There are more common English writing mistakes, But whenever you doubt a rule, take a short moment to research it.
You will save yourself some embarrassment and will show your readers that you respect the language and appreciate the art of writing well when avoid English writing mistakes.
15 English writing mistakes
Here are 15 common English writing mistakes.
1. Comma errors
Comma pasting occurs when two separate sentences are joined by a comma instead of a period or semicolon. Writers often create comma intersections when using transition words, such as:
- However, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, or furthermore.
- Incorrect: My intention was to take her out to dinner, however I decided not to invite her after all.
- Correct: My intention was to take her out to dinner; however, I decided not to invite her after all.
- Incorrect: My sisters and I love to go shopping, we then have lunch together when we’re done.
- Correct: My sisters and I love to go shopping. We then have lunch together when we’re done.
2. The colon punctuation
The colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a word, phrase, sentence, list, or quotation The colon indicates that the following proves or explains the sentence preceding the colon.
Example:- Incorrect: People move to Florida for: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks.
- Correct: People move to Florida for three reasons: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks.
3. Split the infinitive
The infinitive is the word "to" with the verb. An infinitive split separates the word "to" from the verb with another word (often an adverb).
There are no grammatical rules prohibiting infinitesimal division but many experts disagree with them.
If a sentence seems awkward by split-correcting, our rule of thumb is to follow what makes the most sense in the context of your writing and readability.
Examples:
- Incorrect: She tried to quickly finish the book before she had to leave.
- Correct: She tried to finish the book quickly before she had to leave.
- Incorrect: He wanted to gradually improve his strength by increasing the weight.
- Correct: He wanted to improve his strength gradually by increasing the weight.
See: 100+ English Questions and Answers
4- Extra commas
Excessive commas are a common English writing mistakes. Throw commas freely when they are not necessary.
There are dozens of examples of this error but here are some common errors.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The woman never went into the city, because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic.
- Correct: The woman never went into the city because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic.
- Incorrect: He wants to get a degree in engineering, or medicine.
- Correct: He wants to get a degree in engineering or medicine.
- Incorrect: Sam knew immediately, what was going to happen next.
- Correct: Same knew immediately what was going to happen next.
- Incorrect: Old cars, that have been left in a junkyard, are an eyesore.
- Correct: Old cars that have been left in a junkyard are an eyesore.
- Incorrect: The bouquet of flowers on the table, belongs to Mary.
- Correct: The bouquet of flowers on the table belongs to Mary.
5. Sentences that are grammatically similar
Lack of Parallel Structure False parallelism occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are similar in meaning but not parallel (or grammatically similar) in form.
It often happens with paired constructions and items in a string.
Example:
- Incorrect: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemist, and research scientist.
- Correct: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemistry, and research science.
- Incorrect: The key directives of his boss were clear:
- Meet monthly sales quotas.
- Aggressive marketing techniques.
- Reporting in every day.
- Correct: The key directives of his boss were clear:
- Meet monthly sales goals.
- Practice aggressive marketing techniques.
- Report in every day.
6- Extension of the sentence
A sentence can become a reading burden when there are too many evenly weighted statements.
Example:
- Incorrect: Jason was planning to attend his friend’s wedding on June 30, but at the last minute he found out he had jury duty, so he couldn’t attend the wedding, and he felt really guilty about it.
- Correct: Unexpectedly Jason was called for jury duty and couldn’t attend his friend’s June 30 wedding. He felt guilty about missing it.
7- The ambiguity of the reference pronoun
A pronoun can take the place of a noun, and the antecedent must be the person, place, or thing that the pronoun refers to.
An ambiguous pronoun reference (it, that, this, and which) can leave the reader at a loss as to what or to whom the pronoun refers.
Examples:
- Incorrect: When Adam finally found his dog, he was so happy.
- Correct: Adam was so happy when he finally found his dog.
- Incorrect: Dalia felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of John’s decision. This is what ended everything.
