Common Errors in Style and Usage
Even the best writers make mistakes. Recognizing and correcting common errors is a crucial step toward polishing your writing and communicating with greater precision and confidence.
Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word. When it's placed in the wrong part of a sentence, it can create confusion by appearing to modify the wrong thing. Always place modifiers as close as possible to the word they are intended to describe.
Incorrect:
"Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful."
Correct:
"As I was walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful."
Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. This rule can be tricky with collective nouns (like "team" or "group"), which can be singular or plural depending on whether they act as one unit or as individuals.
Incorrect:
"The list of items are on the desk."
Correct:
"The list of items is on the desk."
Incorrect Pronoun Usage
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number. A common mistake is using a plural pronoun (like "their") with a singular antecedent (like "each" or "everyone"). While accepted in informal speech, it's best to maintain agreement in formal writing.
Incorrect:
"Each of the students should submit their assignments."
Correct:
"Each of the students should submit his or her assignment."
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that doesn't have a clear word to modify in the sentence. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence and seems to describe the subject, but the logical subject is missing, creating an illogical statement.
Incorrect:
"After studying hard, the test was aced."
Correct:
"After studying hard, she aced the test."
Double Negatives
Using two negative words in the same clause is a double negative. In English, this creates a positive, which is usually the opposite of the intended meaning. To fix it, remove one of the negative words to make the sentence clear and direct.
Incorrect:
"I don’t want none of it."
Correct:
"I don’t want any of it."
Confusing Words (Homophones)
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Common examples include affect/effect, their/they're/there, and your/you're. It's important to learn the specific meaning of each word to use it correctly.
Incorrect:
"The weather effected my mood."
Correct:
"The weather affected my mood."
Lack of Parallelism
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This often applies to lists or series. When the structure is not parallel, the sentence can sound awkward and unbalanced.
Incorrect:
"She likes hiking, swimming, and to ride bikes."
Correct:
"She likes hiking, swimming, and riding bikes."
Redundancy
Redundancy means using more words than necessary to express an idea. Phrases like "return back" or "free gift" are redundant because the extra word adds no new meaning. Eliminating these makes your writing more concise and professional.
Incorrect:
"He returned back to the store."
Correct:
"He returned to the store."
Improper Use of Apostrophes
Apostrophes have two main functions: to show possession (the cat's toy) and to form contractions (it's raining). A common error is using an apostrophe to make a noun plural. Plural nouns generally just need an "s" without an apostrophe.
Incorrect:
"The cat’s are playful."
Correct:
"The cats are playful."
Run-on Sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction. This can be fixed by separating them with a period, a semicolon, or by adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Incorrect:
"I like to read books I find them fascinating."
Correct:
"I like to read books; I find them fascinating."
Key Takeaways
- Always place modifiers next to the word they describe.
- Ensure your subject and verb agree in number.
- Check that pronouns agree with their antecedents.
- Avoid double negatives and redundant phrases.
- Proofreading carefully is the best way to catch these common errors.
Exercises and Worksheets
Ready to practice? Test your knowledge with these resources.