10 Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Are you tired of second-guessing your writing? At FixMyGrammar, we understand the importance of clear, error-free communication. In this article, we'll explore 10 common grammar mistakes and provide simple solutions to help you improve your writing skills.

1. Your vs. You're

Mistake: Confusing "your" (possessive) with "you're" (contraction of "you are").

Fix: Remember that "you're" can always be replaced with "you are."

Example:

• Incorrect: Your going to love this grammar guide.
• Correct: You're going to love this grammar guide.

2. Its vs. It's

Mistake: Mixing up "its" (possessive) and "it's" (contraction of "it is" or "it has").

Fix: Use "it's" only when you can replace it with "it is" or "it has."

Example:

• Incorrect: The dog wagged it's tail.
• Correct: The dog wagged its tail.

3. There, Their, and They're

Mistake: Using these homophones interchangeably.

Fix:

• "There" refers to a place.
• "Their" indicates possession.
• "They're" is a contraction of "they are."

Example:

• Incorrect: Their going to there favorite restaurant, and they're food is amazing.
• Correct: They're going to their favorite restaurant, and their food is amazing.

4. Affect vs. Effect

Mistake: Confusing "affect" (usually a verb) with "effect" (usually a noun).

Fix: "Affect" means to influence, while "effect" means result.

Example:

• Incorrect: The weather had a negative affect on our plans.
• Correct: The weather had a negative effect on our plans.

5. Could of, Would of, Should of

Mistake: Using "of" instead of "have" in these phrases.

Fix: Always use "have" or the contraction "'ve."

Example:

• Incorrect: I could of done better on the test.
• Correct: I could have done better on the test.

6. Fewer vs. Less

Mistake: Using "less" for countable items instead of "fewer."

Fix: Use "fewer" for things you can count, and "less" for things you can't.

Example:

• Incorrect: There are less people at the party than I expected.
• Correct: There are fewer people at the party than I expected.

7. Who vs. Whom

Mistake: Incorrectly using "who" and "whom."

Fix: Use "who" for the subject of a sentence and "whom" for the object.

Example:

• Incorrect: Whom wrote this article?
• Correct: Who wrote this article?

8. Comma Splices

Mistake: Joining two independent clauses with only a comma.

Fix: Use a period, semicolon, or conjunction to separate the clauses.

Example:

• Incorrect: I love grammar, it's fascinating.
• Correct: I love grammar; it's fascinating.

9. Dangling Modifiers

Mistake: Using a modifying phrase that doesn't clearly relate to the subject.

Fix: Ensure the modifying phrase is next to the word it's modifying.

Example:

• Incorrect: Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful.
• Correct: Walking down the street, I saw beautiful trees.

10. Subject-Verb Agreement

Mistake: The subject and verb not matching in number.

Fix: Ensure singular subjects have singular verbs, and plural subjects have plural verbs.

Example:

• Incorrect: The group of students were excited about the field trip.
• Correct: The group of students was excited about the field trip.

By mastering these common grammar mistakes, you'll significantly improve your writing. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep writing, stay aware of these issues, and don't hesitate to use FixMyGrammar for additional support.

Happy writing!