20 Grammar Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

In this blog post you’ll learn 20 grammar mistakes you should avoid making.

Everyone carries a propensity to make grammar mistakes – that’s a fact of life.

Even a native speaker or an academic writer isn’t immune from making these errors.

But then again, it doesn’t mean making them in your writing is acceptable, especially when you get accustomed to making them.

The highest bar is set when people judge you based on your writing skills.

Making grammar mistakes profoundly affects your credibility and the effectiveness of your communication.

These errors will likely undermine the impression you’re trying to create when writing, especially for an audience that values language precision, i.e., academic, business, or professional settings.

For one, mistakes often distract readers. It means they may fail to absorb the message you’re trying to convey.

When your audience doesn’t get your message, your writing piece is no longer as informative or persuasive as you’d hoped.

It’s not just about the superficial impression of ‘looking professional’ – clear and correct language use determines whether your proposal is accepted, your research is taken seriously, or your report is understood.

In a more personal context, consistent grammar mistakes afford the impression that you’re not putting enough care or effort into your writing.

As a result, it’ll be harder for you to build relationships or networks since someone will eventually question your attention to detail or your commitment to clear communication.

Higher Stakes in Writing

The stakes are high in writing – particularly in the professional context. Neophytes may not notice it at first, but one grammatical error can potentially alter a sentence’s meaning. It may lead to misrepresentation, confusion, and even legal issues. In the academe and business, where the precision of language is paramount, a well-constructed sentence showcases your grasp of the subject matter and ability to articulate complex ideas.

On the other hand, frequent grammar mistakes could even erode a writer’s credibility and professionalism. For example, in academic writing, errors aren’t merely simple oversights; they’re viewed as a lack of rigour in research. In business, communication errors will easily cost deals, misrepresent data, or even ruin reputations. Grammatical constructs and punctuation mistakes could distort the intended message, causing unnecessary business risks or losses.

Written communication usually serves as a first impression. An email with grammar mistakes will defeat the very purpose of your message – to be taken seriously. Alternatively, a well-written email will earn you respect and build your reputation as reliable and professional.

In essence, grammar mistakes should never be overlooked. Whether in business or personal writing, you must pay careful attention to the correctness of language use. Brushing up on grammar rules takes time and effort, but it’s the only road to writing effectively.

As a writer, you must be aware of common grammar mistakes and work tirelessly to avoid them.

Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

1 – The Use of Apostrophes

Apostrophes are frequently misused in writing, leading to common grammar mistakes.

The most prevalent error is the confusion between “its” (possessive form of “it”) and “it’s” (contraction of “it is” or “it has”).

For instance, in the sentence “The dog wagged it’s tail,” the correct form should be “its” without the apostrophe.

Another common mistake is using an apostrophe for plurals, often referred to as “greengrocer’s apostrophes,” as in “Apple’s for sale,” which should instead be “Apples for sale.”

To avoid these mistakes, you mustn’t forget that apostrophes are used for two main purposes: to indicate possession, as in “Mike’s bike,” and to signify contractions, as in “can’t” for “cannot.”

Apostrophes aren’t designed to be used to form plurals. Also, “its” is the possessive form of “it,” while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”

Always proofread your work to check for incorrect apostrophe use.

A good tip is to read your text out loud, expanding any contractions. Doing so lets you notice if you have used an apostrophe where it isn’t needed.

2 – Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Subject-verb agreement is an indispensable aspect of grammar that every writer must master down to the smallest details.

It refers to the correct pairing of subjects and verbs, whether singular or plural.

Many writers, even experienced ones, make the mistake of using a verb that doesn’t agree with its associated subject. Here’s an example: “The group of students are studying” when it should be “The group of students is studying.” Another one is “The dog play” should instead be “The dog plays.”

Your job is to pay close attention to the subject and verb agreement rules.

A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject calls for a plural verb. It’s that simple. However, some exceptions apply in more advanced writing, i.e., using collective nouns or indefinite pronouns. So, you must first determine whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing the right verb form.

3 – Comma Splices

Commas are punctuation marks meant to separate items in a list, introduce additional information or clauses, and create pauses for clarity and emphasis. However, many writers make the mistake of using commas incorrectly by splicing them between two complete sentences without inserting appropriate conjunctions like “and,” “but,” or “because.”

In the sentence, “She loves ice cream, she eats it every day.”

The two parts could be individual sentences, but splicing them with a comma makes the reader stutter or pause inappropriately. Instead, it’s better to use a semicolon; “She loves ice cream; she eats it every day.” Another way is to add a conjunction, “She loves ice cream, so she eats it every day.”

4 – Prepositions

Ending a sentence with a preposition is quite a common grammar mistake in writing.

Prepositions are words used to show location, direction, time, or possession.

They’re usually placed before a noun and link it to another word in the sentence.

