Common Mistakes in Grammar and How to Fix Them

Grammar is arguably the most crucial thing in writing. Even minor grammar mistakes can ruin your work. Actually, grammar errors confuse readers and make the text look unprofessional. Therefore, no matter what, never compromise on grammar.

However, grammar mistakes are easy to miss. While writing, we overlook many mistakes. But don’t worry. With a bit of attention, we can easily find and rectify grammar mistakes.

But for that purpose, you must know the most common grammar mistakes and learn how to fix them. And that’s where this article can help. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Inaccurate Capitalization

Capitalization rules are easy to mess up. But they’re straightforward once you know the rules. Capitalize proper nouns. Titles? Only when they’re part of a name.

• Incorrect: “I will meet you at the Park.”
• Correct: “I will meet you at the park.”

“Park” doesn’t need to be capitalized unless it’s part of a name. If it’s just a regular park, keep it lowercase.

Job titles trip people up, too:

• Incorrect: “The president of the company is John.”
• Correct: “President John is in charge.”

If the title is part of a name, capitalize it. Otherwise, keep it lowercase. It’s easy once you get the hang of it.

Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Subject-verb agreement is one of the most common grammar mistakes that even native writers make sometimes. Although it’s very simple, many don’t understand it.

Let’s understand what it is!

The verb must complement the subject. For instance, if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. Sounds easy. Here’s a catch!

• “The team are playing great cricket.”

This sentence is inaccurate. Actually, no matter how many members there are in a team, “Team” is always singular. So, the verb should be singular as well. So, the correct sentence is,

• “The team is playing great cricket.”

Have a look at another example:

• Incorrect sentence: “The group of students were tired after the trip.”
• Correct sentence: “The group of students was tired after the trip.”

Again, the main subject is “group,” which is singular, so the verb should also be singular.

Sentence Fragment

Fragments are unfinished thoughts. Often, we read sentences that look incomplete and don’t convey any message. They can leave readers scratching their heads. These incomplete sentences not only reflect unprofessionalism but also ruin the content flow. Therefore, you must avoid them. In simple words, if a sentence doesn’t make sense, it’s a fragment.

Example:

• Incorrect: “Running through the park.”
• Correct: “She was running through the park.”

The first one doesn’t convey any message. It misses the subject, which is an essential element of a sentence.

Here’s another example:

• Incorrect: “Although she was tired.”
• Correct: “Although she was tired, she finished her homework.”

This sentence started with a dependent clause but missed the independent one. Therefore, it’s also an example of sentence fragments.

Using Double Negatives

Double negatives are very confusing for both writers and readers. Remember, two negatives make a positive. So, that’s why don’t use double negatives. Let’s look at the examples of double negatives.

• Incorrect: “I don’t need no help.”
• Correct: “I don’t need any help.”

I don’t need no help means “I need help.” Remember this rule: Don’t mix up “don’t” and “no.” One is enough.

Overuse of Passive Voice

The passive voice is sneaky. It hides the action. The worst thing about passive voice is that the subject becomes the receiver, not the doer. And that’s fine in some cases, but too much of it weakens your writing.

Examples of passive voice and active voice sentences:

• Passive voice: “The homework was completed by Sarah.”
• Active voice: “Sarah completed the homework.”

An active voice is cleaner, more direct, and shows who’s performing the act. Therefore, you should prefer writing in an active voice as it is more understandable and direct.

But sometimes, passive voice is helpful. For example, when the doer doesn’t matter:

“The book was published last year.”

Here, who published it doesn’t matter. We just care about the action.

Incomplete Comparisons

Incomplete comparisons leave readers hanging. You tell them something is bigger, faster, or better, but you don’t explain it compared to what. It’s like saying, “She’s the best,” and not explaining who she’s the best at.

Here is an example of an incomplete comparison!

• Incorrect: “She is taller.”
• Correct: “She is taller than her brother.”

Now we know what’s being compared! It’s clear. Always finish your comparisons.

Here’s another example:

• Incorrect: “This book is more interesting.”
• Correct: “This book is more interesting than the last one I read.”

Remember, comparisons always need context. Without it, they don’t make any sense at all.

Incorrect Punctuation Marks

Punctuation marks are tiny, but they pack a punch. One small mistake, and your entire sentence can be misunderstood. For instance, comma splices are a big problem for content creators. 

They ruin the content flow and make it hard to read.

Example:

• Incorrect: “I went to the store, I bought some milk.”
• Correct: “I went to the store, and I bought some milk.”

You can’t just throw a comma between two independent clauses. That’s a comma splice. Add a conjunction like “and” or break it up with a period.

Apostrophes can also cause confusion:

• Incorrect: “The dog’s are playing outside.”
• Correct: “The dogs are playing outside.”

Apostrophes show possession. Not plurals. Be careful with them!

How to Fix Grammar Issues? 

Fixing grammar issues isn’t quite difficult at all. Just follow these simple techniques, and you will be able to spot and rectify all grammar issues.

Learn Common Grammar Rules

First, learn standard grammar rules. Basically, most of the users are not well-versed in all grammar rules. In fact, many don’t know some common language rules. As a result, when they write content, they make various grammar mistakes. To avoid and fix such issues, familiarize yourself with all conventions. You can read grammar books, watch videos, and use online grammar exercises for that purpose.

Proofread Ruthlessly

Sometimes, we know the grammar rules but still fail to detect various mistakes while writing content. These short mistakes can ruin your content’s flow and make it look unprofessional. The solution? Ruthless proofreading!

Whenever you proofread your content, keep one goal in mind: finding errors. This approach will help you find all imperfections in the text and remove them before you send it anywhere.

Use an Online Grammar Checker

Fortunately, finding and fixing grammar issues is no longer difficult for anyone. With the help of an online grammar checker, you can instantly find all the grammar mistakes in your content and fix them immediately. 

Impressively, an AI-powered grammar checker can even detect subtle mistakes that you might ignore while proofreading. Therefore, whenever you proofread your content, make sure to utilize an advanced grammar check tool. It will ensure grammar accuracy and allow you to write error-free content.

Conclusion

Grammar mistakes happen to everyone. But don’t let them stop you! By keeping an eye out for subject-verb agreement, sentence fragments, double negatives, and the other pitfalls we’ve talked about, you’ll be a grammar master in no time.

Grammar is the backbone of clear writing. A well-written sentence communicates your ideas effectively. So, next time you write, take a moment. Check your work. Fix those little mistakes. It’ll make your writing stronger and clearer. Let the grammar work begin!