verb, not “ very .”

22. Irregular verb form error

INCORRECT:       We meeted at a restaurant.

CORRECT:       We met at a restaurant.

RULE:       Review irregular past tense verbs. You cannot add -ed to this verb.

23. Its or it is

INCORRECT:       Its hard to remember all these rules.

CORRECT:       It’s hard to remember all these rules.

RULE:         It’s is it plus the contracted form of the verb is , not a possessive form. Do not forget the apostrophe in the contraction.

INCORRECT:      Look at the dog chasing it’s tail.

CORRECT:      Look at the dog chasing its tail.

RULE:       Its is a possessive form, not a contraction. Do not use the apostrophe in the possessive form of pronouns.

LINK:   its-or-it’s

24. Missing article

INCORRECT:      I am accountant.

CORRECT:      I am an accountant.

RULE:       Use an indefinite article before the name of a job or profession.

25. Missing auxiliary

INCORRECT:      You making me crazy.

CORRECT:      You are making me crazy.

RULE:       You need an auxiliary (helping) verb to go with the –ing form.

INCORRECT:      I always be there for you.

CORRECT:      I will always be there for you.

RULE:       In a promise about the future, use the future modal auxiliary verb will with the infinitive form of your main verb.

26. Missing word

INCORRECT:      I decided to put my swimsuit and go for a swim.

CORRECT:      I decided to put my swimsuit on and go for a swim.

RULE:       You are missing the word on after swimsuit . The phrasal verb put on means “get dressed.” The verb put without on means “to place.”

27. Modal error

INCORRECT:      I will like to have a better job.

CORRECT:      I would like to have a better job.

RULE:       Use would not will to express a desire for a different present. Use will to express a prediction.

28. Negation error

INCORRECT:      I was not very enjoy telling the bad news.

INCORRECT:      I did not really enjoy telling the bad news.

RULE:       To negate a Past Simple tense verb use did not instead of was not . Use was/were not for adjectives and nouns instead.

INCORRECT:      We did not happy when she told us.

CORRECT:      We were not happy when she told us.

RULE:       Use was not or were not to negate adjectives and nouns.

INCORRECT:      I don’t have gone there before.

CORRECT:      I haven’t gone there before.

RULE:       Negate the Present Perfect by putting not or n’t after the auxiliary have or has.

INCORRECT:      Did you know that animals have not the same rights around the world?

CORRECT:      Did you know that animals do not have the same rights around the world?

RULE:       In North American English, negate the verb “have” by adding the auxiliary do and not or n’t .

29. Non-standard phrase

INCORRECT:      In life, you have to accept the goods and the bads.

CORRECT:      In life, you have to accept the ups and downs.

 RULE:      This is a non-standard phrase. The usual way to express this idea in English is to say ups and downs or pluses and minuses.

30. One word written as two

CORRECT:      My class is in the after noon.

INCORRECT:      My class is in the afternoon.

RULE:        This word sequence is usually spelled together as one word. Here is a short list of other combinations that should be written together: lookout, ourselves, overweight, straightjacket, workplace

31. Past tense error

INCORRECT:      I have been living here since I am born.

CORRECT:      I have been living here since I was born.

RULE:        The phrase “since I am” means “because I am”. However, “since I was born” means “from the day that I was born”.

INCORRECT:      She has arrived yesterday.

CORRECT:      She arrived yesterday.

RULE:        You cannot use the Present Perfect with a specific time in the past. Use the Past Simple instead.

32. Perfect infinitive error

INCORRECT:     I often wonder how many opportunities I would had had if I had finished university.

CORRECT:     I often wonder how many opportunities I would have had if I had finished university.

RULE:        There is a problem here with the perfect infinitive in this sentence. You cannot follow a modal with a past form. The correct form is modal + have + past participle.

33. Plural-Singular error

INCORRECT:      It hurt my feeling .

CORRECT:      It hurt my feelings .

RULE:       When we talk about emotional pain, we use the word feeling with an -s on the end. It is never singular. However, if we want to talk about a sensation, we can can use feeling without an -s. For example, we say I have a strange feeling in my stomach .

INCORRECT:       I am wearing a short and a t-shirt.

CORRECT:       I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

RULE:       Some nouns are always plural. Here is a short list: shorts, jeans, pajamas, scissors, pliers, news, politics, sports.

