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Common Mistakes in English Grammar

The document discusses common mistakes that native English speakers regularly make and provides suggestions for avoiding them. It notes common errors with "its" vs. "it's", homophones like "to/too/two", and phrases like "would of" instead of "would have". It recommends becoming familiar with examples of these mistakes and practicing not making them through quizzes. Suggestions are given like writing out corrections, listening for others' mistakes, and continuing to use English while aiming to reduce errors over time.

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Katie Kit
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
330 views

Common Mistakes in English Grammar

The document discusses common mistakes that native English speakers regularly make and provides suggestions for avoiding them. It notes common errors with "its" vs. "it's", homophones like "to/too/two", and phrases like "would of" instead of "would have". It recommends becoming familiar with examples of these mistakes and practicing not making them through quizzes. Suggestions are given like writing out corrections, listening for others' mistakes, and continuing to use English while aiming to reduce errors over time.

Uploaded by

Katie Kit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common mistakes are mistakes that even native speakers make on a regular basis.

The most common of these common mistakes include 'its or it's', 'two, to or too',
'would of instead of would have', and more. The best way to not make these common
mistakes is to become familiar with them through a wide variety of examples.

You can use each of these pages as a starting point to practice not making these
common mistakes in the future. Each page has a clear explanation with example
sentences. Each common mistake page is followed by a quiz to help you check your
understanding. Here are a few suggestions for how you can use these pages to reduce
these common mistakes. Remember that each language has its own common
mistakes.
Some Common Mistakes
Top Five Common Writing Mistakes in English
Good vs. Well
Bring, Take, Fetch, Get
Difference Between From and Of
Everyone / Every One
Everyday / Every Day
Whether / If
Enough
A Little, Little, A Few, Few
A Lot, Lots Of, A Lot Of
Female - Feminine / Male - Masculine
It's vs. Its
Two, Too, To
They're, Their, There
You're vs. Your
Confusing Words
Since vs. For
Have vs. Of in Conditionals
Has gone to vs. Has been to
Then vs. Than
Double Negatives
So do I, Neither did I
So ... that, such ... that
Both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... or
Improving Common Mistakes
Make sure to completely understand the common mistake. Look at the examples and
ask yourself if you have made these common mistakes. Think about reading, writing
and speaking and how they influence each other. For example, the common mistake
'would of' rather than 'would have' is often made because of the way 'would have'
sounds in connected speech. In other words, when people speak quickly they run the
words together and the form 'would have' SOUNDS like 'would of'. When people
then go to write this form they think back to what they have heard and make the
common mistake of writing 'would of'.
NOT CORRECT! - He would of come to the party if he had had time.
CORRECT - He would have come to the party if he had had time.

Take time to write down the common mistakes on a piece of paper or in a separate
document on your computer. Spend the time to write five or more sentences
practicing the correct form of the common mistake in question. Take the time to
really think about the mistake when practicing. Chances are you will never make the
mistake again!

Listen to / read other people for these common mistakes. Once you understand the
common mistake, start listening to other people or reading their texts. Can you spot
the common mistakes they make?

How Many Common Mistakes Are There?


You might wonder how many common English mistakes exist. That's a difficult
question to answer. There are certain mistakes made in grammar, common mistakes
made in pronunciation, and there are many common mistakes made because of
confusing words.
Are Common Mistakes Bad?
Common mistakes are mistakes. However, it's (not its!) important to remember that
the most important thing about using a language is communication. If you are able
to communicate in English you are on the road to success. If you make a few
common mistakes, you can certainly correct those mistakes.

Will People Understand Me if I Make a Common Mistake?


Generally, but not always, people will understand you if you make a common
mistake. Context (what is happening around the situation) often makes it clear what
you really mean. People fill in the blanks, understand that you mean something else,
etc. Have confidence and try to eliminate common English mistakes, but make sure
to continue speaking and writing English as much as you can!

5 Most Common Grammatical


Errors
7th grade8th grade9th gradeMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolCollegeInfographics

Understanding the five most common grammatical errors can help you improve your writing. When
you know which errors to look for, it's easier to act as your own editor.

Error #1: Run-on Sentence or Comma Splice


A run-on sentence is a sentence that joins two independent clauses without punctuation or the
appropriate conjunction. A comma splice is similar to a run-on sentence, but it uses a comma to join
two clauses that have no appropriate conjunction.

Fixing a run-on sentence or a comma splice can be accomplished in one of five different ways:

 Separate the clauses into two sentences.


 Replace the comma with a semi-colon.
 Replace the comma with a coordinating conjunction--and, but, for, yet, nor, so, or.
 Replace the comma with a subordinating conjunction--after, although, before, unless, as,
because, even though, if, since, until, when, while.
 Replace the comma with a semi-colon and transitional word--however, moreover, on the other
hand, nevertheless, instead, also, therefore, consequently, otherwise, as a result.
For example:

 Incorrect: Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years old.
 Correct: Rachel is very smart. She began reading when she was three years old.
 Correct: Rachel is very smart; she began reading when she was three years old.
 Correct: Rachel is very smart, for she began reading when she was three years old.
 Correct: Because Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years old.
 Correct: Rachel is very smart; as a result, she began reading when she was three years old.

Error #2: Pronoun Errors


Pronoun errors occur when pronouns do not agree in number with the nouns to which they refer. If
the noun is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the noun is plural, however, the pronoun must
be plural as well. For example:

 Incorrect: Everybody must bring their own lunch.


 Correct: Everybody must bring his or her own lunch.
Pronoun errors are common, some would even say normal usage, in modern English, as writers try to
avoid awkward phrasing or the implication of sexist language. Although this is an admirable goal,
and may be acceptable in informal speech or writing, it is still important to learn the correct grammar
and use it in more formal situations.

Error #3: Mistakes in Apostrophe Usage


Apostrophes are used to show possession. However, you do not use an apostrophe after a possessive
pronoun such as my, mine, our, ours, his, hers, its, their, or theirs. For example:

 Incorrect: My mothers cabin is next to his' cabin.


 Correct: My mother's cabin is next to his cabin.
In the case of it's, the apostrophe is used only to indicate a contraction for it is. For example:

 Incorrect: Its a cold day for October.


 Correct: It's a cold day for October.

Error #4: Lack of Subject/Verb Agreement


When speaking or writing in the present tense, a sentence must have subjects and verbs that agree in
number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be
plural as well. For example:

 Incorrect: These recipes is good for beginning chefs.


 Correct: These recipes are good for beginning chefs.

Error #5: Misplaced Modifiers


To communicate your ideas clearly, you must generally place a modifier directly next to the word it
is supposed to modify. The modifier should clearly refer to a specific word in the sentence. For
example:

 Incorrect: At eight years old, my father gave me a pony for Christmas.


 Correct: My father gave me, at eight years old, a pony for Christmas.

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