Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them

English grammar errors are easy to miss when a sentence sounds familiar or a spell-checker accepts every word. A useful edit starts by checking what each word does in context: who performs the verb, what a pronoun refers to, and whether each clause forms a complete thought. The examples below show common problems and direct ways to revise them. For more practice, explore WordWise Hub’s grammar topics and basic grammar checker.

Agreement, pronouns, and modifiers

1. A nearby noun distracts from subject–verb agreement

Incorrect: The basket of apples are on the counter.
Correct: The basket of apples is on the counter.

The subject is basket, not the closer plural noun apples. Match the verb to the subject, ignoring intervening phrases. Purdue OWL also notes that indefinite pronouns such as everyone generally take singular verbs: “Everyone has a turn.” With or or nor, the nearer subject usually guides agreement. Purdue OWL’s agreement guide explains these patterns and related exceptions.

2. A plural-looking collective noun takes a singular verb

Incorrect: The committee are meeting today.
Correct: The committee is meeting today.

In standard American usage, a collective noun such as committee or team usually takes a singular verb when the group acts as a unit. If the sentence emphasizes individual members, recast it: “The committee members are meeting today.”

3. Subject and object pronouns are mixed up

Incorrect: Maya and me finished the report.
Correct: Maya and I finished the report.

Use subject forms (I, she, we, they) for subjects and object forms (me, her, us, them) for objects of verbs or prepositions: “The editor thanked Maya and me.” To check a compound phrase, temporarily remove the other name: “Me finished” sounds wrong; “I finished” works. Purdue OWL’s pronoun-case guide covers these forms.

4. A pronoun’s case is chosen by its role inside the clause

Incorrect: Give the form to whoever is in charge.
Correct: Give the form to whomever you choose.

In the correct version, whomever is the object of choose. But “Give it to whoever is in charge” is also correct: whoever is the subject of is, even though the whole clause follows to. Identify the pronoun’s role within its own clause instead of relying only on the surrounding preposition.

5. A pronoun has an unclear or mismatched reference

Unclear: When the phone reached the tablet, it was out of battery.
Clear: The tablet was out of battery when the phone reached it.

A reader should not have to guess which noun it represents. Name the intended subject again, or restructure the sentence. Pronouns also need clear number: “Each applicant should bring their identification” is a widely used gender-neutral singular construction; a plural rewrite (“Applicants should bring their identification”) can avoid a disputed style preference in formal contexts.

6. A modifier is placed beside the wrong word

Unclear: She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
Clear: She served the children sandwiches on paper plates.

The first version can suggest the children are on paper plates. Place a modifier near the word it describes, or rewrite to make the intended relationship unmistakable.

7. An introductory modifier dangles

Incorrect: After reviewing the draft, several errors stood out.
Correct: After reviewing the draft, I noticed several errors.

The opening phrase implies that the person who reviewed the draft is the subject of the main clause. Give that person a clear subject. A dangling modifier can accidentally assign an action to the wrong thing or person. Texas A&M’s Writing Center illustrates both misplaced and dangling modifiers.

Complete sentences and clear structure

8. A dependent clause is punctuated as a full sentence

Fragment: Although the deadline was close.
Correct: Although the deadline was close, we checked every citation.

Although the deadline was close leaves the reader waiting for the main idea. Attach the dependent clause to an independent clause, or rewrite it as a complete sentence. Fragments can be deliberate for emphasis in informal or creative writing, but in formal prose they may read as accidental. Purdue OWL’s fragment guide gives examples and revision options.

9. Two complete sentences are joined with only a comma

Incorrect: The bus was late, we missed the opening.
Correct: The bus was late, so we missed the opening.

This is a comma splice. Join closely related independent clauses with a comma and an appropriate coordinating conjunction, use a semicolon, or separate them with a period. Choose a conjunction that conveys the intended relationship; so signals a result here.

10. Two independent clauses run together without punctuation

Incorrect: The shop closed early we returned the next day.
Correct: The shop closed early, so we returned the next day.

A run-on is not simply a long sentence: it occurs when complete clauses lack suitable punctuation or a connector. A period is another simple fix: “The shop closed early. We returned the next day.” Texas A&M’s common-errors guide explains repairs for comma splices and run-ons.

11. A list changes grammatical form midway

Uneven: The course teaches planning, drafting, and how to revise.
Parallel: The course teaches planning, drafting, and revising.

Keep items in a series in matching grammatical forms. Parallel structure makes the relationship among ideas easier to follow; here, three -ing forms form a consistent list.

12. A tense shifts without a reason

Inconsistent: We checked the figures and discover a missing entry.
Consistent: We checked the figures and discovered a missing entry.

Keep verbs in a consistent time frame unless the events themselves change time. A shift can be correct when meaning requires it: “We checked the figures and now understand the pattern.”

Confusing words and forms

Many errors below are not misspellings: each choice is a real English word, so context determines whether it fits. The distinctions are supported by Northern Illinois University’s commonly confused words guide.

13. Your and you’re

Incorrect: You’re umbrella is by the door.
Correct: Your umbrella is by the door.

Your shows possession. You’re means you are: “You’re carrying an umbrella.” Try substituting you are; if the sentence breaks, choose your.

14. Their, there, and they’re

Incorrect: Their waiting over there with they’re bags.
Correct: They’re waiting over there with their bags.

They’re means they are; there points to a place or introduces a clause (“There are two seats”); their is possessive. Spell-check may not catch a wrong choice because all three are valid words.

15. Its and it’s

Incorrect: The museum changed it’s hours.
Correct: The museum changed its hours.

Its is possessive; it’s contracts it is or it has. Substitute it is: “The museum changed it is hours” fails, so use its.

16. Affect and effect

Incorrect: The new schedule will effect my sleep.
Correct: The new schedule will affect my sleep.

Usually, affect is a verb meaning influence, and effect is a noun meaning result: “The change had an effect.” There are less common exceptions—effect can be a verb meaning bring about, and affect has specialized uses—so check the sentence’s intended meaning.

17. Fewer and less

Incorrect: We have less chairs than last year.
Correct: We have fewer chairs than last year.

Use fewer with countable items and less with amounts or mass nouns: “fewer chairs,” “less time.” Usage can vary in fixed expressions and measurements, so follow the convention appropriate to the context.

18. Then and than

Incorrect: The walk was longer then we expected.
Correct: The walk was longer than we expected.

Use than for comparison. Then refers to time or sequence: “We ate, then walked.”

19. Who’s and whose

Incorrect: Who’s coat is hanging here?
Correct: Whose coat is hanging here?

Who’s means who is or who has. Whose asks about possession. “Who’s arriving?” means “Who is arriving?”

20. Could have and could of

Incorrect: I could of called earlier.
Correct: I could have called earlier.

In speech, could’ve can sound like “could of,” but the standard written form is could have or its contraction could’ve. The same applies to should have and would have.

A practical proofreading pass

Read a draft once for sentence structure: locate each subject and verb, check that every sentence expresses a complete thought, and look for clauses joined only by commas. Then inspect pronouns and modifiers for clear references. Finally, check commonly confused words in context rather than trusting spelling alone. The WordWise Hub word counter can help you review length, while the dictionary can clarify a word’s meaning and use. If two alternatives seem close, compare their actual meanings before swapping one for the other.