Mastering English Grammar: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

English grammar can be tricky, even for native speakers. Whether you’re learning English as a second language or looking to polish your writing skills, understanding common grammar mistakes can help you communicate more effectively.

Common Grammar Mistakes That Can Impact Your Communication

Their, They’re, or There?

One of the most frequent grammar mistakes involves confusing these three words:

• Their – Shows possession (Their house is beautiful)
• They’re – Contraction of “they are” (They’re going to the party)
• There – Refers to location or existence (Put it over there)

Quick tip: If you can replace the word with “they are,” use “they’re.” If it shows ownership, use “their.” For everything else, use “there.”

Angela’s Tips & Tricks!

1. There has the word here in it, which can help you remember that there is used to talk about location.
2. Their has the word heir in it, which means a person who is entitled to inherit property. This reminder of possession or ownership can help you remember that their is a possessive pronoun.
3. They’re has an apostrophe, meaning it is a contraction of 2 words. If you can replace they’re with they are in the sentence and the meaning stays the same, then it’s correct! 

Your vs. You’re

Another common source of confusion:

• Your – Shows possession (Is this your book?)
• You’re – Contraction of “you are” (You’re looking great today)

Test yourself: Try replacing the word with “you are.” If the sentence still makes sense, use “you’re.”

Angela’s Tips & Tricks!

1. Your is a possessive adjective, which means it’s usually followed by a noun or gerund. (Your hair looks great today!)

Its vs. It’s

This pair trips up many writers:

– Its – Shows possession (The dog wagged its tail)

– It’s – Contraction of “it is” or “it has” (It’s going to rain today)

Remember: Unlike most possessive forms, “its” doesn’t need an apostrophe.

## Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement means that singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs:

Incorrect: The group of students were late.

Correct: The group of students was late.

Common tricky situations:

– Each, every, anybody, nobody (always singular)

– Either/neither (singular when used alone)

– Data (can be singular or plural depending on usage)

Angela’s Tips & Tricks!

1. Noncount nouns take a singular verb.
   1. Example: Education is the key to success.
2. A collective noun is a noun that refers to a group (of people, animals, things, etc.). It is normally treated as singular. Some examples: group, team, family, class, flock (of sheep), herd (of cows)

Preposition Problems

Preposition usage often differs between languages, leading to common mistakes:

Incorrect: I arrived to the party.

Correct: I arrived at the party.

Some common preposition pairs:

– Agree with (a person)

– Agree to (a proposal)

– Different from (not different than)

– Consist of (not consist in)

Angela’s Tips & Tricks!

Prepositions tell us where one noun is in relation to another. For example: “The coffee is on the table beside you. Unfortunately, there’s no formula for determining which preposition to use with a particular combination of words. The best way to remember prepositions is by reading and practice.

1. Prepositions of Place: These prepositions are used to tell where something is located in relation to something else.
   1. The eraser is on the desk.
   2. There is a spider under the bench.
   3. Sarah is hiding behind the tree.
2. Prepositions of Time: These prepositions are used to discuss when events take place.
   1. “In” is used for months, years, decades, centuries, and long periods of time. Note that we use “in” with the parts of the day, such as “in the morning.”
      1. He was born in 1990.
   2. “On” is used for days and dates. Note that we use “on” with days of the week, such as “on Monday” or “on Friday.” We also use “on” with holidays, such as “on Easter” or “on New Year’s Day.”
      1. I only work on Mondays.
   3. “At” is used for precise points in time, such as hours, days, and holidays. Note that we use “at” with mealtimes, such as “at breakfast” or “at lunch.”
      1. I’ll see you at 8:00am.
3. Prepositions of Direction/Movement: These prepositions are used to discuss movement to or from a place.
   1. Ana drove to the hospital.
   2. The dog jumped onto the sofa.
   3. The Han River runs through Seoul.

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined incorrectly:

Incorrect: I love grammar it’s very interesting.

Correct: I love grammar, and it’s very interesting.

Also correct: I love grammar. It’s very interesting.

Angela’s Tips and Tricks!

When 2 independent clauses appear in 1 sentence, they must be joined (or separated) in one of 3 ways:

1. Separate the independent sentences using a period and capital letter.
2. Join the 2 sentences using a comma and coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, yet, so)
3. Join the 2 sentences with a semicolon (ex: I love grammar; it’s very interesting.)
   1. Semicolons are also often used with a transition word (however, therefore, hence, thus). Remember to use a comma after the transition word! (ex: I enjoy fantasy novels; therefore, “Lord of the Rings” is one of my favorite books.

Who vs. Whom

Use “who” for the subject of a sentence and “whom” for the object:

– Who called you? (subject)

– Whom did you call? (object)

Quick test: If you can answer with “he/she,” use “who.” If you can answer with “him/her,” use “whom.” Angela’s Tip: One way to remember this trick is that both him and whom end with the letter m.

Affect vs. Effect

– Affect – Usually a verb meaning to influence (The weather affects my mood)

– Effect – Usually a noun meaning the result (The effect of the weather on my mood)

Exception: “Effect” can be a verb meaning “to bring about” (The new CEO will effect many changes)

Angela’s Tips & Tricks!

1. Remember: If A affects B, B will experience the effect of A’s actions. 
2. A is for action. Verbs are about action. Affect starts with an “a” and is a verb.
3. Think of the common phrase cause and effect. Cause ends with an “e”, and effect begins with an “e”. A cause leads to an effect.

Double Negatives

In English, two negatives make a positive, so avoid using double negatives:

Incorrect: I don’t have no money.

Correct: I don’t have any money.

Also correct: I have no money.

Tips for Improvement

1. Read Extensively

   – Regular reading helps you internalize correct grammar

   – Pay attention to how professional writers structure their sentences

2. Practice Writing

   – Keep a journal

   – Write emails carefully

   – Use grammar checking tools but don’t rely on them completely

3. Learn from Mistakes

   – Keep track of your common errors

   – Create personal memory tricks

   – Practice using troublesome words correctly

4. Use Reference Tools

   – Keep a good grammar guide handy

   – Bookmark reliable online resources

   – Consider using grammar apps for practice

Professional Impact

Good grammar is particularly important in:

– Job applications

– Professional emails

– Business presentations

– Academic writing

– Social media profiles

Moving Forward

Remember that mastering grammar is a journey, not a destination. Even experienced writers make mistakes occasionally. The key is to:

– Stay curious about language

– Be open to learning new rules

– Practice regularly

– Seek feedback when possible

By understanding these common mistakes and actively working to avoid them, you’ll improve your communication skills and present yourself more professionally in both written and spoken English.