Grammar is the backbone of effective communication in English. However, even advanced learners and native speakers often slip into common errors.
This guide highlights the most common grammar mistakes and provides practical tips to correct them. Each section includes clear explanations, mistake examples, and exercises to help you practice.
Why do you need to know the Most Common Grammar Mistakes?
Why Do You Need to Know the Most Common Grammar Mistakes?
Understanding the most common grammar mistakes is essential for anyone learning or using English. Grammar errors can make your writing unclear, confuse readers, or even change the meaning of your sentences. By knowing which mistakes are frequent, you can:
- Communicate Clearly: Avoid misunderstandings in emails, essays, or everyday conversations.
- Improve Writing Skills: Proper grammar makes your writing professional, polished, and easier to read.
- Boost Confidence: When you know the common pitfalls, you can write and speak with more assurance.
- Learn Faster: Recognising typical errors helps you focus on what matters most instead of memorizing every rule.
Enhance Academic and Career Opportunities – Strong grammar is often linked to credibility, better grades, and job success.
In short, knowing these mistakes allows you to avoid errors, save time, and communicate effectively in both professional and casual settings.
The Most Common Grammar Mistakes in English
English grammar is not always easy, and even people who speak it every day make small mistakes. These mistakes may seem minor, but they can make writing confusing or less professional. The good news is that the most common grammar mistakes are easy to fix once you understand the rules.
In this article, we will look at grammar mistakes common among learners and even native speakers. You will see examples, explanations, and simple tips to correct them. From run-on sentences and comma splices to apostrophes, articles, and word choices like than vs. then, we’ll cover everything step by step.
By learning these rules, you can quickly improve your English writing and speak with more confidence. Here are some points I share with you about the Most Common Grammar Mistakes.
Run-on Sentences
What is a Run-on Sentence?
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
Key Characteristics
- Two ideas are crammed together without separation.
- Missing punctuation like periods, commas, or semicolons.
Examples of Run-on Sentences:
❌ I love to write it is my favorite hobby.
✅ I love to write. It is my favourite hobby.
✅ I love to write, and it is my favourite hobby.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid joining sentences without punctuation.
- Don’t overuse “and” when a period works better.
Tips for Learners:
Try reading sentences aloud. If you run out of breath, you may have a run-on sentence.
Comma Splices
What is a Comma Splice?
A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are connected only with a comma.
Examples of Comma Splices:
❌ She loves coffee, she drinks it every morning.
✅ She loves coffee. She drinks it every morning.
✅ She loves coffee, and she drinks it every morning.
Key Points
- A comma alone cannot join two full sentences.
- Use a conjunction (and, but, so) or separate the sentences.
Tips for Learners
Remember the formula: Independent Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause.
Sentence Fragments
What is a Sentence Fragment?
A fragment is an incomplete thought that is punctuated as if it were a full sentence.
Examples
❌ Because she was late.
✅ Because she was late, she missed the bus.
Key Characteristics
- Missing subject or verb.
- Dependent clause standing alone.
Tips
Always ask: Does this sentence express a complete thought?
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Examples
❌ She walk to school every day.
✅ She walks to school every day.
❌ The books is on the table.
✅ The books are on the table.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing singular and plural forms.
- Forgetting irregular verbs (e.g., he has, not he have).
Tips
Identify the subject first, then match the verb form.
Mistakes in Apostrophe Usage
Apostrophes are used for possession or contractions, not plurals.
Examples
❌ The cat’s are sleeping. (Wrong plural)
✅ The cats are sleeping.
❌ Its raining outside.
✅ It’s raining outside.
Key Rules
- Use ’s for singular possession (John’s car).
- Use s’ for plural possession (the students’ books).
- Use apostrophes in contractions (don’t, can’t, it’s).
Misuse of Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Examples
❌ She runs quick.
✅ She runs quickly.
❌ He did good on the exam.
✅ He did well on the exam.
Common Mistakes
- Using adjectives instead of adverbs after verbs.
- Forgetting that adverbs often end in -ly.
Incorrect Use of the Articles a, an and the
Articles define nouns as specific or general.
Rules
- A before consonant sounds (a book, a car).
- An before vowel sounds (an apple, an hour).
- The for specific nouns (the sun, the teacher).
