Common Grammatical Errors and How to Correct

Common Grammatical Errors and How to Correct

 Grammar errors are common even with proficient writers. It is understandable to make a grammar mistake, especially when you are fully immersed in the creative process and have little time for proofreading. However, after you have crafted your essay, you must pause and ensure that your sentences are structured correctly. This piece will delve into the most prevalent grammar mistakes and offer solutions to rectify them.

What Are Grammatical Errors?

A grammatical error is a mistake in the use of language, particularly in the structure and form of sentences. These errors can hinder the readers’ understanding of the text and make it challenging to grasp the intended meaning. It is essential to proofread and correct these errors to ensure clarity and effective communication in your paper.

There are different types of writing mistakes, and It is essential to differentiate grammar errors from the other types. Grammar errors pertain to sentence structure and form issues, making it difficult for readers to understand what you are trying to communicate. These errors often occur when constructing sentences incorrectly, such as mixing up commonly confused words or improperly joining two independent clauses.

Factual errors: They involve using incorrect information or facts in your writing. These errors can misinform or mislead the reader.

Typographical errors: These are mistakes that occur due to pressing the wrong key on the keyboard, leading to misspelled words, missing or extra characters, or formatting issues.

Grammar errors are distinct because the English language adheres to established grammar rules, making it possible for you to find out right from wrong. By learning and being vigilant about the most common grammatical errors, you can ensure your writing is clear, compelling, and free from such mistakes.

Common Grammatical Errors

 	
Commas.

The inappropriate use of commas is one of the most prevalent grammar errors. Commas have three primary functions:

 	
To separate items in a sentence
 	
combining compound phrases
 	
Following the opening phrases

To separate items in a sentence

The primary rationale for using commas is to distinguish words within your list. It is essential to insert a comma between each item in the list to make it evident that they are distinct elements.

Here are some illustrations of how to employ commas to set apart items in your list:

- Would you like whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or rainbow sprinkles on your ice cream sundae?

Segregate clauses in a compound sentence

A compound sentence is a sentence that links two independent clauses. Each clause can function independently as a standalone and comprehensive sentence in a compound sentence.

Typically, these clauses are linked by a coordinating conjunction like "and," "or," or "but," and a comma should be placed to separate the two clauses. For example:

- Do you want to accompany me to the store, or would you rather stay at home?

Also, use a comma after introductory terms like "after," "however," "although," "indeed," "unless," "before," "but," "and," "yet," "so," and so on. Without it, the passage may become a run-on phrase.

If you naturally pause when delivering the statement, a comma should be placed at that time.

 	
Subject / Verb Agreement

Another prevalent grammatical error involves the mismatch between the subject and the verb in terms of number agreement.

A sentence with a single subject requires a singular verb (e.g., "he is"). In contrast, when a sentence contains multiple subjects, you should employ a plural verb (e.g., "they are").

Here are instances of subject/verb agreement:

 	
Incorrect: "My university have strict rules, and we are often punished for breaking them."

Correct: "My university has strict rules, and we are often punished for breaking them."

 	
Incorrect: "Your books is placed on the table."

Correct: "Your books are placed on the table."

 	
Incorrect: "Most of you is scoring high grades in maths.”

Correct: “Most of you are scoring high grades in maths.”

 	
Use of Pronouns

Pronoun mistakes manifest in sentences where the pronoun does not match in number with the noun it refers to.

When dealing with a plural subject ( "Frank and Joy"), the pronoun used to refer to that subject must consistently be plural ( "they," "themselves").

For a singular subject ( "Frank"), the appropriate pronoun to refer to that subject should be singular ( "he," "himself").

Correcting pronoun errors is a straightforward task. Select the proper pronoun to restore coherence to your sentence.

Here are instances of using pronouns correctly:

- Incorrect: "Out here, it's every man for themselves."

Correct: " Out here, it's every man for himself."

- Incorrect: "The kitties were so overjoyed to see me, she were all over me when I walked into the shelter."

Correct: "The kitties were so overjoyed to see me; they were all over me when I walked into the shelter."

- Incorrect: "I instructed my children to put her ball away once she finishes playing with them."

Correct: "I told my children to put their ball away once they finished playing with them."

 	
Using Apostrophe

A common source of errors in writing involves the incorrect use of apostrophes.

Apostrophes serve two primary purposes:

 	
To form contractions.
 	
To indicate possession.

 Form a contractions 

A contraction is formed by shortening or combining words, often by omitting certain letters. An apostrophe is inserted in the place where letters have been removed.

Examples:

- "Is not" becomes "isn't."

- "Could have" becomes "could've."

- "She had" becomes "she'd."

    Indicate possession.

The second role of apostrophes is to denote possession. In such cases, the apostrophe is placed before the additional "s." However, it's crucial to note that apostrophes can not be used after possessive pronouns like "his," "hers," "their," "theirs," "yours," or "ours."

Examples of how to use apostrophes to indicate possession:

Correct: "I am heading to Miami to meet my father's new girlfriend."

Correct: " The chalk smudges on the teacher's chalkboard make it difficult to read his writing."

Incorrect: “That apartment over there is her’s.”

Correct: “That apartment over there is hers.”

 	
Colons and Semicolons

Writers often need help distinguishing between colons and semicolons' functions, leading to punctuation errors.

Colons are used when you are about to present a list, an explanation, or occasionally a quotation. Here are examples of how to appropriately use colons:

- "The local cuisine offers three ice cream flavors: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla."

- "This was his dream car: a Mercedez Benz."

- "My grandfather always said: 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'"

Semicolons, on the other hand, should solely be used to link independent clauses. If each clause is a complete sentence, you can separate them with a semicolon rather than a coordinating conjunction and a comma.

Here are examples of how to correctly use semicolons:

- "I can't eat chocolate; I am allergic to it."

- "She has never seen a rainbow; it was much more lovely than she could have thought."

- "You have no idea what you did wrong; it feels like everyone's blaming you for no reason."

To become a good writer, you should be aware of these common grammatical errors and practice identifying and correcting them. Additionally, proofreading and seeking feedback from others can help you catch and rectify these mistakes.