Grammar Mistakes That Can Trip Up Your Writing

Hey there! Let's be honest, grammar isn't always the most exciting part of writing an essay. But those little mistakes can really distract your professor from your brilliant ideas. I've seen it happen time and again—a strong argument gets undermined by a few persistent errors. The good news? Once you know what to look for, you can catch them easily. Think of this as a quick checklist for cleaner, more professional papers.

1. The Comma Splice Run-On

This is a classic. It happens when you join two complete sentences with just a comma. For example: "I finished my research paper, I need to proofread it." See the issue? You can fix it by using a period, a semicolon, or a conjunction like "so" or "but." A quick read-aloud test often catches these. If you're unsure, a second set of eyes from a talk to an expert service can be a lifesaver for polishing your final draft.

2. Their, There, and They're (The Trio of Trouble)

We all know the difference, but when you're typing fast, your fingers can betray you. "Their" shows possession, "there" indicates a place, and "they're" is a contraction for "they are." My personal trick? I do a quick "Find" for each word before I submit anything. It takes 30 seconds and saves so much embarrassment.

3. Misplaced Apostrophes

Apostrophes have two jobs: showing possession (the student's book) and creating contractions (it's = it is). The big culprit? Using "it's" when you mean "its" (the possessive form). Remember: If you can replace it with "it is" or "it has," use the apostrophe. Otherwise, don't. Confusion over plural vs. possessive (1990s vs. 1990's) is another common slip-up that professional editing can swiftly correct.

4. Subject-Verb Agreement Slip-Ups

Your verb needs to match your subject in number. It sounds simple, but it gets tricky with phrases like "The group of students is" (the subject is "group," which is singular) or "Neither the book nor the articles are" (the verb agrees with the closest subject, "articles"). Reading your sentences backward, from the end to the start, can help you isolate and check the subject and verb.

5. Dangling Modifiers

This one creates unintentionally funny sentences. A modifier is a phrase that describes something, and it needs to be right next to the thing it's describing. For instance: "After finishing the final chapter, the essay was submitted." This makes it sound like the essay finished its own chapter! The fix: "After finishing the final chapter, I submitted the essay." If you're struggling to untangle your sentences, don't hesitate to talk to an expert for clear, effective essay help.

Mastering these common pitfalls will instantly make your writing sharper and more credible. Which of these mistakes do you find yourself making most often? Drop a comment below or ask a question—I'm happy to help! And remember, everyone needs a proofreader sometimes.