Top 10 Grammar Mistakes That Will Lower Your Writing Quality
When you write good material, your readers see you in a positive manner. The same can be said for writing bad material and getting a negative view. However, the negativity can all be avoided if proper grammar is used. Grammar proofreading is important because when we write, we tend to overlook a lot of the grammatical errors we make. From my experience of proofreading and editing, I have compiled 10 grammar mistakes that I saw and what you should watch out for.
1. Mixing up Its and It’s
This is a common error that even elementary kids make. One shows possession and the other shows what something is.
Example 1
Incorrect: The cat was licking it’s paws.
Correct: The cat was licking its (it is) paws.
Example 2
Incorrect: Its becoming a cloudy day.
Correct: It’s becoming a cloudy day.
2. Necessary Use of Commas
Not separating a compound sentence with a comma can confuse the idea of the sentence.
Incorrect: The girls jumped into the convertible and drove away to the party before being seen.
Correct: The girls jumped into the convertible, and drove away to the party before being seen.
3. Misused Pronoun Reference
Referring to a person, place, or thing by a pronoun is another method to replace the noun so there’s no repetition. However, the reference must be used correctly to get the correct idea of the sentence.
Incorrect: When Jenny found her mom, she was happy. (This doesn’t specify if Jenny was happy or if her was happy.)
Correct: Jenny was really happy when she found her mom.
4. Using Proper Words
Mixing up different words, which sounds the same, but can hinder the meaning of the sentence.
Example 1
Incorrect: She excepted the job offer.
Correct: She accepted the job offer.
Example 2
Incorrect: What was the affect on the liver for binge drinking so much?
Correct: What was the effect on the liver for bine drinking so much?
5. Run-On Sentence
A run-on happens when there is no connection between two different clauses in one sentence.
Incorrect: He was copying someone else’s paper on the test his teacher saw him cheating.
Correct: He was copying someone else’s paper on the test, but his teacher saw him cheating.
6. Overusing commas
Comas should be to separate ideas and clauses. Overusing them unnecessarily would lower the quality of your writing.
Incorrect: He can’t decide if he should go to school to get a MD, or a PhD.
Correct: He can’t decide if he should go to school to get a MD or a PhD.
7. No Proper Parallelism
Sentences must have a similar structure, hence parallel for it to be grammatically correct.
Incorrect: He was interested in buying a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus.
Correct: He was interested in buying a BMW, a Mercedes, and a Lexus.
8. The TH trio
They’re, their, and there can easily be mixed up so, it’s imperative to get this right.
Example 1
Incorrect: The kids decided to leave they’re bikes and walk to the park.
Correct: The kids decided to leave their bikes and walk to the park.
Example 2
Incorrect: They’re are two kids who were looking out the window.
Correct: There are two kids who were looking out the window.
Example 3
Incorrect: Their watching a Netflix show on the laptop.
Correct: They’re watching a Netflix show on the laptop.
9. Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and the verb must agree with one another in order for the sentence to be complete.
Incorrect: The two best things about college is the parties and friends.
Correct: The two best things about college are the parties and friends.
10. Fragmented Sentences
This happens when a sentence cannot stand-alone and it’s an incomplete sentence. Another way to look at it is, a sentence that has missing verb or subject, making it incomplete.
Incorrect: He gave his wife a very expensive gift after their fight. In spite of everything.
Correct: In spite of everything, he gave his wife a very expensive gift after their fight.
These are the top grammar mistakes, which can lower the quality of your writing. These mistakes are excusable for kids but not for adults. Therefore, make sure to get grammar proofreading of your paper before submission.
