Common Grammatical Errors in English Writing PTE IELTS TOEFL Test
How you will able to get 90 score in your writing section that is Essay, Summarise written text, Summarise spoken text, Write from dictation etcetera. Here are some Common Grammatical Errors in English Writing, which you must avoid for scoring good marks in your PTE, IELTS and TOEFL test.
AVOID THESE 15 Common Grammatical Errors in English Writing
1. Error in subject verb agreement
2. Sentence formation
3. Missing Comma after introduction
4. Misusing the apostrophe
5. No comma in a compound sentence
6. Misplaced or dangling modification
7. Proper pronounce reference
8. Use of wrong word
9. Run on sentence
10. Unnecessary use of comma
11. Lack of Parallel structure
12. Sentence sprawl
13. Splice of comma
14. Colon mistakes
15. Split infinitives
Common Grammatical Errors in English Writing
1. Subject-verb agreement Errors
The subject and verb of a sentence must agree with one another in number whether they are singular or plural. If the subject of the sentence is singular, its work must be singular; and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Example:
Incorrect: The number of employees was in company A for job.
Correct: The number of employees Working company A for job.
2. Sentence formation
Sentence formation are incomplete sentence that doesn’t have one independent clause. Fragment may Leak a subject, a complete verb, or both. Sometimes fragments depend on the proceeding sentence to give its meaning.
Example:
Incorrect: The boy snuck home late that night. Then waited for the consequences.
Correct: The boy snuck home late that night, then waited for the consequences.
3. Missing Comma After Introduction
A comma should be used after an introduction word, phrase, or clause. This gives the reader a slight pause after introduction element and often can help avoid confusion.
Example:
Incorrect: In the way you can earn lots of money.
Correct: In this way you can earn lots of money
4. Misusing the Apostrophe
You use an apostrophe with it’s only when the word means it is or it has. Without the apostrophe, it means belonging to it.
Example:
Incorrect: I dont have money
Correct: I don’t have money
Example:
Incorrect: Its not your responsibility
Correct: It’s not your responsibility
5. No Comma in a compound sentence
A Comma separates two or more independent clauses in a compound sentence separated by conjunction. The comma goes after the first clause and before the coordination conjunction that separate the clauses.
Example:
Incorrect: She is beautiful and she was happy and she was full of life.
Correct: She was beautiful, and he was happy, and full of life.
6. Misplaced or dangling modifier
Amit played modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word in modifier or describes. Sentence with this error can sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modify the word not clearly stated in the sentence.
Example:
Incorrect: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a sparkling girl’s bracelet.
Correct: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a girl’s sparkling bracelet.
7. Improper pronounce reference
Open can replace a noun, and it’s antecedent should be the person, place, or thing to which the pronounce refers. A vague noun reference (including words such as it, that, and which) can leave the reader confused about what or to whom the pronoun refers.
Example:
Incorrect: When a man Finally Found his dog, happy.
(The dog or Jonathan?)
Correct: Aman was so happy when he finally found his dog.
8. Use of the wrong word
There are a variety of words and phrases that are commonly confused and misused in sentence. Using them incorrectly can change the meaning of the sentence or simply reflect carelessness on writers part. There are hundreds of these commonly confused words, so when in doubt, always check the definition and correct spelling of the word.
Example:
Incorrect: She excepted his offer to drive her home.
Correct: She accepted his offer to drive her home.
Example:
Incorrect: It was a breathe of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.
Correct: It was a breath of fresh air to meet someone so genuine.
9. Run on sentence
Run on sentence occurs when you connect two main clauses with no pronunciation.
Example:
Incorrect: She tried to sneak out of the house her mother saw her leaving.
Correct: She tried to sneak out of house, but her mother saw her leaving.
Example:
Incorrect: He ran through the field as fast as he could all the while rain was soaking him to the bone.
Correct: He ran through the field as fast as he could. All the while rain was soaking him to the bone
10. Unnecessary use of Comma
It’s common writing mistakes to throw commas around liberally when they aren’t necessary. There are dozens of example of this error, but here are a few common mistakes.
Example:
Incorrect: He wants to get a degree in engineering, or medicine.
Correct: He wanted to get a degree in Engineering or medicine.
Example:
Incorrect: Sam knew immediately, what was going to happen next.
Correct: Sam knew immediately what was going to happen next.
11. Lack of parallel structure
Faulty parallelism occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are similar in meaning but not parallel (all grammatically similar) in form. It often occurs with paired Constructions and items in a series.
Example:
Incorrect: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemist, and research scientist.
Correct: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemistry, search science.
12. Sentence Sprawl
A sentence can become a burden to read when there are too many equally weighted phrases.
Example:
Incorrect: Robin was planning to attend his friend’s wedding on June 30, but at the last minute he found out he had jury duty, so he couldn’t attend the wedding, and felt really guilty about it.
Correct: Unexpectedly robin was called for jury duty and he couldn’t attend his friend’s June 30 wedding. He felt guilty about missing it.
13. Comma Splice
A comma splice occurs when two separate sentence are joined with a comma rather than a period or semicolon. Writers often create comma splices when using transitional word, such as however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, or furthermore.
Example:
Incorrect: My intention was to take her out to dinner, however I decided not to invite her after all.
Correct: My intention was to take her out to dinner; however, I decided not to invite her after all.
14. Colon mistakes
A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a word, phrase, clause, list, or quotation. The Colon signals that what follows proves or explains the sentence preceding the colon.
Example:
Incorrect: People move to Florida for: The warmer weather, the beach, and theme parks.
Correct: People move to Florida for three reasons: The warm weather, the beach, and the theme parks.
15. Split Infinitives
If the sentence sounds awkward by correcting the split, or rule of thumb is to go with what makes the most sense in the context of your writing and for the ease of reading.
Example:
Incorrect: She tried to quickly finish the book before she had to leave.
Correct: She tried to finish the book quickly before she had to leave.
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