34. Possessive form error

INCORRECT:       The accident was no one fault.

CORRECT:       The accident was no one’s fault.

RULE:        When the fault belongs to no one, then a possessive form is needed.

INCORRECT:       My keys are in my coat’s pocket.

CORRECT:       My keys are in my coat pocket. OR My keys are in the pocket of my coat.

RULE:        You do not need a possessive form here. Use “coat” as a noun modifier instead. To talk about parts of non-living things, use the noun + noun structure or the of structure, like this:  in the left pocket of my blue  coat .

35. Preposition error

INCORRECT:       I live at Montreal.

CORRECT:       I live in Montreal.

RULE:        Use in for cities and towns. Use on for streets. Use at for a street address.

LINK:   See the visual guide to prepositions and try preposition practice activities   here .

36. Present Perfect error

INCORRECT:        It’s been 5 years that I work here.

CORRECT:        I have worked here for 5 years.

RULE:        Use the Present Perfect for past events that include the present.

INCORRECT:        I am living here since 2012.

CORRECT:        I have lived here since 2012.

37. Pronoun antecedent error

INCORRECT:        This article is about how people learn words and remember it.

CORRECT:        This article is about how people learn words and remember them.

RULE:        In this sentence, the singular pronoun it incorrectly refers to the plural antecedent words . Your pronoun should agree in number with its antecedent. Use them with a plural antecedent.

38. Punctuation error

INCORRECT:        Education should be free .

CORRECT:        Education should be free.

RULE:        Do not put a space before a punctuation mark. Put the space after it.

39. Quantifier error

INCORRECT:        How much people were there at the party?

CORRECT:        How many people were there at the party?

RULE:        Use much with singular or uncountable nouns and many with plural nouns.

40. Question form error

INCORRECT:        Are you work here?

CORRECT:        Do you work here?

RULE:        Use a form of the auxiliary do with simple aspect verbs in questions. Use are for adjectives and nouns.

INCORRECT:        Did you are tired after work?

CORRECT:        Were you tired after work?

RULE:        Use a form of the auxiliary do with simple aspect verbs in questions. Use a form of be for adjectives and nouns.

41. Quoted and reported speech

INCORRECT:        I said, « The test is on Tuesday. »

CORRECT:        I said, “The test is on Tuesday.”

RULE:        In English, we do not use « » for quoted speech . We use “ “ instead. (Hint: you can find the double quote symbol on the French keyboard above the number 2 key.)

INCORRECT:        She said, that I was wrong.

CORRECT:        She said that I was wrong.

RULE:        Do not put a comma before reported speech (also known as an indirect quotation).

42. Redundant phrase and wordiness error

INCORRECT:        I think practicing English with classmates is equally as effective.

CORRECT:        I think practicing English with classmates is as effective.

RULE:        Do not say equally as . Use either equally or as on its own.

INCORRECT:        The college has sent everyone an invite to the event.

CORRECT:        The college has sent everyone an invitation to the event.

RULE:        The word invite used as a noun is slang. Avoid slang in formal writing. Here is a list of slang words that should be avoided in the formal register: anyways, gonna, kinda, sorta, wanna, ain’t

44. (Common) Spelling Errors

INCORRECT:        Come whit me.

CORRECT:        Come with me.

INCORRECT:        Wich one do you want?

CORRECT:        Which one do you want?

INCORRECT:        I tought you liked that.

CORRECT:        I thought you liked that.

INCORRECT:        I like my program even tough it is difficult.

CORRECT:        I like my program even though it is difficult.

INCORRECT:        I live in Montréal, Québec .

CORRECT:        I live in Montreal, Quebec .

RULE:        Avoid using diacritics in English. They can appear (cliché, fiancé, resumé) but are never compulsory.

INCORRECT:        This is begining to make sense.

CORRECT:        This is beginning to make sense.

RULE:        Double a final single consonant before an – ing or – ed suffix when both of these conditions apply: (a) one vowel precedes the consonant; and (b1) it is a one-syllable word or (b2) a stressed syllable.

