Whether we’re penning a novel, crafting a blog post, or composing a business proposal, the goal is clear: to communicate our ideas as clearly and effectively as possible. And while storytelling and creativity are at the heart of writing, proper grammar is what ensures that your words resonate with readers in the way you intend.
I get a lot of grammar related questions, so I wanted to put together a list of common ones, as well as some tips for success:
1. Misusing Apostrophes
Apostrophes cause more confusion than they should, and many writers struggle with when to use them correctly. Here are the two primary cases:
Possession: Use an apostrophe to show that something belongs to someone or something.
Correct: The cat's toy (the toy of the cat).
Incorrect: The cats toy (this would imply that there’s a plural subject, but no possession is indicated).
Contractions: Apostrophes are used in contractions to replace missing letters.
Correct: Don’t (Do not), It’s (It is).
Incorrect: Its (possessive form of "it") vs. It’s (contraction for "it is" or "it has").
Tip: A helpful rule of thumb is that if you're indicating possession, the apostrophe typically goes after the s (e.g., the dogs' bones if it's multiple dogs), and if you're using a contraction, the apostrophe replaces the omitted letter(s).
2. Confusing Homophones
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. These can be tricky, especially when writing quickly or in a rush. Some common examples include:
There, Their, They’re
There: Refers to a place.
Example: I left my keys over there.
Their: Shows possession.
Example: Their house is beautiful.
They’re: Contraction of "they are."
Example: They’re going to the party tonight.
Your vs. You’re
Your: A possessive adjective.
Example: Is this your pen?
You’re: Contraction for "you are."
Example: You’re the best writer I know!
Tip: When writing, slow down and double-check your homophones. Reading your sentence out loud can often help you identify whether you’ve used the correct one.
3. Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment occurs when a sentence is incomplete and lacks a subject or a verb (or both). Sentence fragments can confuse readers and make your writing sound disjointed.
Incorrect: While going to the store.
Correct: While going to the store, I ran into an old friend.
To avoid sentence fragments, ensure that every sentence has at least one subject and one verb, and that it expresses a complete thought.
Tip: If your sentence leaves you wondering, “What happens next?” it’s probably a fragment.
4. Run-On Sentences
Run-on sentences happen when two or more independent clauses (complete thoughts) are joined incorrectly. This can happen if you don’t use punctuation or conjunctions properly.
Incorrect: I love writing books I have so many ideas.
Correct: I love writing books, and I have so many ideas.
Or: I love writing books. I have so many ideas.
Tip: If you find yourself out of breath while reading a sentence, you might need to break it up into smaller, more digestible parts. Always make sure your independent clauses are properly punctuated or joined by conjunctions.
5. Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural). A common mistake happens when writers mix up singular and plural forms.
Incorrect: The team are playing well.
Correct: The team is playing well.
(Note: "Team" is a collective noun and is treated as singular.)Incorrect: She don’t like coffee.
Correct: She doesn’t like coffee.
Tip: Pay attention to whether the subject is singular or plural, and ensure the verb matches. If you’re unsure, always check whether the verb is in its singular or plural form.
6. Using "Less" vs. "Fewer" Incorrectly
"Less" and "fewer" are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t always correct in that context. The distinction is important, and here’s when to use each:
Fewer: Use for countable objects or things that can be individually counted.
Example: Fewer apples, fewer books.
Less: Use for uncountable quantities or things that can't be divided into individual units.
Example: Less water, less time.
Tip: If you can count the noun (like books, people, or ideas), use "fewer." If you’re talking about something that can’t be counted (like sugar, sand, or air), use "less."
7. Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier occurs when a descriptive phrase doesn’t clearly or logically modify the noun it’s supposed to describe, leading to confusion or a humorous, unintended meaning.
Incorrect: Running to the store, the rain started.
Correct: While I was running to the store, the rain started.
In the incorrect sentence, it seems as though "the rain" was running to the store. The correction clarifies that "I" was running.
Tip: Ensure your modifiers clearly describe the subject of the sentence. If in doubt, place the modifier as close to the noun it’s modifying as possible.
8. Incorrect Use of Commas
Commas are necessary for clarity and flow, but many writers misplace or omit them. Here are some common pitfalls:
Incorrect: I went to the store and bought apples oranges and bananas.
Correct: I went to the store and bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
Tip: Use commas to separate items in a list. The last comma before “and” is optional (Oxford comma), but it can often add clarity.
Incorrect: After the meeting we went to lunch.
Correct: After the meeting, we went to lunch.
Tip: If a pause is needed in a sentence, that’s usually a sign you should add a comma.
To you and your book!
Megan