Discover the 30 most common grammatical errors – and what you need to do to fix them.
Let’s be honest.
Grammar isn’t a particularly thrilling subject.
But it is extremely important for your business.
When it comes to writing copy, it’s the small things that can make a big difference. It doesn’t matter if it’s your website, your newsletter, or your social feed.
Frequent grammatical errors give off a negative impression. These mistakes can make you look imprecise, careless, and even lazy.
When you invest time into correcting grammatical errors, you show that you take pride in your business communications.
Flawless English grammar leads to sharper copy, which leads to better results.
Below are 30 super-common grammatical errors that you could be making. Avoid these, and you’ll look highly polished and absurdly professional.
30 common grammar mistakes you need to stop making
1. They’re, Their, There
Let’s tackle one of the most common grammatical errors.
They’re = a contraction of ‘they are’.
Their = refers to a group owning something.
There = refers to a place or location.
Here’s an example using all three for clarity:
1. They’re on the way there right now. Did they pick up their luggage?
2. Your or You’re
Another common culprit in the world of grammatical errors.
You’re = a contraction of ‘you are’.
Your = a possessive term.
A small difference with a big impact on the meaning of your sentence.
Below are a couple of examples:
1. You’re heading to the party now, right?
2. Is this your dog, sir?
3. i.e. and e.g.
This is one of the most common grammar mistakes for amateur writers and seasoned pros alike.
Both ‘i.e.’ and ‘e.g.’ are handy abbreviations to use, particularly when you’re trying to elaborate on a certain point within a sentence.
But many writers use these terms interchangeably.
(These writers are wrong.)
i.e. = used to clarify a point or add more precision to a statement.
e.g. = used to provide the reader with a specific example.
Here’s an example of how to use avoid these grammar errors and use these abbreviations correctly:
1. If you’re running a small business (i.e. a business with less than 50 employees)
2. There are plenty of effective advertising platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat)
4. Into and In to
This is one of the very sneaky grammatical errors. It can trick the best of us.
Into = a word that indicates movement or transformation.
In to = ‘in’ and ‘to’ are both adverbs that often appear together around action words.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
1. Let’s sort these documents into the correct folders.
2. You can log in to our website with this link.
5. Its and It’s
We’ve all stumbled over these grammatical errors before. Where does that pesky apostrophe belong?
Its = a possessive determiner.
It’s = a contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’.
Here are some examples:
1. A business can’t function without its owner.
2. It’s been a long time since they spoke on the phone.
The next time you’re unsure about this one, run through the sentence in your head. If you’re using a substitute for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ then you know that you need an apostrophe.
6. May or Might
Many writers will use the words ‘may’ and ‘might’ interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference between them.
This might seem pedantic, but it may help you to write more effective copy.
(See what we did there?)
May = references possibilities that are more likely to happen.
Might = references possibilities that are less likely to happen.
For example:
- We may book a summer holiday next week.
- I might be there a little later on.
Switch the terms around and you’ll see how ‘might’ implies a more remote possibility.
7. The passive voice
This is an awkward grammatical rule, but it’s worth understanding.
If you’re crafting a sentence with an object involved (i.e. a noun receiving an action) then you can easily fall into the passive voice, which instantly sounds less clear.
If the object of the sentence has become the subject, you’re using the passive voice.
Here’s an example:
- 500 packages were sold by the team.
The object (i.e. the packages) is placed at the beginning of the statement. It’s passive.
Here’s the same sentence in the active voice:
- The team sold 500 packages.
The team are the subject of the statement, and they performed the action of selling the packages. This active voice just sounds clearer, doesn’t it?
If a sentence isn’t reading smoothly for some reason, there’s a good chance it needs switching to the active voice.
8. Referring to a company or brand as ‘they’
When speaking about a brand or entity, writers often use the term ‘they’.
This might seem logical at first. A business is made up of multiple people, right?
But the brand is an individual entity, and shouldn’t be referred to as a plural.
For example:
1. To maintain their speedy deliveries, Amazon expanded the team.
This should be corrected to:
2. To maintain its speedy deliveries, Amazon expanded the team.
The sentence now sounds more natural and less clunky.
9. Possessive nouns
Buckle up. It’s time for some hardcore grammar in the form of possessive nouns.
(Don’t panic. It’s simple really.)
A possessive noun is a noun that possesses something. Pretty easy so far, eh?
Possessive nouns are formed by adding an apostrophe and ‘s’ to the noun.
Here’s an example:
1. The man’s notebook was full of useful information.
It’s clear that the notebook belongs to the man. The possessive noun is working.
But what if the noun is plural and already ends with ‘s’?
All you need to do is add the apostrophe. For example:
2. The dogs’ toys were scattered everywhere.
Stay diligent with this rule when you’re talking about ownership of a noun.
10. Dangling modifiers
We know what you’re about to ask. And no, we haven’t made this term up.
