Common Grammatical Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Well, we all know that #English is a universal language, and everyone wants to learn it. Most people know this language and some are on the path to learning it. We not only need to learn this language, but understand it as well. So, to understand this more thoroughly we need to look at the most #common #grammatical #errors that are done by most of us.

Let's look at some of those mistakes:

Here are some of the grammatical errors which are being made by most people and their solutions that can help you enhance your English:

1. A missing comma or comma splice A #comma must be used after an introductory word, phrase, or any clause. The comma is used to join two clauses that have no appropriate conjunction. These commas help a reader give a slight pause in the sentence and avoid confusion. Example 1: Incorrect: If you haven't noticed my dress is in red. Correct: If you haven't noticed, my dress is in red. Example 2: Incorrect: while I was playing the dog opened the door. Correct: While I was playing, the dog opened the door.

Solution: Missing comma or comma splice is a very common mistake and to avoid this mistake, you just need to understand that comma should be deployed to provide a pause between elements.

2. Errors in using Apostrophes #Apostrophes are used in showing possessions. The exception of the possessive rules is that pronouns show possession without the use of apostrophes. So, you don't need to use those after #my, #mine, #your, #yours, etc.

There are two types of apostrophes:

1) Apostrophe for possessives An apostrophe is used in the possessive form, like Emily's mom or Kiana's birthday. A possessive form is spelt with an apostrophe + "s" at the end.

Note- If a word is ending with "s", then we just put an apostrophe! Example: Incorrect: She is Riyas sister. Correct: She is Riya's sister.

Incorrect: These are parents's book.

Correct: These are parents' book.

2) Apostrophe for contractions: An apostrophe is used in contraction form, like aren't or I'll. In contraction form, the apostrophe is placed where the letter has been removed. Example: Incorrect: They arent coming. Correct: They aren't coming. Solution: There are a lot of types of mistakes that are made in #apostrophe usage and every mistake has its solution. In common cases, you want the plural form of the word, so just add an "s" if you need the possessive form.

3. Mixing of homophones We often get confused in similar words that #sound similar, but their #meaning is different. Some of these words include: “Accept” and “Except” “Affect” and “effect” “Further” and “Farther” “Fair” and “Fare” Example 1: Incorrect: Please except my apology. Correct: Please accept my apology. Example 2: Incorrect: All this rain will effect a great harvest. Correct: All this rain will affect a great harvest. Solution: To avoid mistakes in mixing #homophones, you need to learn many homophones and their pattern to use. This will help you reduce your confusion related to similar words.

4. Indistinct Pronoun Reference An #indistinct #pronoun reference includes words such as it, that, this and so on. Usage of these words can leave a reader confused about what or whom the pronoun refers to. Example 1: Incorrect: When Kiki lost her bitch, she was so sad. (who was sad?) Correct: Kiki was so sad when she lost her bitch. Example 2: Incorrect: The mother called him. (called whom?) Correct: The mother called his son. Solution: You can avoid the problem of indistinct pronoun reference by making pronouns agree in person and the number of their antecedents as pronouns must match the person and number of words they replace.

5. Misplacing modifiers Misplacing #modifiers means putting them too far away from the terms they are meant to be changed. This results in changing the meaning of the entire sentence. Example1: Incorrect: He nearly drove the car for six hours a day. Correct: He drove the car nearly for six hours a day. Example 2: Incorrect: He got his license almost. Correct: He almost got his license. Solution: You should always place single word adjectives before the word they modify and adjective clauses or phrases before the word they modify. By using this trick, you will never misplace modifiers.

6. Run-on sentences Run-on sentences are those sentences that do not make any sentences. This occurs when two sentences are joined together using no appropriate conjunction.

Example 1: Incorrect: My parents hate loud music we could not stop dancing. Correct: My parents hate loud music, but we could not stop dancing. Example 2: Incorrect: My friend worked all week she still partied on Fridays Correct: Although my friend worked all week, she still partied on Fridays. Solution: Run-on sentences are caused by either misused or #missing #punctuation. These mistakes are the easiest to tackle, you just need to carefully read the sentence and place the appropriate punctuation.

7. Mixing up of Adverbs and Adjectives Sometimes we mix up between #adjectives and #adverbs, which can cause some problems. This usually happens with words that end with"-ly". But you can always overcome your problems remember that. Example 1: Incorrect: Yash gave me a real nice bouquet of flowers. Correct: Yash gave me a really nice bouquet of flowers. Example 2: Incorrect: I wish I could write as neat as she can. Correct: I wish I could write as neatly as she can. Solution: To avoid these kinds of mistakes, you need to remember that if you are changing a noun or pronoun, then you should use an adverb. If you are you are changing anything else, then you should use an adjective.

8. Mixing up of spellings There are some words whose spellings and meanings are different but pronunciation is similar, so we sometimes get confused in them. Such as :- "weather" and "whether" "to" and "too" "their" and "there" Example 1: Incorrect: You are to good. Correct: You are too good. Example 2: Incorrect: How's the whether? Correct: How's the weather? Solution: To avoid spelling mistakes, you need to look out for homophones or watch out for words with double letters. Watch where you are placing the apostrophe as it is the most misused punctuation mark in English which people use incorrectly. These were the most common grammatical errors that are carried by plenty of people. To avoid these kinds of mistakes, please go through their solution of how to avoid them and practice these mistakes to make sure that you will not repeat them. Language is a practice of patterns, so if you will practice it daily, then you will ace it. Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary both are essential for the #confident and #fluent use of the English language.

Pro Tip: Reading #newspapers daily can help you enhance your #vocabulary and English.