Ending a sentence with a preposition usually occurs when writers try to sound more formal or grandiose, but it’s grammatically incorrect.

For example, instead of saying, “Where do you come from?” some people would say, “From where do you come?”

While the two versions make sense and are grammatical in their own right, using prepositions at the end is generally accepted as the better writing style.

5 – Tense Consistency

When writing about events that happened in the past, many writers find themselves switching between tenses frequently.

Although it may seem unimportant at first glance, tense consistency adds coherence to your writing and makes it easier for readers to follow.

The general rule is to use the past tense when referring to past events or actions and the present tense when discussing things that are currently relevant.

For example, “She walked to the store yesterday” should not switch tenses halfway through as in “She walked to the store yesterday but realizes she forgot her money.”

Instead, it should be written: “She walked to the store yesterday but realized she forgot her money.”

6 – Using Passive Voice

Countless writers make this very common mistake of using passive voice.

It happens when you emphasize the action taken on the subject rather than the subject itself. Passive voice also makes sentences longer, less clear, and more formal-sounding.

To avoid this mistake, focus on using active verbs that convey a sense of action and directness in your writing. Consider the following example: “The ball was thrown by John” vs. “John threw the ball.” The latter is shorter, clearer, and sounds better to most readers.

7 – Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences occur when writers join two independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

They make the sentence appear long, confusing, and difficult to read. Often, run-on sentences are caused by a lack of knowledge about how to use commas and semicolons effectively.

You can easily avoid this grammar mistake by learning how to create complete sentences with one independent clause and no more than two dependent clauses embedded within them.

If you’re unsure about the correct punctuation marks, try breaking up your sentence into smaller ones that clearly convey the same message.

8 – Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences that can be easily mistaken for complete ones.

They occur when writers separate a clause or phrase from the main sentence without connecting them correctly.

For example, “He went to school, where he studied all day long.” This sentence isn’t grammatically correct because it lacks a subject and verb in the first clause.

Don’t forget to read your sentences carefully and check whether they represent a complete thought with all the necessary components. If not, combine or rephrase them accordingly.

Doing so will help you avoid sentence fragments and make your writing smoother and more coherent.

9 – Redundancy

Using unnecessary or repetitive words in a single sentence is known as redundancy.

Some writers mistakenly believe that using the same word several times will emphasize its importance, but this approach often has an adverse effect on the reader, who may get bored or confused.

You must avoid this mistake at all times, and doing so is quite straightforward.

Simply try using synonyms or rephrasing sentences to convey the same idea differently.

For example, instead of saying, “I saw it with my own eyes,” you could say, “I witnessed it firsthand.” You’ll notice that your writing remains fresh and engaging for your readers.

10 – Dangling Modifiers

Dangling modifiers are words or phrases that don’t have a clear connection to the rest of the sentence.

You don’t realize it, but you’re probably quite used to this practice. It happens when you use misplaced adjectives and prepositional or participial phrases.

In this example: “Eager to learn, the book was read in one sitting,” the modifier “eager to learn” doesn’t have a clear subject.

It could refer to the person reading the book or the book itself.

You can avoid this mistake by putting your modifiers next to the word they’re modifying so there’s no ambiguity in meaning.

11 – Inconsistent Use of Pronouns

You use pronouns to replace nouns in a sentence, helping avoid repetition and making writing smoother. The problem is that the inconsistent use of pronouns can be confusing to readers, as they might not know which noun the pronoun refers to.

Here’s an example: “Jack and Jill went up the hill. He fell down and broke his crown.” The pronoun “he” could refer to either Jack or Jill, leading to confusion for the reader.

You conveniently avoid this mistake by guaranteeing that your pronouns match their antecedents or the nouns they’re replacing clearly throughout your writing.

Pronouns are quite easy to misuse, but there’s no permission to neglect them.

You should try not to switch between pronouns, use ambiguous ones, or skip them altogether.

If you’re unsure which pronoun to use, revert to the noun it replaces and ensure the message is clear.

12 – Wrong Choice of Word

The English language is full of words that sound similar but have entirely different meanings.

This similarity often causes writers to use the wrong word unknowingly, creating confusion for readers.

This mistake could be subjective, like when you use “affect” instead of “effect,” or objective, like when you write “there” instead of “their.”

The best way to avoid this grammar mistake is to double-check your word choice and proofread your work multiple times.

You can use online tools, i.e., Grammarly or Hemingway Editor, to assist with this task and catch any potentially misused words in your writing.

13 – Inconsistent Capitalization

To be honest, capitalization rules in English are quite tricky, with many exceptions to learn.

However, it’s imperative that you follow these rules consistently, as inconsistent capitalization will distract readers and affect their comprehension of your writing.

Remember the general rule of capitalizing proper nouns (i.e., names of people, places, or organizations) and the first word in each sentence when in doubt.