- Correct: Dalia felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of John’s decision. Her choice ended everything.
See: Avoid Mistakes by Using the Correct Sentences in English
8- Using the wrong words
There are a variety of words and phrases that are commonly confused and misused in sentences. Using them incorrectly can change the meaning of the sentence or simply reflect neglect on the part of the writer.
There are hundreds of such commonly confused words so when in doubt, always check Definition of the word and its correct spelling.
Examples:
- Incorrect: She excepted his offer to drive her home.
- Correct: She accepted his offer to drive her home.
- Incorrect: It was a breathe of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.
- Correct: It was a breath of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.
9- Write constantly in the sentence
Beware of English writing mistakes because continuation occurs when two main sentences are connected without punctuation.
Examples:
- Incorrect: She tried to sneak out of the house her mother saw her leaving.
- Correct: She tried to sneak out of the house, but her mother saw her leaving.
- Incorrect: He ran through the field as fast as he could all the while rain was soaking him to the bone.
- Correct: He ran through the field as fast as he could. All the while rain was soaking him to the bone.
10- Quotation mark
Abuse of the apostrophe with "Its". Do not use an apostrophe unless the word means it is or exists without the apostrophe and its means.
Examples:
- Incorrect: I don’t believe its finally Friday.
- Correct: I don’t believe it’s (it is) finally Friday.
- Incorrect: The cat was licking it’s tail.
- Correct: The cat was licking its tail.
See: 13 Ways you Can Improve Your English
11- The comma in compound sentences
There is no comma in a compound sentence. A comma separates two or more independent clauses into a compound clause separated by a conjunction.
The comma follows the first sentence and before the coordinating format that separates sentences.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The man jumped into a black sedan and he drove away before being noticed.
- Correct: The man jumped into a black sedan, and he drove away before being noticed.
- Incorrect: She was beautiful and she was happy and she was full of life.
- Correct: She was beautiful, and she was happy, and she was full of life.
12- Misplaced sentences
Misplaced sentences means a word, phrase, or sentence that is incorrectly separated from the word it modifies or describes.
Sentences with English writing mistakes may seem silly or confusing and modify a word that is not clearly stated in the sentence.
Examples:
- Incorrect: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a sparkly girl’s bracelet.
- Correct: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a girl’s sparkly bracelet.
- Incorrect: After finally setting off on the trail, the morning felt more exciting.
- Correct: After finally setting off on the trail, he felt the morning was more exciting.
13- Mistakes in verbs
The subject of the verb of the sentence must agree with each other in number, whether it is singular or plural.
If the subject of the sentence is singular, then its verb must also be singular and if the subject is plural, then the verb must be plural.
Examples:
- Incorrect: An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me.
- Correct: An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me.
- Incorrect: The two best things about the party was the food and the music.
- Correct: The two best things about the party were the food and the music.
See: Common Mistakes When Speaking and Writing English
14- Sentence fragments
They are incomplete sentences that do not contain a single independent sentence.
The piece may lack a subject, a complete verb, or both. Fragments sometimes rely on the action sentence to give it meaning.
Examples:
- Incorrect: He gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument. In spite of everything.
- Correct: In spite of everything, he gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument.
- Incorrect: The boys snuck home late that night. Then waited for the consequences.
- Correct: The boys snuck home late that night, then waited for the consequences.
15- Write the comma after the introductory sentence
The comma should be used after an introductory word, phrase, or sentence.
This gives the reader a slight pause after an introductory element and can often help avoid confusion and English writing mistakes.
Examples:
- Incorrect: In case you haven’t noticed my real name doesn’t appear in the article.
- Correct: In case you haven’t noticed, my real name doesn’t appear in the article.
- Incorrect: Before she had time to think about it Sara jumped into the icy pool.
- Correct: Before she had time to think about it, Sara jumped into the icy pool.
See: 13 Confused Words With Meanings and Pictures in English