Improving your writing skills requires mastering proper grammar,
whether you are an experienced writer or an amateur.
However, even the best writers can make mistakes and overlook common grammatical errors, such as confusing homophones or misplaced modifiers. These errors can damage your credibility and negatively impact the clarity of your message.
To assist you in avoiding these common mistakes, here is a list of the top ten most frequently encountered grammatical blunders. Understanding these errors and how to correct them can help you to improve your writing skills and to communicate more effectively. So, let us explore these common pitfalls and provide practical tips helping you to overcome them.
Subject-Verb Agreement
This mistake occurs when the subject of a sentence does not agree with its corresponding verb in terms of singular or plural form. For example: “The group of students is excited to go on the field trip” (correct) versus “The group of students are excited to go on the field trip” (incorrect, as the subject “group” is singular).
Run-On Sentences
This mistake happens when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation, creating a long sentence that can be difficult to read and understand. For example: “I went to the store I bought some milk and bread” (incorrect) versus “I went to the store. I bought some milk and bread.” (correct, with appropriate punctuation).
Comma Splices
This error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma, which is not enough to separate them properly. For example: “She loves to read, she also enjoys writing” (incorrect) versus “She loves to read. She also enjoys writing.” (correct, with separate sentences).
Misplaced Modifiers
This mistake occurs when a descriptive word or phrase is placed in the wrong part of the sentence, making it unclear which word it is intended to modify. For example: “She served a cake to the guests that was chocolate” (incorrect, as it implies that the guests were chocolate) versus “She served the guests a chocolate cake” (correct, with the modifier in the correct place).
Dangling Modifier
This error happens when a descriptive word or phrase is not clearly connected to the noun it is intended to modify. For example: “Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful” (incorrect, as it implies that the trees were walking down the street) versus “Walking down the street, she saw that the trees looked beautiful” (correct, with the modifier connected to the correct noun).
Incorrect Pronoun Usage
This mistake involves using the wrong pronoun to refer to a person or object, which can create confusion or ambiguity in the sentence. For example: “Me and him went to the movies” (incorrect, as it should be “He and I went to the movies” with the correct subject pronouns) versus “She gave the book to him and me” (correct, with the correct object pronouns).
Using Passive Voice
This error happens when the subject of a sentence is acted upon rather than doing the action, which can make the sentence sound weak or unclear. For example: “The cake was eaten by the children” (passive voice) versus “The children ate the cake” (active voice, with a stronger and clearer sentence).
Confusing Homophones
This mistake involves using words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, which can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. For example: “Their going to the beach” (incorrect, as it should be “They’re going to the beach” using the contraction for “they are”) versus “Their house is by the beach” (correct, using the possessive form of “they”).
Using Double Negatives
This error occurs when two negative words or constructions are used in the same sentence, which can create confusion or cancel out the intended meaning. Incorrect: I don’t have no time to go to the store. Correct: I don’t have any time to go to the store.
Wrapping Up Common Grammar Mistakes
Proper grammar is crucial for effective communication to ensure that the intended message is accurately conveyed. Grammatical errors can cause confusion, alter the meaning of a sentence, or make it appear awkward and unprofessional.
In a professional setting, such as work or academia, poor grammar can negatively impact the writer’s credibility and competence. Grammatical errors in a resume, cover letter, or business email can make the writer appear careless and unprofessional. It can also lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and mistakes in crucial documents like contracts or legal agreements.
However, correcting grammar mistakes is equally important in personal communication, such as emails, texts, or social media posts. In writing to friends or family, poor grammar can create confusion and misunderstandings. It can also affect the tone and message of the communication, making it sound rude, insensitive, or unclear.
Farther vs. Further
You use farther when you’re referring to measurable distance. You use further when referring to abstract lengths. You can throw a ball farther, and that might further your career.
Anxious
Anxious implies that the subject is worried about something. Sometimes it gets mixed up with the word eager. You are eager to see your friends; you are anxious about your final exam.
Loose vs. Lose
Loose and lose are two entirely different words. Loose is generally used as an adjective defined as the opposite of tight. To lose means you are unable to find something. If your socks are too loose, you could lose them.
Fewer vs. Less
Fewer and less are used much like further and farther. You use fewer when you are able to count something. You use less if the amount of something is more abstract. You can have fewer jellybeans in your jar, and you can have less water in your glass.