Dangling modifiers are descriptive phrases that are being applied to the wrong noun.
Here’s an example of a dangling modifier:
1. After gradually slowing down, the CEO was desperate to increase sales.
It’s a little confusing, right? Was the CEO the one slowing down? Or the sales?
Well, it’s clearly meant to be the plural noun ‘sales’. But that’s too far away from ‘slowing down’, which is the phrase trying to describe it.
To fix dangling modifiers, just flip a sentence around to make it clearer:
2. The CEO was desperate to increase sales after they’d been gradually slowing down.
Just place the noun being modified closer to the words that are modifying them.
11. Affect vs Effect
This is one of the most common grammatical errors out there. It confuses plenty of writers because these words are similar, both in terms of meaning and spelling.
Both ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ are relevant when you’re talking about something changing.
But they should be used in different contexts.
Affect: a verb that references the act of changing something.
Effect: a noun that references the change that has occurred.
Below is the correct usage:
1. The weather can seriously affect farmers.
2. The book had a huge effect on me.
12. Compliment vs Complement
Another curveball in the world of common grammar mistakes.
These words both sound identical when spoken, but they have very different meanings.
Compliment: an expression of praise (noun) or the act of praising someone (verb).
Complement: a term for something that enhances or completes something else.
Here’s how they should be used:
1. It’s polite to compliment an employee on their hard work.
2. This sofa complements the rest of your interior design.
Just one letter separates the two, but the meaning totally changes. That’s grammar for you.
13. Me vs I
People often confuse these words when they’re trying to sound more professional.
‘I’ should be used when the speaker is performing the action, and ‘me’ should be used when the speaker is receiving the action.
Take a look at this example:
1. Could you include Sam and I in that email to the board?
The person speaking is receiving the action of the verb (i.e. being included) so the word is the object rather than the subject.
It should be:
2. Could you include Sam and me in that email to the board?
Now an example of the word being used as a subject:
3. She and I finished the project for the teacher.
The focus is on ‘I’ as the subject of the sentence because the speaker is performing the action, not receiving it.
14. To vs Too
There’s just one ‘o’ that separates these words, but this little letter can impact your entire sentence.
To: generally used before a noun/verb to describe a location or action.
Too: used as an alternative to ‘also’ or an adjective in excess.
For example:
1. Our competitor uses Facebook advertising too.
2. The word count is too long for our newsletter.
3. I caught the bus from Waterloo to Liverpool Street.
4. I sent the email to our team.
Fix these grammar mistakes in your writing to give it an instant uplift.
15. The word ‘literally’
Many writers fall into the trap of misusing the word ‘literally’.
The word ‘literally’ shouldn’t be used for exaggeration or impact. It should only describe things that have actually happened.
Here’s an example of incorrect usage:
1. Our sales literally went through the roof.
Sales can’t physically fly through the ceiling, so the word ‘literally’ isn’t correct here. Let’s look at the word being used appropriately:
2. Our sales literally tripled in two years.
If it didn’t (or couldn’t) actually happen, don’t use the word ‘literally’ for dramatic effect.
16. Which vs That
Not sure whether to use ‘which’ or ‘that’ when constructing a sentence?
The key is to think about the clause.
A defining clause provides information that’s essential to the meaning of the sentence. A non-defining clause provides more general information.
As a rule of thumb, defining clauses use ‘that’ and non-defining use ‘which’.
Here’s an example of a defining clause:
1. The files that have financial information are in the office.
And the same message with a non-defining clause:
2. The files, which have financial information, are in the office.
The defining clause emphasizes very specific files with essential information. The non-defining clause describes the files more generally.
17. Who or Whom or Whose or Who’s?
This grammatical error looks much harder than it really is. In fact, this is one of the easiest writing mistakes to tackle.
Promise.
Who = used to identify an individual or living thing.
Whom = used to describe a recipient of an item or an action.
Whose = used to clarify ownership of something.
Who’s = a contraction for ‘who is’.
And some examples to make it clearer:
1. Who took the last biscuit from the tin?
2. To whom are you speaking?
3. Whose shoes are these?
4. Who’s going to print out the document?
18. A lot vs Allot
Another example of commonly confused words with very different meanings.
Let’s clear this one up.
A lot = referencing a quantity or number.
Allot = the act of giving or apportioning something.
Check out some examples:
1. That’s a lot of sandwiches for one picnic, isn’t it?
2. Let’s allot a budget for each month.
19. Lose vs Loose
Many writers regularly stumble over the extra ‘o’ in this situation.
Lose = becoming unable to find or retain something.
Loose = an adjective describing something detached, or a verb meaning ‘to set free’.
Examples include:
1. I’m determined not to lose my wallet again.
2. My tooth is feeling a little loose.
20. Who vs That
Time to tackle a notoriously confusing English language grammar rule. It’s the battle of ‘who’ against ‘that’.
