Listing of Common Grammatical Errors

The following is a list of common writing errors. If you don't know how to correct these errors, be sure to look them up in a writing guide. The Writing Center has guides you may use, and our tutors can help you learn to correct these errors.

Lack of comma before coordinating conjunction connecting two independent clauses

• Incorrect: Sally went to the market and she bought some milk, bread, and eggs.
• Correct: Sally went to the market, and she bought some milk, bread, and eggs.

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Comma splice: use of comma instead of semicolon between two independent clauses not connected by conjunction

• Incorrect: We went to the baseball game, after that we stopped to get something to eat.
• Correct: We went to the baseball game; after that we stopped to get something to eat.

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Lack of comma after introductory phrase

• Incorrect: While the professor lectured I revised my paper.
• Correct: While the professor lectured, I revised my paper

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Incomplete sentences

• Incorrect: Performing in front of a live audience.
• Correct: Performing in front of a live audience is the dream of many musicians.

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Inconsistent verb tenses

• Incorrect: I am the best student in the class because I finished my exam first.
• Correct: I am the best student in the class because I always finish my exams first.

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Incorrect use of similar sounding words and phrases such as everyday/every day, everyone/every one, "a lot," (not "alot"), lie/lay

• Incorrect: I liked the painting alot.
• Correct: I like the painting a lot.

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Incorrect capitalization

• Incorrect: Whenever dad spoke, we all listened.
• Correct: Whenever Dad spoke, we all listened.

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Misplaced punctuation with quote marks

• Incorrect: The author states "there are four major components to free will".
• Correct: The author states, "there are four major components to free will."

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Incorrect use of subjective and objective pronouns

• Incorrect: Sally wanted to meet up with Larry, Jenny and I.
• Correct: Sally wanted to meet up with Larry, Jenny and me.

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Poor logic of sentences—beginning of sentence does not link with the end