Everyday vs. Every Day
Everyday is an adjective. Every day is a noun and adjective. You put your everyday clothes on every day.
Pronouns and Antecedents
An Antecedent is the noun that the pronoun is taking the place of. Pronouns and Antecedents should always agree in number. In other words, singular pronouns take the place of singular Antecedents and plural pronouns take the place of plural antecedents:
Tommy went to his grandma’s house. Geese always fly north to their lakes.
A phrase that comes between the subject and verb does not change the number of the pronoun:
The bag full of jellybeans is sitting in its place. A number of children is present.
Compound subjects connected with and always take a plural pronoun:
Mike and Jared went to their room to play video games.
When using compound subjects connected by or/nor, the pronoun will agree with the Antecedent closest to it:
Neither the coach nor the players did their best today.
Collective nouns (group, team, jury, crowd, etc.) could end up being either singular or plural; and their pronouns should follow suit:
The team members told the reporter their individual stats. The team played its best game of the season.
Titles of single entities (countries, books, organizations) use singular pronouns:
Maine is known for its clam chowder.
The Hunger Games made its characters face a lot of challenges.
Pronouns help keep our prose uncluttered, so long as we’re using them properly. Remember, all pronouns need proper Antecedents and all pronouns must agree in number with their Antecedents.
Subordinate Clauses
The subordinate clause can be tricky. It has a subject and a verb, so some people would consider it a complete sentence. However, a complete sentence is actually a complete thought. A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, can help complete a thought, but it cannot be a complete sentence. What are subordinate clauses, and what do they do?
Subordinate clauses are used to provide some additional information to the reader, and they add a bit of flavor to your sentences.
Example:
Every time Amelia went to a burger joint, she would get the chicken sandwich.
The italicized portion of the sentence is the subordinate clause. If you read it alone, it leaves you asking the question, “what happened!?” The subordinate clause helps add context to the main idea that Amelia would get the chicken sandwich.
Subordinate clauses are often signaled with a subordinating conjunction. Here is a partial list of subordinating conjunctions:
Example:
I used to live with Malachi, while being in Miami.
Again, the italicized portion of this sentence could not stand on its own; it is dependent on the main idea of the sentence (and that is why they call it a dependent clause).
Semicolons
You could also fix comma splices with the often misunderstood semicolon. A semicolon was designed for situations like these. As long as the two clauses are related, the semicolon is here to help.
Merlin turned Morgana into a ferret; Morgana was not pleased.
The semicolon works here, because the second clause expands upon what is going on. Note that one normally does not capitalize after a semicolon, but it is necessary in this case, because “Morgana” is a proper noun.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that join, or coordinate, two or more items (such as words, main clauses or sentences) of equal syntactic importance.
Some examples of coordinating conjunctions in English and what they do:
• For – presents rationale ("They do not gamble or smoke, for they are ascetics")
• And – presents non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke")
• Nor – presents a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble, nor do they smoke")
• But – presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke")
• Or – presents an alternative item or idea ("Every day they gamble, or they smoke")
• Yet – presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke")
• So – presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night, so he smoked a cigar to celebrate")
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words and groups of words of equal weight in a sentence. There are many different pairs of correlative conjunctions:
• either...or
• not only...but (also)
• neither...nor
• both...and
• whether...or
• just as...so
• the...the
• as...as
• as much...as
• no sooner...than
• rather...than
Examples:
• You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office. (Either do or prepare)
• He is not only handsome but also brilliant. (Not only A but also B)
• Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
• Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well.
• You must decide whether you stay or you go.
• Just as many Americans love basketball, so many Canadians love ice hockey.
• The more you practice dribbling, the better you will be at it.
• Football is as fast as hockey (is).
• Football is as much an addiction as it is a sport.
• No sooner did she learn to ski than the snow began to thaw.
• I would rather swim than surf.
Subordinating conjunctions, also called Subordinators, are conjunctions that join an independent clause and a dependent clause, and also introduce adverb clauses. The most common subordinating conjunctions in the English language include: after, although, as, as far as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, every time, if, in order that, since, so, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever and while.
whether you are an experienced writer or an amateur.
