Grammar Slip-Ups That Can Cost You Points
Hey there! Let's be real—grammar isn't the most thrilling part of writing a paper. But those little mistakes can add up, making even a great argument seem less credible. I've seen students lose points on otherwise solid essays just because of a few recurring errors. The good news? Once you know what to look for, fixing them becomes second nature.
The Usual Suspects: Common Confusions
First up: the infamous trio of "their," "there," and "they're." Mixing these up is a classic red flag for readers. "Their" shows possession, "there" indicates a place, and "they're" is a contraction for "they are." Another big one is confusing "its" (possessive) with "it's" (it is). My personal observation? We often type these wrong when we're rushing to get our thoughts down. That's why a slow, careful proofread is so valuable. If grammar isn't your strong suit, consider getting a second pair of eyes. Sometimes, the best request a quote comes from a quick grammar check.
Comma Catastrophes and Run-On Sentences
Commas are tricky. Using too many can chop up your flow, but using too few creates marathon sentences that leave your reader breathless. A run-on sentence happens when two independent clauses are smooshed together without proper punctuation. For example: "I love studying history it's my favorite subject." See the problem? You can fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a conjunction (like "and" or "but"). If you're constantly wrestling with sentence structure, request a quote can be a game-changer for learning the rules.
Subject-Verb Agreement: Making Sure Things Match
This simply means your subject and verb must both be singular or both be plural. It sounds easy, but it gets tricky with phrases like "The group of students is" (singular) or "The data are" (plural). My tip? Find the true subject of the sentence and block out the extra words. Ask yourself: what is actually doing the action? Getting this right makes your writing sound polished and precise, which is exactly what professors notice.
Mastering these common errors will instantly level up your writing. But remember, everyone needs a hand sometimes. If you're polishing a major paper, don't hesitate to request a quote for that final proofread. What's the grammar rule that always trips you up? Drop your biggest writing pet peeve or question in the comments below—I'd love to hear from you!