Also, remember that titles of books, movies, or songs should also be capitalized. If you’re unsure about a specific word’s capitalization, look it up to be safe.

14 – Spelling Errors

Spelling errors are perhaps one of the most common grammar mistakes writers make.

These can occur for various reasons, like lack of attention when typing or not knowing how to spell a particular word correctly.

In any case, spelling errors show a lack of care and professionalism towards your writing.

The good news is many tools are available to help you correct your spelling mistakes, from spell-checkers in word-processing software to online tools like Grammarly.

However, don’t rely solely on these tools and ensure that you proofread your work carefully to catch any errors that may have been missed.

15 – Wrong Use of Commas in a Series

Misusing commas in a series is another grammar mistake you can easily avoid but are making all the time.

When listing items in a sentence, you should use a comma after each item except for the last one.

For example, “I need apples, bananas, and oranges.”

However, many writers mistakenly add an extra comma before the conjunction “and,” creating what’s known as an Oxford or serial comma.

While this isn’t necessarily incorrect grammatically, it can create ambiguity or confusion for readers.

Always double-check your use of commas when listing items.

The idea here is to be consistent. So, if you choose to use the Oxford comma, see that you use it in all similar sentences throughout your writing.

16 – Absence of an Introductory Comma

This is one of those mistakes that you don’t feel like you’re making, but the truth is that it’s quite common.

It occurs when an introductory clause or phrase isn’t separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

For example, “While studying for my exam I fell asleep” should have a comma after the word “exam” to separate the introductory phrase “while studying for my exam.”

This mistake changes the meaning of your sentence and makes it harder to read. Always use a comma after introductory clauses or phrases to avoid this error.

17 – Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are unique in that they can change the meaning of a sentence depending on where you place them.

In the most basic sense, they indicate direct quotes, articles or short work titles and emphasize certain words.

In the English language, there are two types of quotation marks: double quotes (” “) and single quotes (‘ ‘).

The general rule is to use double quotes for direct quotes and titles, while single quotes should be reserved for nested quotations within a sentence.

The improper use of quotation marks breeds confusion for readers, making your writing appear unprofessional.

Always pay attention when using them and use the correct type according to the context in which they’re being used.

For instance, in British English, the opposite convention is followed, i.e., single quotes are used for direct quotes, while double quotes are used for nested quotes.

18 – Who versus That

Another common grammar mistake is using “who” when you should use “that,” and vice versa. In general, “who” refers to people, while “that” can refer to both people and things. So, when referring to a person, always use “who.”

For example, “The man who sold me the bike.”

However, if you’re talking about a group of people or an organization as a whole, then you should use “that.”

For instance, “The company that produces the best laptops in the market.” It’s amazing how obvious this rule is, but it’s often overlooked in everyday writing. Remember, people are “who,” and things are “that.”

19 – Missing Words

Usually, conjunctions and prepositions are the words readers expect to see connecting phrases and clauses.

However, some writers habitually omit these small but important words in their sentences, creating incomplete thoughts.

It happens when writers try to sound more formal or concise and remove essential connecting words.

It’s easy to avoid making this mistake: make it a point to read your writing aloud to detect any missing words; it’s easier to spot them when you hear them being spoken out loud.

Likewise, pay attention to the structure of your sentences; if a word is necessary for the sentence to make sense, it should be included.

20 – Too Many Long Sentences

Long sentences with multiple clauses joined together by conjunctions aren’t just confusing but tiring for readers to follow along.

It’s tempting as a writer to string together long sentences, as you have a lot to say, but it’s your job to break them up into shorter and more manageable pieces. The general rule is to aim for an average sentence length of 20-25 words.

Also, consider using punctuation like semicolons, em dashes, or periods to break up long sentences. Give your readers’ brains a break by using shorter and simpler sentence structures.

Remember, you don’t want to lose their attention halfway through because of a convoluted sentence structure.

These grammar mistakes barely scratch the surface of what can go wrong with your writing.

The key takeaway here is that even professional writers make mistakes; it’s how you work to improve and avoid them in the future that counts.

It’s all about putting in the effort and time to go through your draft at least once to catch any of these common errors.

Last Thoughts on 20 Grammar Mistakes You Should Avoid Making.

it’s important to remember that mastering grammar is an ongoing process, filled with nuanced rules and exceptions that can challenge even the most proficient speakers and writers.

The 20 grammar mistakes we’ve dissected today are just the tip of the iceberg, but avoiding them will undoubtedly sharpen your communication skills and boost your confidence in crafting impeccable sentences.

Whether you’re penning a novel, drafting an email, or simply sending a text, taking the time to double-check your grammar paves the way for clear, professional, and effective expression.

So bookmark this post, keep your grammar guide handy, and step forward into your next writing endeavor with the assurance that your prose will be as polished as your ideas.