Grammar Slip-Ups That Can Cost You Points

Hey there! Let's talk about something that might make you cringe a little: grammar. I know, I know—it's not the most exciting part of writing. But catching a few common mistakes can seriously level up your essays. Think of it like tidying your room before guests arrive; it just makes everything look more polished and intentional. You'd be surprised how many smart arguments get overshadowed by simple errors that distract your professor.

1. The Comma Splice Tango

This is probably the number one issue I see in student writing. A comma splice happens when you join two complete sentences with just a comma. For example: "I love writing essays, they are my favorite assignment." See the problem? That comma is doing too much heavy lifting! You can fix it by using a period, a semicolon, or a conjunction like "and" or "but." So: "I love writing essays. They are my favorite assignment." Much better, right? If you're ever unsure about your sentence flow, a quick round of get help here from a professional editing service can spot these issues instantly.

2. Their, There, and They're - The Classic Trio

We all know the difference, but when you're typing fast at 2 AM, these guys love to play switcheroo. "Their" shows possession (their book), "there" indicates a place (over there), and "they're" is a contraction for "they are." My personal trick? Read your sentence out loud using "they are." If it sounds wrong, you need a different one. It's a tiny fix that makes a huge difference in how professional your work appears.

3. The Run-On Sentence Marathon

Sometimes you have so many great ideas that they all come pouring out in one breathless sentence that seems to go on forever without any clear breaks for the reader to pause and process what you're saying and it can be exhausting to follow. Phew! See what I did there? Long, winding sentences confuse readers. Break them up. Your ideas deserve their own space to shine. If you find yourself writing a paragraph that's just one sentence, it's time to hit the pause button. This is another area where get help here for essay help can be a game-changer; a fresh set of eyes can easily find where to split things up.

4. It's vs. Its

This one tricks everyone. Remember: "it's" always means "it is" or "it has." The apostrophe is for the missing letter. "Its" (no apostrophe) is possessive, like "his" or "her." So: "It's important to proofread your essay for its grammar." Getting this right is a small sign of a careful writer.

5. Could Of / Would Of / Should Of

This mistake comes from how we speak. What you're actually trying to write is "could HAVE," "would HAVE," "should HAVE." The correct forms are "could've," "would've," and "should've." So never write "of" after these words. Write "I should have started my paper earlier." Your grammar checker might not catch this one, so be extra vigilant!

Mastering these common errors will make your writing clearer and more confident. And remember, there's no shame in seeking a little backup. Even the best writers use get help here to polish their final drafts. What's the grammar rule that always trips you up? Drop your biggest grammar pet peeve or question in the comments below—I'd love to hear from you!