Examples
❌ I saw an dog in the park.
✅ I saw a dog in the park.
❌ She wants a hour to rest.
✅ She wants an hour to rest.
It’s vs. Its
Explanation
- It’s = it is / it has.
- Its = possession.
Examples
❌ Its a sunny day.
✅ It’s a sunny day.
❌ The dog chased it’s tail.
✅ The dog chased its tail.
Tips
If you can replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has,” use the apostrophe.
Capitalization Mistakes
Capital letters are used for proper nouns, titles, and sentence beginnings.
Common Mistakes:
❌ i went to london last summer.
✅ I went to London last summer.
❌ we saw mr. smith at the park.
✅ We saw Mr. Smith at the park.
Tips
Capitalize:
- First word of a sentence.
- Proper nouns (names, places, titles).
- Days, months, holidays.
Than vs. Then
- Than is used for comparisons.
- Then refers to time or sequence.
Examples
❌ She is taller then her brother.
✅ She is taller than her brother.
❌ First we went to the market, than we went home.
✅ First we went to the market, then we went home.
Tips
Think: than = comparison, then = time.
Practical Example Sentences of Common Grammar Mistakes
Here are 30 examples (wrong vs. correct) to help learners spot mistakes:
- ❌ She go to work. → ✅ She goes to work.
- ❌ Its my book. → ✅ It’s my book.
- ❌ I am agree. → ✅ I agree.
- ❌ He don’t like tea. → ✅ He doesn’t like tea.
- ❌ We was late. → ✅ We were late.
- ❌ She sings good. → ✅ She sings well.
- ❌ I saw an apple tree. → ✅ I saw a apple tree. (Wrong correction – “an” used incorrectly)
- ❌ The informations are useful. → ✅ The information is useful.
- ❌ He is married with her. → ✅ He is married to her.
- ❌ She said me the story. → ✅ She told me the story.
- ❌ I enjoy to play football. → ✅ I enjoy playing football.
- ❌ She didn’t went. → ✅ She didn’t go.
- ❌ Everyone have a pen. → ✅ Everyone has a pen.
- ❌ They speaks English. → ✅ They speak English.
- ❌ Much people were there. → ✅ Many people were there.
- ❌ She is more kinder. → ✅ She is kinder.
- ❌ He is married with two children. → ✅ He is married and has two children.
- ❌ The news are shocking. → ✅ The news is shocking.
- ❌ She is best than me. → ✅ She is better than me.
- ❌ We discussed about the plan. → ✅ We discussed the plan.
- ❌ She is afraid from dogs. → ✅ She is afraid of dogs.
- ❌ I prefer tea than coffee. → ✅ I prefer tea to coffee.
- ❌ He explained me the problem. → ✅ He explained the problem to me.
- ❌ I look forward to meet you. → ✅ I look forward to meeting you.
- ❌ She is married with John. → ✅ She is married to John.
- ❌ Less people came today. → ✅ Fewer people came today.
- ❌ She is in home. → ✅ She is at home.
- ❌ They are waiting since two hours. → ✅ They have been waiting for two hours.
- ❌ He suggested me to go. → ✅ He suggested that I go.
- ❌ She didn’t knew. → ✅ She didn’t know.
Tips to Avoid the Most Common Grammar Mistakes
- Read daily: Exposure to good writing improves grammar naturally.
- Practice writing: Short daily exercises help avoid errors.
- Use grammar tools: Tools like Grammarly can spot common mistakes.
- Learn from mistakes: Keep a notebook of errors and corrections.
- Speak regularly: Practising aloud strengthens grammar intuition.
Exercises for Learners
- Write 5 sentences using its and its.
- Correct these sentences:
- He don’t know the answer.
- They was here yesterday.
- I am agree with you.
- Create 3 sentences with proper subject-verb agreement.
- Use 3 adverbs correctly in different sentences.
- Rewrite a short paragraph from your textbook and check for mistakes.
Conclusion
Avoiding the most common grammar mistakes takes practice and awareness. By learning the rules, reviewing examples, and practising regularly, you can improve your writing and speaking skills quickly. Remember, grammar is not about perfection but about clarity and communication. Keep practising, and you’ll notice steady improvement in your English.