What Are Some Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid?

What Are Some Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid?

 Have you ever wondered why your scores remain low in essay writing? Low scores can be attributed partly to grammatical errors, among other reasons. All students or seasoned writers have been victims of making grammatical errors, and that is an undeniable fact. Making grammatical errors is common, especially when you subject your essay to self-editing. Even though most students proofread their work, there still will be grammatical mistakes, mainly because no human is perfect or is simply unnoticeable based on the student's knowledge level.

This blog will enumerate some common grammar mistakes students and writers make. The first sound principle of change is awareness. This article will create the awareness necessary to bring change to your essay writing scores. Therefore, buckle up as you engage in this delightful journey.



What Are Grammar Mistakes?
Grammatical errors are parts of text that do not observe standard grammar rules. Some examples include errors involving word order, subject/verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and parts of speech.

Common Grammatical Errors That Students Make.



Here are some common grammatical errors you are likely to make as a student. The explanations provided below will be brief, and it is advisable if you want to learn more to make a point of consulting a grammatical handbook. The grammar mistakes include:

 	
Use of a sentence fragment- a complete sentence constitutes a subject and a predicate. The subject refers to what [or whom] the sentence is about, while the predicate tells us more about the subject. Whenever you write a sentence, ensure it contains a grammatically complete thought that can stand independently as an acceptable sentence. An example of a sentence fragment is:

Because there were disagreements- writing a sentence like the one illustrated leaves the readers hanging. It can be corrected by stating, “The meeting was postponed because of disagreements."

 	
Use of a faulty pronoun reference- a faulty pronoun reference does not refer clearly and unambiguously to its antecedent [ noun]. When writing essays, you should ensure that the pronouns used are clearly illustrated with respect to the nouns they refer. An example of a faulty pronoun in a sentence include;

Incorrect sentence- The buyer called the mortgage office, but they did not pick up. In this sentence, it is not clear who "they" refer to.

Correct version- The buyer called the mortgage office, but no brokers picked up.

 	
Use of passive voice- professors have often maligned the passive voice as a distasteful habit. A passive voice happens when the object of a sentence is put at the beginning instead of at the end. If you write an essay with a definitive subject, it is better to employ the active voice. The active voice is generally preferred as it makes the essay clearer and more understandable. Some instances may necessitate the use of passive voice, for example, when the thing receiving the action or the action itself is the essential part of the sentence and not the doer.

Passive voice- Some mangoes were bought by me.

Active voice- I bought some mangoes.

 	
Omitted commas and use of extra commas- omitted commas is a common mistake even among seasoned writers. A comma is a punctuation mark that aids the reader to make meaning of your sentences. A comma is often used to show when to take a pause between ideas or reveal the link between the words themselves. Some students make another grave mistake of unnecessarily overusing the commas, referred to as the use of superfluous commas. Either way underuse or overuse of commas may cause sentences to lose the intended meaning.

Incorrect- The term, “web development,” is a common term among tech gurus.

Correct- The term “web development” is a common term among tech gurus.

With modern technological developments, AI tools like Grammarly will help you correct unnoticeable punctuation errors.

Misspelt words are probably one of the most typical errors and one that is heavily judged and could weigh in in rating the essay. Misspelling words is an avoidable mistake if the requisite measures are taken. Every time you complete an essay, you should proofread it to ensure it is devoid of misspelt words. Afterward, you can ask a friend to revise your essay to pick up on what you missed. With the technological improvements today, you can also use AI tools to correct your essay in preparation for submission to the professor.

 	
Use of dangling modifiers- a dangling modifier happens when the intended subject of the modifier is missing from the sentence, and instead, another subject appears in its place. A dangling modifier will often take the form of an introductory phrase connected to the wrong thing. When a sentence does not clearly state the subject being modified, the introductory phrase becomes a dangling modifier. Examples of a dangling modifier include;

Incorrect- Having been mentally unstable, it was difficult to concentrate.

Correct – Having been mentally unstable, Peter had difficulty concentrating.

 	
Use of possessive nouns- possessive nouns are generally used to denote ownership. The use of possessive nouns can be confusing; for example,


 	
How do you make a noun ending in “s” possessive?
 	
What are the correct possessive forms of plural nouns?

There are four types of possessive nouns which include:

 	
Singular possessive nouns- father’s hat
 	
Plural possessive nouns- fathers’ responsibilities.
 	
Possessive pronouns- Sarah’s parking spot is closer than mine.
 	
Irregular possessive nouns- wolves’ den [singular: wolf’s den]


 	
Use of incomplete comparisons- comparisons should depict what the subject is being compared to. An incomplete comparison occurs when it is unclear what the subject is being compared to. It would help if you made discernible to the readers what something is being compared to. For example,

Incorrect- He is taller

Correct- He is taller of the two friends



Grammar mistakes are common, and most are due to the blooming oblivion among the general population. The first step towards any form of learning is interest. Most of the grammar mistakes in any form of essay writing are avoidable. Grammar is guided by rules that, if you devote yourself to understanding, will save you the mortification that comes with an incoherent essay. This article has enumerated some common mistakes, but as a student, you can always set some time apart to better yourself. Avoiding the illustrated mistakes in this essay will quickly result in skyrocketing of your score rates.

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