INCORRECT:        flys, ladys, citys, enemys, puppys, armys, supplys, skys, partys, librarys, relys, marrys, theorys, studys

CORRECT:        flies, ladies, cities, enemies, puppies, armies, supplies, skies, parties, libraries, relies, marries, theories, studies

RULE:        Change the y to -ie before adding –s when preceded by a consonant.

45. Verb agreement error

INCORRECT:   One of my friends are driving.

CORRECT:        One of my friends is driving.

RULE:        Make sure your verb agrees with its subject. The noun phrase one of my friends is singular and therefore requires the singular form is not are .

46. Tense shift

INCORRECT:        At lunch, Jane pointed straight at me, and she says , “You are a liar!”

CORRECT:        At lunch, Jane pointed straight at me, and she said , “You are a liar!”

RULE:        Do not shift from a past tense verb to a present tense arbitrarily in the same sentence.

INCORRECT:        I stayed with her for a while to be sure that she will be okay.

CORRECT:        I stayed with her for a while to be sure that she would be okay.

RULE:        Use would not will in a sentence describing past events.

Practice finding tense shift errors . 

Practice correcting tense shift errors . 

47. Word choice error

INCORRECT:        There are less people applying to Liberal Arts programs these days.

CORRECT:        There are fewer people applying to Liberal Arts programs these days.

RULE:         Less is the comparative form of the adjective little . Use less with uncountable nouns like salt or time . Fewer is the comparative form of few . Use fewer with countable nouns like people and cars.

48. Word form error

INCORRECT:        I was boring , so I thought it would be fun to go on a trip and visit the island.

CORRECT:        I was bored, so I thought it would be fun to go on a trip and visit the island.

RULE:        “Boring” is the wrong form of the verb “to bore” for this context. An easy way to remember the difference between “boring” and “bored” is anything that is “boring” is the cause of the boredom and anyone who is “bored” is affected by boredom. In this case you were affected by boredom.

49. Word order error

INCORRECT:        My girlfriend has blonde straight long hair.

CORRECT:        My girlfriend has long straight blonde hair.

RULE:        Adjectives appear in a particular order:   → size  → shape  → colour  → NOUN

INCORRECT:        I am not enough good , and there is not time enough to practice.

CORRECT:        I am not good enough , and there is not enough time to practice.

RULE:        Put the word enough after adjectives but before nouns.

50. Your or you’re

INCORRECT:        Everybody knows your crazy.

CORRECT:        Everybody knows you’re crazy.

RULE:  Your is a possessive word. You’re is the contracted form of you + are. When you want to link a pronoun to an adjective like crazy , use you’re not your.

INCORRECT:        Is that you’re coat?

CORRECT:        Is that your coat?

RULE:        When you want to indicate possession, use your. You’re is the contracted form of you + are.

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12 common grammar mistakes you're probably making right now (and how to avoid them)

• A 2012 study from the Society for Human Resources and Management showed that 45% of employers planned to increase training for grammar and other language skills.
• We've compiled a list of the top mistakes people make when writing, whether drafting an office memo or just chatting with coworkers around the water cooler.
• Common grammar mistakes stem from confusion over usage: fewer vs. less, it's vs. its, and then vs. than. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You might consider grammar an annoying technicality, a minuscule detail of speech and writing not worth much effort.

But a 2012 study from the Society for Human Resources and Management showed that 45% of employers planned to increase training for grammar and other language skills (meaning they were unhappy with the levels.)

In other words: What you say matters as much as how you say it, especially in a professional environment.

Read more: 14 rules for using commas without looking like a fool

We've compiled a list of 12 common grammatical mistakes people make, whether drafting an office memo or just chatting with coworkers around the water cooler.

1. "Fewer" vs. "Less"

Use "fewer" when discussing countable objects. For example, "He ate five fewer chocolates than the other guy," or "fewer than 20 employees attended the meeting."

Use "less" for intangible concepts, like time. For example, "I spent less than one hour finishing this report."

2. "It's" vs. "Its"

Normally, an apostrophe symbolizes possession. As in, "I took the dog's bone." But because apostrophes also usually replace omitted letters — like "don't" — the "it's" vs. "its" decision gets complicated. 

Use "its" as the possessive pronoun: "I took its bone." For the shortened version of "it is" use the version with the apostrophe. As in, "it's raining."