As a rule of thumb, ‘who’ is used to describe a person and ‘that’ is used to describe an object or entity.
For example:
1. Michelle is a writer who likes to thoroughly edit her work.
2. Apple is a company that often drives innovation.
21. Then vs Than
Are you guilty of dropping in a ‘then’ when it should be a ‘than’?
Let’s straighten this out once and for all.
Then = an adverb used to reference a specific time or transition.
Than = a conjunction used to make comparisons.
Examples are:
1. We headed to the beach, then to the restaurant.
2. My watch is a little slower than yours.
22. Of vs Have
Words like ‘should’ve’ and ‘could’ve’ are abbreviations of ‘should have’ and ‘could have’.
But some writers confuse ‘have’ with ‘of’, resulting in bizarre phrases like:
1. I could of arrived there sooner, but I missed the bus.
A true crime against the laws of grammar. But easily fixed.
Whenever you’re looking to shorten a phrase like ‘would have’ just remember the correct abbreviation:
2. I would’ve jumped on the train if I knew the bus was delayed.
23. The rules of the comma
Commas are one of the most versatile tools available to writers.
But they can also be incredibly confusing, and often used incorrectly.
Let’s break down the basics of correct comma usage.
Commas can be used to separate parts of a list or sentence, such as:
1. I took my wallet, jacket, bicycle, and laptop to the office today.
They can also be used to separate independent clauses. That’s a fancy way of saying that if the second part of a sentence makes sense by itself, you should add a comma:
2. The new software is great, and I think I’m getting the hang of it.
You can also use commas to break up an introductory phrase:
3. However, not everything about my new laptop is useful.
24. Less vs Fewer
If you’re discussing quantities of items, the choice between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’ can be tricky.
Here’s the correct way to use these phrases:
Less = used for things that aren’t quantifiable, often single nouns.
Fewer = used for things that are quantifiable, often plural nouns.
Some examples:
1. It takes me less time to complete my work nowadays.
2. I’m making fewer trips to the office recently.
25. Farther vs Further
This is one of the sneakier grammatical errors that writers often make.
The definitions of both words are similar, but there are some differences to note.
Farther: adverb meaning ‘at’ or ‘to’ a greater distance.
Further: an adverb used to describe distance, but also functions as an adjective and a verb.
A little confusing, but these examples should clear things up:
1. The nearest hotel was much farther than she’d expected.
2. She wanted to move further away from the big city.
3. Roast the vegetables for a further 15 minutes.
4. He used these lessons to further his career.
Both words can be used to describe physical distance, but remember that only ‘further’ can be used more flexibly in other contexts.
26. Allude or Elude
Let’s iron out the difference between alluding to something and eluding something.
Allude = a verb meaning to ‘suggest’ or ‘indirectly call attention’ to a subject.
Elude = a verb meaning to ‘escape’ or ‘avoid’ something.
Some examples for clarity:
1. We’ll allude to the main findings of the study.
2. She eluded the security guard by hiding.
27. Semicolons
Many people throw semicolons into sentences without really knowing if they’re correct.
Semicolons should be used to connect two independent clauses.
If both parts of a sentence can stand independently, but there isn’t an ‘and’ or ‘but’ connecting them, then a semicolon can be used instead.
For example:
1. We had a lovely dinner; the food was incredible.
2. She hated the morning commute; the train was always crowded.
28. Continuous vs Continual
These two phrases are often used interchangeably, and although they sound similar, there’s a subtle difference between them.
Continuous = an unbroken sequence or action without interruption.
Continual = a sequence of actions or events that occur frequently.
If something is ‘continual’ then it will happen regularly, but with brief stops or intervals. If it’s ‘continuous’ then there’s no interruption.
Examples include:
1. He was suffering from a continuous cough.
2. There was a week of continual sunshine.
29. Assure vs Insure vs Ensure
This is a troublesome trio that can puzzle even the most experienced writers.
Assure: to make something certain to happen, or to tell someone a positive message.
Insure: to secure or protect something against a certain event.
Ensure: making certain that something will occur.
Below are some helpful examples of these words in action:
1. Can you assure me that the meeting room is ready?
2. I needed to insure my car before I started driving.
3. We have to ensure that the document is ready.
30. Everyday or Every day
This is a very common mistake for writers because the words are incredibly similar.
Everyday: an adjective meaning ‘occurring’ or ‘used’ every day.
Every day: an adverb phrase that means ‘each day’.
Examples include:
1. I did everyday chores like cooking and cleaning.
2. I catch the train to work every day.
Phew. Take a deep breath.
That was a lot of grammar.
Don’t worry, your brain will recover.
And when it does, you’ll be ready to produce error-free copy that stuns potential clients and blows the competition out of the water.
Need high-quality content for your business? Create your free account now.