However, even the best writers can make mistakes and overlook common grammatical errors, such as confusing homophones or misplaced modifiers. These errors can damage your credibility and negatively impact the clarity of your message.
To assist you in avoiding these common mistakes, here is a list of the top ten most frequently encountered grammatical blunders. Understanding these errors and how to correct them can help you to improve your writing skills and to communicate more effectively. So, let us explore these common pitfalls and provide practical tips helping you to overcome them.
Subject-Verb Agreement
This mistake occurs when the subject of a sentence does not agree with its corresponding verb in terms of singular or plural form. For example: “The group of students is excited to go on the field trip” (correct) versus “The group of students are excited to go on the field trip” (incorrect, as the subject “group” is singular).
Run-On Sentences
This mistake happens when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation, creating a long sentence that can be difficult to read and understand. For example: “I went to the store I bought some milk and bread” (incorrect) versus “I went to the store. I bought some milk and bread.” (correct, with appropriate punctuation).
Comma Splices
This error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma, which is not enough to separate them properly. For example: “She loves to read, she also enjoys writing” (incorrect) versus “She loves to read. She also enjoys writing.” (correct, with separate sentences).
Misplaced Modifiers
This mistake occurs when a descriptive word or phrase is placed in the wrong part of the sentence, making it unclear which word it is intended to modify. For example: “She served a cake to the guests that was chocolate” (incorrect, as it implies that the guests were chocolate) versus “She served the guests a chocolate cake” (correct, with the modifier in the correct place).
Dangling Modifier
This error happens when a descriptive word or phrase is not clearly connected to the noun it is intended to modify. For example: “Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful” (incorrect, as it implies that the trees were walking down the street) versus “Walking down the street, she saw that the trees looked beautiful” (correct, with the modifier connected to the correct noun).
Incorrect Pronoun Usage
This mistake involves using the wrong pronoun to refer to a person or object, which can create confusion or ambiguity in the sentence. For example: “Me and him went to the movies” (incorrect, as it should be “He and I went to the movies” with the correct subject pronouns) versus “She gave the book to him and me” (correct, with the correct object pronouns).
Using Passive Voice
This error happens when the subject of a sentence is acted upon rather than doing the action, which can make the sentence sound weak or unclear. For example: “The cake was eaten by the children” (passive voice) versus “The children ate the cake” (active voice, with a stronger and clearer sentence).
Confusing Homophones
This mistake involves using words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, which can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. For example: “Their going to the beach” (incorrect, as it should be “They’re going to the beach” using the contraction for “they are”) versus “Their house is by the beach” (correct, using the possessive form of “they”).
Using Double Negatives
This error occurs when two negative words or constructions are used in the same sentence, which can create confusion or cancel out the intended meaning. Incorrect: I don’t have no time to go to the store. Correct: I don’t have any time to go to the store.
Wrapping Up Common Grammar Mistakes
Proper grammar is crucial for effective communication to ensure that the intended message is accurately conveyed. Grammatical errors can cause confusion, alter the meaning of a sentence, or make it appear awkward and unprofessional.
In a professional setting, such as work or academia, poor grammar can negatively impact the writer’s credibility and competence. Grammatical errors in a resume, cover letter, or business email can make the writer appear careless and unprofessional. It can also lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and mistakes in crucial documents like contracts or legal agreements.
However, correcting grammar mistakes is equally important in personal communication, such as emails, texts, or social media posts. In writing to friends or family, poor grammar can create confusion and misunderstandings. It can also affect the tone and message of the communication, making it sound rude, insensitive, or unclear.
Farther vs. Further
You use farther when you’re referring to measurable distance. You use further when referring to abstract lengths. You can throw a ball farther, and that might further your career.
Anxious
Anxious implies that the subject is worried about something. Sometimes it gets mixed up with the word eager. You are eager to see your friends; you are anxious about your final exam.
Loose vs. Lose
Loose and lose are two entirely different words. Loose is generally used as an adjective defined as the opposite of tight. To lose means you are unable to find something. If your socks are too loose, you could lose them.
Fewer vs. Less
Fewer and less are used much like further and farther. You use fewer when you are able to count something. You use less if the amount of something is more abstract. You can have fewer jellybeans in your jar, and you can have less water in your glass.