3. Dangling Modifiers

These are ambiguous, adjectival clauses at the beginning or end of sentences that often don't modify the right word or phrase.

For example: "Rotting in the refrigerator, our office manager threw the fruit in the garbage." The structure of that sentence implies your office manager is a zombie trapped in a chilly kitchen appliance.

Make sure to place the modifying clause right next to the word or phrase it intends to describe. The correct version reads, "Our office manager threw the fruit, rotting in the refrigerator, in the garbage."

4. "Who" vs. "Whom"

"The New Republic" published a review of Mark Leibovich's "This Town." Regardless of his opinions, the author deserves praise. The title reads, "Careful Whom You Call A Hypocrite, Washington." Yes, Alec MacGillis. Just yes.

When considering whether to use "who" or "whom," you have to rearrange the sentence in your own head. In the aforementioned case, "whom you call a hypocrite" changes to "you call whom a hypocrite." "Whom" suits the sentence instead of "who" because the word functions as the object of the sentence, not the subject.

It's not always easy to tell subjects from objects but to use an over-simplified yet good, general rule: subjects start sentences (or clauses), and objects end them.

For reference, "who is a hypocrite?" would be a perfectly grammatically correct question to ask.

Read more:  12 everyday phrases that you're probably saying incorrectly

5. Me, Myself, and I

Deciding when to use me, myself, or I also falls under the subject/object discussion. "Me" always functions as the object (except in that case); "I" is always the subject. And you only use "myself" when you've referred to yourself earlier in the sentence. It's called a reflexive pronoun — it corresponds to a pronoun previously in the sentence. For example, "I made myself breakfast" not "my friend and myself made lunch."

To decide usage in "someone else and me/I" situations, take the other person out of the sentence. "My coworker and I went to lunch." Is "I went to lunch" correct? You're good, then.

6. "Lie" vs. "Lay"

Dear everyone, stop saying: "I'm going to go lay down."

The word "lay" must have an object. Someone lays something somewhere. You lie. Unless you lay, which means lie but in the past tense. Just look at the chart:

And use it like this: 

• I'm going to lie down --> I lay down
• I need to lay down the law --> I laid down the law

7. Irregular Verbs

The English language has quite a few surprises.We can't list all the irregular verbs, but be aware that they do exist. For example, no past tense exists for the word "broadcast." "Broadcasted" isn't a word. You'd say, "Yesterday, CNN broadcast a show."

"Sneak" and "hang" also fall into the category of irregular verbs. Because the list of irregular verbs (and how to conjugate them) is so extensive, you'll have to look into them individually.

8. "Nor" vs. "Or"

Use "nor" before the second or farther of two alternatives when "neither" introduces the first. Think of it as "or" for negative sentences, and it's not optional. For example, "Neither my boss nor I understand the new program."

You can also use nor with a negative first clause or sentence including "not." For example, "My boss didn't understand the program, nor did I."

Read more:  11 reasons the English language is impossible to learn

9. "Then" vs. "Than"

There's a simple distinction between these two words. Use "then" when discussing time. As in, "We had a meeting, and then we went to lunch." Include "than" in comparisons. "This meeting was more productive than the last one."

10. Ending Sentences With Prepositions

First of all, don't do it — usually. Second, for those who don't know, prepositions are any words that a squirrel can "run" with a tree (i.e. The squirrel ran around, by, through, up, down, around, etc. the tree).

"My boss explained company policy, which we had to abide by" sounds awful. In most cases, you can just transpose the preposition to the beginning of the clause. "My boss explained company policy, by which we had to abide," or better yet, rephrase the sentence to avoid this problem: "My boss explained the mandatory company policy."

11. Subject (And Possessive Pronoun) And Verb Agreement

This rule seems a bit counterintuitive, but most plural subjects take verbs without an "s." For example, "she types," but "they type." The pronoun agreement comes into play when you add a possessive element to these sentences. "She types on her computer," and "they type on their computers."

12. You CAN use "they" as a singular pronoun, like "he" and "she."

Merriam-Webster announced in September that its definition of "they" would include its usage as a singular pronoun for gender-nonbinary people.

—Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) September 17, 2019

"They" should be used when an individual identifies "they/them/their" as their pronouns. 

