1. Grammar Mistakes

2. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #1: Homophones

3. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #1: Homophones
Homophones are words that sound alike, but that have different spellings and meanings. Here are some of the more frequently confused homophones:

4. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #1: Homophones
Homophones are words that sound alike, but that have different spellings and meanings. Here are some of the more frequently confused homophones:
accept / except
As a business manager, it is important to accept responsibility for employees you oversee.
All of the rooms have wireless access, except the storeroom.

5. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
affect / effect
That book will definitely affect the way you think about this issue.
That class had a dramatic effect on my GPA.

6. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
affect / effect
That book will definitely affect the way you think about this issue.
That class had a dramatic effect on my GPA.
all ready / already
We are all ready for the exam to begin.
I can’t believe it is already time for the mid-term. .

7. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
affect / effect
That book will definitely affect the way you think about this issue.
That class had a dramatic effect on my GPA.
all ready / already
We are all ready for the exam to begin.
I can’t believe it is already time for the mid-term.
every day / everyday
I sit at the same desk every day.
Stopping at Starbucks is an everyday ritual for me.

8. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
its / it’s
The dog held the chew toy firmly between its paws.
Whenever I start a new class, I know it’s an opportunity to improve myself.

9. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
its / it’s
The dog held the chew toy firmly between its paws.
Whenever I start a new class, I know it’s an opportunity to improve myself.
there / their / they’re
I left my cell phone over there.
I went over to their apartment for a study session.
They’re planning on widening the road just before it starts up the hill.

10. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
to / too / two
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the dentist.
This restaurant is too crowded.
There are only two things I am concerned about.

11. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #2: Sentence Fragments

12. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #2: Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are groups of words that are set off and punctuated as sentences, but are lacking a subject, a verb, or both. Most sentence fragments are simply dependent clauses that need to be joined to an independent clause.

13. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #2: Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are groups of words that are set off and punctuated as sentences, but are lacking a subject, a verb, or both. Most sentence fragments are simply dependent clauses that need to be joined to an independent clause.
Fragment
After waiting for the bus all morning.

14. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #2: Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are groups of words that are set off and punctuated as sentences, but are lacking a subject, a verb, or both. Most sentence fragments are simply dependent clauses that need to be joined to an independent clause.
Fragment
After waiting for the bus all morning.
Complete Sentence
After waiting for the bus all morning, John grew impatient and hailed a taxi.

15. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #3: Awkward Phrases or Sentences

16. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #3: Awkward Phrases or Sentences
While awkward phrases and sentences are not always caused by grammatical errors, I did want to highlight them as a recurring problem in student writing.

17. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #3: Awkward Phrases or Sentences
While awkward phrases and sentences are not always caused by grammatical errors, I did want to highlight them as a recurring problem in student writing.
The most common causes of awkward sentences are wordiness, placement of modifiers, and syntax (word order).

18. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #3: Awkward Phrases or Sentences
While awkward phrases and sentences are not always caused by grammatical errors, I did want to highlight them as a recurring problem in student writing.
The most common causes of awkward sentences are wordiness, placement of modifiers, and syntax (word order).
Awkward
Based on the fact that the author is pessimistic and feels life is not worth it, he is forgetting about his loved ones whom he said he did not want to hurt.

19. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Better
The author's basic pessimism causes him to forget the very loved ones he said he didn't want to hurt.

20. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #4: Run-On Sentences

21. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #4: Run-On Sentences
A run-on is a sentence made up of two independent clauses that are not separated by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

22. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #4: Run-On Sentences
A run-on is a sentence made up of two independent clauses that are not separated by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Run-On
John studied late for the exam he felt prepared when class started.

23. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #4: Run-On Sentences
A run-on is a sentence made up of two independent clauses that are not separated by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Run-On
John studied late for the exam he felt prepared when class started.
Correct
John studied late for the exam, and he felt prepared when class started.

24. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #5: Comma Splices

25. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #5: Comma Splices
A comma splice is a sentence made up of two independent clauses separated only by a comma (no coordinating conjunction).

26. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #5: Comma Splices
A comma splice is a sentence made up of two independent clauses separated only by a comma (no coordinating conjunction).
Comma Splice
Susan likes to try new words, she often consults her thesaurus.

27. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #5: Comma Splices
A comma splice is a sentence made up of two independent clauses separated only by a comma (no coordinating conjunction).
Comma Splice
Susan likes to try new words, she often consults her thesaurus.
Correct
Susan likes to try new words, and she often consults her thesaurus.

28. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #6: Subject / Verb Disagreement

29. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #6: Subject / Verb Disagreement
In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number. A singular subject must be accompanied by a singular verb, and a plural subject must be accompanied by a plural verb.

30. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #6: Subject / Verb Disagreement
In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number. A singular subject must be accompanied by a singular verb, and a plural subject must be accompanied by a plural verb.
Disagreement
The characters in Shakespeare’s third comedy lives in a world that has been turned upside-down.

31. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #6: Subject / Verb Disagreement
In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number. A singular subject must be accompanied by a singular verb, and a plural subject must be accompanied by a plural verb.
Disagreement
The characters in Shakespeare’s third comedy lives in a world that has been turned upside-down.
Agreement
The characters in Shakespeare’s third comedy live in a world that has been turned upside-down.

32. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #7: Vague Pronoun Reference

33. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #7: Vague Pronoun Reference
Vague pronoun reference is when you have a pronoun that could refer to multiple antecedents. (An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers.)

34. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #7: Vague Pronoun Reference
Vague pronoun reference is when you have a pronoun that could refer to multiple antecedents. (An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers.)
Vague Pronoun Reference
The boy and his father knew that he was in trouble.

35. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #7: Vague Pronoun Reference
Vague pronoun reference is when you have a pronoun that could refer to multiple antecedents. (An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers.)
Vague Pronoun Reference
The boy and his father knew that he was in trouble.
Clear Pronoun Reference
The boy and his father knew that the boy was in trouble.

36. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #8: Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement

37. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #8: Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. A singular antecedent requires the use of a singular pronoun, and a plural antecedent requires the use of a plural pronoun.

38. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #8: Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. A singular antecedent requires the use of a singular pronoun, and a plural antecedent requires the use of a plural pronoun.
Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement
Everyone brought their textbook to the first day of class.

39. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #8: Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. A singular antecedent requires the use of a singular pronoun, and a plural antecedent requires the use of a plural pronoun.
Pronoun / Antecedent Disagreement
Everyone brought their textbook to the first day of class.
Pronoun / Antecedent Agreement
Everyone brought his textbook to the first day of class.

40. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
The most common form of pronoun / antecedent disagreement involves the use of singular indefinite pronouns.
Another Everyone Each Nobody Something Anyone Everybody Either One Anybody Everything No One Someone Anything Nothing Neither Somebody

41. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #9: Modifiers

42. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #9: Modifiers
Modifiers are groups of words that modify (or describe) other words in a sentence. The placement of modifiers will affect the clarity and understanding of a sentence.

43. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #9: Modifiers
Modifiers are groups of words that modify (or describe) other words in a sentence. The placement of modifiers will affect the clarity and understanding of a sentence.
Misplaced Modifier
The professor wrote a paper on social networking in his office.

44. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #9: Modifiers
Modifiers are groups of words that modify (or describe) other words in a sentence. The placement of modifiers will affect the clarity and understanding of a sentence.
Misplaced Modifier
The professor wrote a paper on social networking in his office.
The placement of the modifier causes the reader to wonder whether the professor wrote the paper in his office or if the paper is about social networking in his office.

45. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Correct
While in his office, the professor wrote a paper on social networking.

46. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Correct
While in his office, the professor wrote a paper on social networking.
Dangling Modifiers
As a young girl, my father baked bread and gardened.

47. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Correct
While in his office, the professor wrote a paper on social networking.
Dangling Modifiers
As a young girl, my father baked bread and gardened.
This sentence implies that the father was once a girl.

48. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Correct
While in his office, the professor wrote a paper on social networking.
Dangling Modifiers
As a young girl, my father baked bread and gardened.
This sentence implies that the father was once a girl.
When I was a young girl, my father baked bread and gardened.

49. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #10: Unnecessary Tense Shift

50. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #10: Unnecessary Tense Shift
There are three basic verb tenses used in English: past, present, and future. Only shift verb tenses if it is necessary. If you do so without good reason, the reader will find it annoying.

51. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #10: Unnecessary Tense Shift
There are three basic verb tenses used in English: past, present, and future. Only shift verb tenses if it is necessary. If you do so without good reason, the reader will find it annoying.
Unnecessary Tense Shift
Joy laughs until she cried at the stand-up routine of Jerry Seinfeld.

52. Avoiding the Most Common Grammatical Errors
Error #10: Unnecessary Tense Shift
There are three basic verb tenses used in English: past, present, and future. Only shift verb tenses if it is necessary. If you do so without good reason, the reader will find it annoying.
Unnecessary Tense Shift
Joy laughs until she cried at the stand-up routine of Jerry Seinfeld.
Correct
Joy laughed until she cried at the stand-up routine of Jerry Seinfeld.