Writing (and grammar) errors can damage your credibility in
your written communication. Learning about words that dangle, split, and get
misplaced isn’t a pleasurable pastime. In the professional world, your writing
is important. You use it on a daily basis to express your ideas. The way it' is
received matters. It makes sense that you do everything possible to be received
well. Here are some of the most common writing mistakes and how to fix them:
1.
Using quotation marks to add emphasis: For some reason, this
one seems to be gaining popularity despite the fact that it's incorrect. When
you want to highlight or emphasize something, make sure to use italics, not
quotation marks. Thus: Incorrect:
Quotation marks are "only" used to cite exact words used by someone. Correct: Quotation marks are only used to cite exact
words used by someone.
2.
Was vs. Were: In
English, when you're talking about a hypothetical situation or something you
hope for, you've got to use the subjunctive. Most people usually get this right
when they're talking about someone else.
Thus
most people know it's, "I was hoping they would come to the party," and not,
"I was hoping they will
come to the party." However, things tend to get confused when the subject
is oneself. Thus: Incorrect: If I was
rich, I'd fly first class. Correct:
If I were rich, I'd fly first class. The same goes for other singular subjects:
Incorrect: I wish she was more helpful. Correct: I wish she were more helpful.
3.
Semicolons: Semicolons are used
either to connect two separate clauses, or to help list a group of items. The
first scenario: Incorrect: I like to spend time with the team; which means I
can't stand not being in the loop. Correct: I like to spend time with the team;
I can't stand not being in the loop.
If each
half of the sentence can form complete sentences on their own, you can use a
semicolon. If not, they must be connected by something other than a semicolon.
Semicolons are also used to make lists when items have punctuation within them.
Thus: Incorrect:
They're
looking to establish more learning opportunities for students, who've said
that's what they want, more excitement for the teachers, who, quite frankly,
are bored at the moment, and more team-building overall. Correct: They're
looking to establish more learning opportunities for students, who've said
that's what they want; more excitement for the teachers, who, quite frankly,
are bored at the moment; and more team-building overall.
4.
Who vs. that: This one is
straightforward. If it's a person or an animal with a name, use who. If it's an
inanimate object or animal without a name, use that. Thus: Incorrect: The woman that just came into the office is my friend. Correct: The woman who just came into the
office is my friend.
5.
There vs. Their vs. They're: This
one, which makes it onto almost all of these kinds of lists, still trips people
up. It's worth outlining. It's also quite
noticeable so you want to make sure you get it right: There is a
location, physical or otherwise ("The apple is right there") Their is
possessive ("Their house") They're is the contraction of "they
are" ("They're very nice") Here's a hint: if you're not sure,
Google the phrase you want to use.
6.
Toward vs. Towards: This can be a heated
subject in grammar, but the logic is simple. In American English, you use
"toward." In British English, it's "towards." Thus in the
U.S., you'd say, "She moved toward the exit." In England, it would
be, "She moved towards the exit."
7.
This is her/him vs. This is s/he: If
someone calls you and says, "Is this Francesca?" the correct response
is, "Yes, this is she" (assuming you are actually Francesca). You
don't say, "Yes, this is her." The trick is to remember that you'd
never say "Her is answering the phone"--it would always be, "she
is answering the phone."
8.
Putting punctuation outside of quotation marks: This is another
regional difference. In British English, punctuation goes outside quotation
marks, while in American English they always go inside.
Thus:
American English: The CEO said, "The company is slowly recovering from the
setback," but employees were less than convinced. British English: The CEO
said, "The company is slowly recovering from the setback", but
employees were less than convinced.
9.
Using a hyphen (-) instead of a dash (-): Hyphens
connect two words into one, usually forming an adjective. Examples:
state-of-the-art, friendly-looking, cruelty-free. A dash is used within a
sentence to demonstrate that you're switching temporarily to a separate
thought. Example: Unbelievably, Kelly--the unluckiest woman at the company--won
the office pool.
10.
Comma splice: The comma splice is a
common mistake: Incorrect: Maria left
the last conference session, she couldn't stand the speaker. Correct: Maria left the last conference
session, for she couldn't stand the speaker. The technical grammar rule: A
comma can't connect two independent clauses unless it has the help of a
coordinating conjunction. Put more simply, you can't connect two separate thoughts
with just a comma.
To avoid a comma splice, either use a
semicolon to connect the two phrases, or use a conjunction. The full list of
conjunctions can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS, which stands for: for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
11.
Missing a comma after an intro phrase: The
opposite of the comma splice, this is the kind of mistake that leaves the
reader feeling breathless like there is
no natural break in the rhythm of the sentence: Incorrect: After she left the office she ran into Fran. Correct: After she left the office, she
ran into Fran. The easy fix for this is to read your work aloud (quietly to
yourself).
Places you pause naturally take a comma. The
other common mistake associated with this is sentences that include a subject
at the end, such as: Incorrect: "Thank you for attending gentlemen."
Correct: "Thank you for attending, gentlemen."
“You write to
communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we
edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ~ (Arthur Plotnik) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“11 Common Writing Mistakes (and How to
Fix Them)”by Melanie Curtin
·
“15
Common Grammar Mistakes That Kill Your Writing Credibility” by Authority Pub
·
“Do You Make These 7 Mistakes When You Write?” by
Brian Clark
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