Read more: Merriam-Webster adds gender-neutral 'they' to dictionary

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Grammatical Errors in English

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One of the most common types of mistakes that learners make is grammatical errors. Grammatical errors can make your writing difficult to understand and can affect your credibility as a writer. In this reference, we will explore what grammatical errors are, explore common types of grammatical errors, and learn to identify them.

What are Grammatical Errors?

Grammatical errors are mistakes made in the use of grammar in writing or speech. These mistakes can occur in various forms, including sentence structure, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and spelling.

Grammatical errors can make your writing challenging to understand and can detract from the overall quality of your writing.

Common Types of Grammatical Errors

There are several types of grammatical errors that writers make. The most common types of grammatical errors include subject-verb agreement, verb tense, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. For example, “The cat runs” is a sentence with proper subject-verb agreement. However, “The cat run” is an example of a sentence with incorrect subject-verb agreement.

Verb tense refers to the time frame in which an action occurs in a sentence. The three main verb tenses are: past, present, and future. It’s important to maintain consistency within a sentence or paragraph when using verb tenses . For example, “I walked to the store, and then I buy some milk” is a sentence with incorrect verb tense.

Punctuation

Punctuation is essential in writing as it helps to clarify meaning and create pauses and emphasis. Incorrect punctuation can lead to confusion and ambiguity in your writing. Common punctuation errors include missing commas, overuse of commas, and incorrect use of apostrophes.

Sentence Structure

Sentence structure refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create a complete sentence. It’s important to ensure that your sentences are clear and concise. Common errors in sentence structure include run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and incorrect use of modifiers.

Examples of Grammatical Errors in Writing

Here are some examples of common grammatical errors in writing:

Example 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Incorrect : The group of friends was arguing about where they are going.

Correct : The group of friends were arguing about where they are going.

Example 2: Verb Tense

Incorrect : He will go to the store yesterday.

Correct : He went to the store yesterday.

Example 3: Punctuation

Incorrect : I’m sorry I ate your sandwich, but it was delicious.

Correct : I’m sorry I ate your sandwich but it was delicious.

Example 4: Sentence Structure

Incorrect : Running through the park, the trees were beautiful.

Correct : Running through the park, I saw the beautiful trees.

How to Identify and Correct Grammatical Errors

Identifying grammatical errors in your writing can be challenging, but there are several ways you can identify and correct these errors. One of the most effective ways is by proofreading your work. Some tips on how to proofread:

Take a Break

It’s essential to give yourself time between writing and proofreading to ensure that you have a fresh perspective. Taking a break can help you to identify mistakes that you may not have noticed before.

Reading your work aloud can help you to identify errors that you may have missed when reading silently. It can also help you to ensure that your sentences flow smoothly and are easy to understand.

Use a Checklist

Using a checklist can help you to ensure that you check for all types of grammatical errors. Some examples of items to include on your checklist include subject-verb agreement, verb tense, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Once you have identified the grammatical errors in your writing, the next step is to correct them. 

Here are some tips on how to correct grammatical errors:

Use Grammar Tools

There are several grammar tools available online that can help you to identify and correct grammatical errors in your writing. Some popular grammar tools include Grammarly and Hemingway.

Use a Style Guide

A style guide can help you to ensure that your writing is consistent and follows a specific set of rules. Some popular style guides include APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Ask for Feedback

Asking for feedback from a friend or colleague can help you to identify errors that you may have missed. It can also help you to ensure that your writing is easy to understand and flows smoothly.

How to Proofread and Edit for Grammatical Errors

Proofreading and editing are essential in the writing process. 

Start with the Big Picture

When proofreading and editing, it’s essential to start with the big picture. This means focusing on the overall structure and flow of your writing. Once you have addressed these issues, you can move on to the finer details.

Check for Consistency

It’s important to ensure that your writing is consistent throughout. This means checking for consistency in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation.

List of the Most Common Grammar Errors

To help you avoid the most common grammatical errors, here is a list of the most common grammar errors:

• Subject-verb agreement errors
• Verb tense errors
• Punctuation errors
• Sentence structure errors
• Apostrophe errors
• Pronoun errors
• Modifier errors
• Comma errors
• Run-on sentences
• Sentence fragments

Grammatical errors are common mistakes that learners make while speaking or writing. These errors can make your writing difficult to understand and can affect other people's ability to understand you. Remember to proofread and edit your work carefully to make sure it's free of errors. If you follow tips and strategies outlined here, you should be prepared to create error-free texts and speeches. Good luck!

