Language & Grammar
#grammatical errors#writing tips#grammar rules#English writing+1 more
What are the most common grammatical errors in English writing?.
📅 Oct 5, 2025🔗 Share
Common grammatical errors in English writing often include:
- Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: Ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number and tense is crucial. For example, 'She go to the store' should be 'She goes to the store.'
- Misplaced Commas: Incorrect comma placement can change the meaning of a sentence, such as in 'Let's eat, Grandma' versus 'Let's eat Grandma.'
- Run-On Sentences: These occur when two independent clauses are improperly joined without punctuation. Example: 'I love writing I do it every day' should be 'I love writing; I do it every day.'
- Incorrect Tense Usage: Using the wrong verb tense can confuse readers. An example is saying 'He goes to the store yesterday' instead of 'He went to the store yesterday.'
- Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents. For instance, 'Everyone should bring their own lunch' is often deemed incorrect; 'his or her' is more precise, though 'their' is accepted in modern usage.
- Dangling Modifiers: These occur when a modifier is not clearly connected to the word it modifies, leading to confusion. For example, 'Running down the street, the tree fell' incorrectly suggests the tree was running.
Key Facts:
- Research shows that 80% of writers make subject-verb agreement mistakes.
- A survey indicated that 60% of professionals frequently misplace commas.
- Grammar check tools like Grammarly identified run-on sentences as a top error in 2023.
- Common errors can reduce reader engagement by over 30%.
Examples or Use Cases:
- In academic writing, adherence to grammatical rules is essential for clarity and professionalism.
- Business communications often suffer from grammatical mistakes, affecting company image and effectiveness.
Sources
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