Everyday vs. Every Day
Everyday is an adjective. Every day is a noun and adjective. You put your everyday clothes on every day.
Pronouns and Antecedents
An Antecedent is the noun that the pronoun is taking the place of. Pronouns and Antecedents should always agree in number. In other words, singular pronouns take the place of singular Antecedents and plural pronouns take the place of plural antecedents:
Tommy went to his grandma’s house. Geese always fly north to their lakes.
A phrase that comes between the subject and verb does not change the number of the pronoun:
The bag full of jellybeans is sitting in its place. A number of children is present.
Compound subjects connected with and always take a plural pronoun:
Mike and Jared went to their room to play video games.
When using compound subjects connected by or/nor, the pronoun will agree with the Antecedent closest to it:
Neither the coach nor the players did their best today.
Collective nouns (group, team, jury, crowd, etc.) could end up being either singular or plural; and their pronouns should follow suit:
The team members told the reporter their individual stats. The team played its best game of the season.
Titles of single entities (countries, books, organizations) use singular pronouns:
Maine is known for its clam chowder.
The Hunger Games made its characters face a lot of challenges.
Pronouns help keep our prose uncluttered, so long as we’re using them properly. Remember, all pronouns need proper Antecedents and all pronouns must agree in number with their Antecedents.
Subordinate Clauses
The subordinate clause can be tricky. It has a subject and a verb, so some people would consider it a complete sentence. However, a complete sentence is actually a complete thought. A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, can help complete a thought, but it cannot be a complete sentence. What are subordinate clauses, and what do they do?
Subordinate clauses are used to provide some additional information to the reader, and they add a bit of flavor to your sentences.
Example:
Every time Amelia went to a burger joint, she would get the chicken sandwich.
The italicized portion of the sentence is the subordinate clause. If you read it alone, it leaves you asking the question, “what happened!?” The subordinate clause helps add context to the main idea that Amelia would get the chicken sandwich.
Subordinate clauses are often signaled with a subordinating conjunction. Here is a partial list of subordinating conjunctions:
- after
- although
- as
- as soon as
- because
- before
- by the time
- even if
- even though
- every time
- if
- in case
- in the event that
- just in case
- now that
- once
- only if
- provided that
- rather than
- since
Example:
I used to live with Malachi, while being in Miami.
Again, the italicized portion of this sentence could not stand on its own; it is dependent on the main idea of the sentence (and that is why they call it a dependent clause).
Semicolons
You could also fix comma splices with the often misunderstood semicolon. A semicolon was designed for situations like these. As long as the two clauses are related, the semicolon is here to help.
Merlin turned Morgana into a ferret; Morgana was not pleased.
The semicolon works here, because the second clause expands upon what is going on. Note that one normally does not capitalize after a semicolon, but it is necessary in this case, because “Morgana” is a proper noun.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that join, or coordinate, two or more items (such as words, main clauses or sentences) of equal syntactic importance.
Some examples of coordinating conjunctions in English and what they do:
• For – presents rationale ("They do not gamble or smoke, for they are ascetics")
• And – presents non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke")
• Nor – presents a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble, nor do they smoke")
• But – presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke")
• Or – presents an alternative item or idea ("Every day they gamble, or they smoke")
• Yet – presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke")
• So – presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night, so he smoked a cigar to celebrate")
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words and groups of words of equal weight in a sentence. There are many different pairs of correlative conjunctions:
• either...or
• not only...but (also)
• neither...nor
• both...and
• whether...or
• just as...so
• the...the
• as...as
• as much...as
• no sooner...than
• rather...than
Examples:
• You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office. (Either do or prepare)
• He is not only handsome but also brilliant. (Not only A but also B)
• Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
• Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well.
• You must decide whether you stay or you go.
• Just as many Americans love basketball, so many Canadians love ice hockey.
• The more you practice dribbling, the better you will be at it.
• Football is as fast as hockey (is).
• Football is as much an addiction as it is a sport.
• No sooner did she learn to ski than the snow began to thaw.
• I would rather swim than surf.
Subordinating conjunctions, also called Subordinators, are conjunctions that join an independent clause and a dependent clause, and also introduce adverb clauses. The most common subordinating conjunctions in the English language include: after, although, as, as far as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, every time, if, in order that, since, so, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever and while.