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Best Ways to Identifying Sentence Structure Errors: SAT Writing Strategies

When preparing for the SAT Writing section, one of the most crucial skills you’ll need is the ability to identify sentence errors quickly and accurately. This section tests your knowledge of grammar, usage, and sentence structure, which are all essential for effective communication.

It would seem that the Identifying Sentence Errors (ISE) segment of the SAT Writing test would be the easiest. These questions ask you to select the sentence error from four underlined parts. Ultimately, all that is required is the identification of the issue; fixing it is not. However, the test authors are quite good at hiding the errors in each sentence, so if you don’t know what to look for, you might assume that up to half of the sentences are error-free. In this article, we’ll break down strategies to help you master this skill, ensuring that you’re well-prepared to tackle this part of the SAT with confidence.

Table of Content

Understanding the SAT Sentence Error Questions

Common types of errors to look out for, sat writing strategies for identifying sentence errors, common pitfalls to avoid, identifying sentence structure errors in sat- faqs.

The SAT sentence error questions are designed to assess your ability to spot grammatical mistakes and awkward phrasing in sentences. These questions typically present you with a sentence that may or may not contain an error. Your task is to identify the error if one exists. If the sentence is correct as it is, you would choose the option that indicates no error.

Before diving into specific strategies, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the common types of errors that frequently appear in the SAT Writing section. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Subject-Verb Agreement : This error occurs when the subject of a sentence does not match the verb in number. For example, “The team of players is won ready” should be “The team of players is ready.”
• Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement : Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender. For example, “Each of the students brought their book” should be “Each of the students brought his or her book.”
• Verb Tense Consistency : Maintaining the correct verb tense throughout a sentence is crucial. For example, “She was running and singing the race” should be “She was running and won the race.”
• Parallel Structure : When listing items or comparing ideas, the structure should be consistent. For example, “She likes dancing, singing, and reading” should be “She likes dancing, singing, and reading.”
• Misplaced Modifiers : Modifiers should be placed next to the word they are meant to describe. For example, “Walking through the park, the flowers were beautiful” should be “Walking through the park, she noticed the beautiful flowers.”
• Idiomatic Expressions : Idiomatic errors occur when a phrase is not used correctly according to standard English conventions. For example, “He is good in math” should be “He is good at math.”

Now that you’re aware of the common types of errors, let’s explore some effective strategies to approach identifying sentence errors on the SAT.

1. Read the Sentence Carefully

The first and most important step in identifying sentence errors is to read the sentence carefully. Pay close attention to each word and phrase, and consider how they interact within the sentence. Look for anything that seems awkward or out of place.

When reading, try to hear the sentence in your mind. Often, errors will sound incorrect even if you’re not immediately sure why. Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t sound right, it might be worth a closer look.

2. Break Down the Sentence into Parts

Complex sentences can be tricky, so it can be helpful to break them down into smaller parts. Identify the subject, verb, and any objects or modifiers. This makes it easier to spot errors in subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and verb tense.

For example, in the sentence “Each of the students have finished their homework,” breaking it down reveals that “Each” is the subject, which is singular, so the correct verb should be “has.”

3. Check for Agreement Errors

Agreement errors are among the most common on the SAT, so be sure to check for them in every sentence. This includes subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement. Always ensure that singular subjects are paired with singular verbs, and plural subjects with plural verbs. Similarly, pronouns should match their antecedents in both number and gender.

4. Watch Out for Modifier Placement

Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the word they are meant to describe. Misplaced modifiers can make a sentence confusing or even change its meaning entirely. When you see a modifier, ask yourself if it’s correctly placed. If it seems out of place, mentally move it to see if the sentence makes more sense.

For instance, in the sentence “Running quickly, the finish line seemed closer,” the modifier “Running quickly” should describe the subject who is running, not the finish line. The corrected sentence would be “Running quickly, she saw that the finish line seemed closer.”

5. Be Aware of Parallel Structure

Parallel structure is a grammatical rule that requires consistency in lists and comparisons. If a sentence contains a list of items or ideas, each item should be presented in the same grammatical form. Look for any inconsistencies in the structure and correct them.

For example, in the sentence “She enjoys swimming, to bike, and running,” the list contains mixed forms. The corrected sentence should read, “She enjoys swimming, biking, and running.”

6. Identify Verb Tense Shifts

Verb tense errors occur when there is an inappropriate shift in tense within a sentence. To avoid this, ensure that the tense remains consistent unless there is a clear reason for a change. This is particularly important in sentences that describe actions happening at different times.

For instance, in the sentence “He was walking to the store when he sees his friend,” the correct sentence should be “He was walking to the store when he saw his friend,” maintaining the past tense throughout.

7. Pay Attention to Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases that are standard in the English language but may not follow the usual rules of grammar or structure. They are often tricky because they must be memorized rather than understood through logic. Familiarize yourself with common idiomatic expressions and ensure they are used correctly in sentences.

For example, the phrase “different than” is incorrect; the correct idiom is “different from.”

8. Eliminate Incorrect Choices

In multiple-choice questions, eliminating clearly incorrect options can improve your chances of selecting the right answer. After identifying the type of error in the sentence, eliminate the choices that do not correct the error or that introduce new mistakes. Narrowing down the options makes it easier to find the correct answer.

9. Practice, Practice, Practice

The more you practice identifying sentence errors, the more familiar you will become with the types of mistakes the SAT typically tests. Use SAT practice tests, workbooks, and online resources to hone your skills. The more exposure you have to these questions, the quicker and more accurately you’ll be able to identify errors on test day.

10. Review Basic Grammar Rules

While it’s essential to practice specific SAT questions, it’s also helpful to review basic grammar rules regularly. A strong foundation in grammar will make it easier to spot errors in sentence structure, usage, and agreement. Consider keeping a grammar reference book handy or using online resources to review rules as needed.

While the strategies above are effective, it’s also important to be aware of common pitfalls that can trip you up when identifying sentence errors on the SAT.

• Overthinking : Sometimes, test-takers spend too much time analyzing a sentence, doubting their initial instincts. If a sentence sounds correct, it likely is. Don’t overthink it.
• Relying Solely on Sound : While your ear can be a helpful tool, some errors may not be easily detectable by sound alone. Always back up your instincts with a quick review of the grammar rules.
• Ignoring No Error Option : Some students assume that every sentence must contain an error, but that’s not always the case. The SAT includes sentences that are grammatically correct, so always consider the “No Error” option if the sentence seems correct.
• Forgetting to Check All Parts of the Sentence : It’s easy to focus on the beginning of a sentence and miss errors that occur later. Make sure to read the entire sentence carefully, checking for errors throughout.
• Misinterpreting Complex Sentences : Long or complex sentences can be intimidating, but breaking them down into smaller parts can make them easier to analyze. Don’t let the complexity of a sentence overwhelm you.

Identifying sentence errors on the SAT Writing section is a skill that can be developed with practice and a strong understanding of grammar rules. By familiarizing yourself with common error types, applying effective strategies, and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle these questions on test day. Remember, the key is to approach each sentence methodically, using your knowledge and instincts to identify any mistakes. With consistent practice and careful review, you’ll improve your ability to spot errors and boost your overall SAT Writing score.

Also Read: SAT Exam Benefits: Know the Purpose of SAT & How to Prepare Average SAT Score in 2024: Know About SAT Score Range

How to identify sentence structure error?

Let’s examine the many error finding guidelines. Rule 1: Examine and determine the speech’s segment. Rule 2: Determine the sentence kind. Rule 3: Verify your punctuation. Fourth Rule: Recognize the pronouns. Rule 5: Determine the plurality and singularity.

What are structure errors in a sentence?

The most frequent mistakes in sentence structure are caused by the improper use of clauses. This can involve miscombining clauses or treating a dependent or incomplete sentence as an independent clause. Run-on sentences, comma splices, and fragments are the three most prevalent types of sentence construction problems.

What is a sentence structure in SAT?

A sentence is made up of a predicate and a subject. A verb phrase and a noun, to put it more plainly. The purpose of the SAT® Writing and Language exam is to evaluate your understanding of what a sentence is and isn’t by using comma splices. When two grammatically sound sentences are joined by a single comma, this happens.

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