The 10 Most Common Grammar Mistakes Students Make
Grammar is an area in which pupils frequently face many difficulties, however, here avoiding frequent grammar errors in academic writing is important. Students’ writing and communication abilities might be enhanced by being aware of the most frequent grammatical errors. For instance, when dealing with singular and plural nouns in particular, students frequently have trouble matching the subject and verb in a phrase. In the same way, students make many other grammatical mistakes which will be highlighted in this guest post.
However, although everyone occasionally commits grammatical mistakes, certain faults are harder to spot than others. The greatest place to start if you want to enhance your writing abilities, in general, is by being familiar with writing grammatical rules. There are many reliable and helpful sites for students that provide them with Dissertation Help Online as well as help them overcome the grammatical mistakes they usually make.
Before avoiding frequent grammar errors in academic writing, getting to know them is important, so let’s get to know the common mistakes that students make.
Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
When writing, a common error made by many is the subject and verb not matching. Both the verb and the subject must have the same number, either single or plural. The verb must concur and represent the fact that the subject is a single individual. Here’s an illustration.
| False | My friends are having dinner. |
| True | My friends are having dinner. |
Here, students may get professional advice and assistance from reliable services such as Online Dissertation Proposal Help UK while writing their research proposals. They can also get help with frequent subject-verb agreement problems and ensure that the subject and verb in their academic writing are aligned appropriately.
(bestassignmentwriter,2022)
Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are sentences that are left unfinished. The phrase is deemed inadequate and erroneous if it lacks an independent clause or a full verb. Phrase fragments most frequently arise when the meaning of one phrase informs the meaning of another. As an illustration:
| False | I don’t like to eat pizza. Because I dislike like it. |
| True | I don’t like to eat pizza as I dislike it. |
Misuse of Apostrophes and Contractions
This is one of the most common grammar mistakes made by college students, as many individuals find it difficult to determine when to use an apostrophe.
Anything that ends with an apostrophe usually denotes contraction. An apostrophe is required if you can substitute “it is” for “it’s” in a sentence and it still makes sense. In the same way, when it comes to contractions, you should use “you’re” rather than “your”.
| False | It’s hot today. |
| True | It is hot today. |
Passive Voice
When the object comes first in a statement rather than last, the passive voice is frequently used. When the object comes first, the verb occurs as a result of the object rather than the object creating the verb.
The sentence has to be updated to become active to fix this error. Even for seasoned writers, this is a relatively common error that is sometimes hard to see.
Modifiers that dangle
| False | Walking down the street, her face was brushed by the tree branches. |
| True | Walking down the street, the tree branches brushed against her face. |
A phrase, sentence, or even a word that stands alone from the term it’s supposed to describe or alter is known as a hanging modifier. It might be difficult to read and make the statement seem weird. You likely have a mistake in your statement if it is unclear what is being changed.
Splitting Comma
A comma splice occurs when two distinct sentences are joined by a comma rather than a period. Many authors frequently make the error of omitting the comma when using transitional terms.
Example, However, Moreover, etc.
Run-on Phrases
Using run-on phrases is another typical error in grammar. When two whole sentences are combined into one, this occurs. It can be fixed by adding coordinating conjunctions and punctuation like a period, comma, or semicolon. It’s crucial to remember that a phrase is not always a run-on just because it is lengthy.
Using a Preposition to Ending Sentence
When a phrase ends with a preposition, it seems forced or uncomfortable since it signals that another word will come next. As an illustration:
| False | Which outfit did you choose to wear to the celebration? |
| True | In which attire did you decide to attend to the party? |
Some contend that in informal writing and other contexts, it’s acceptable to conclude a sentence with a preposition. It is advisable to keep up with the most recently acknowledged norms of grammar because they are subject to change at times.
Wordiness:
Generally speaking, don’t use a lot of words to convey the same information. There’s no need to fill your phrase with excessive words if you can describe anything clearly in a few words. It may cause ambiguity in the meaning of your phrase, making it difficult to effectively express the essential point. This is a very typical tactic used by students in their essays and assignments when they are attempting to reach a word count, but it is not a recommended one.
(Kumala, B.P., Aimah, S. and Ifadah, M., 2018, July.)
Incorrect use of words
When writing, people frequently mix up a lot of frequently overused terms. Numerous words in this list are homophones, which means they have similar sounds but distinct meanings. Even if their meanings are similar, some of them cannot be used interchangeably.
Here are a few terms that are frequently misused:
Accept vs. Except: Although they seem similar, these two words have distinct meanings.
Conclusion:
To sum up, being proficient in grammar is essential for clear communication. Students may increase the clarity and polish of their writing by recognizing and fixing common errors like the ones listed below. You may avoid these mistakes by practicing frequently and paying close attention to details.
Using tools like writing workshops, grammar manuals, and peer review sessions will help you improve your grammar even more. Ultimately, students may take their writing to new levels and make sure their ideas are understood and felt strongly by their target audience by realizing the value of accuracy in language and making a commitment to ongoing growth.
References:
- BAW. 2022. How Academic Help Providers Save The Students’ Future. Available at < https://bestassignmentwriter.co.uk/blog/how-academic-help-providers-save-the-students-future/ >
- Kumala, B.P., Aimah, S. and Ifadah, M., 2018, July. Available at < https://jurnal.unimus.ac.id/index.php/ELLIC/article/view/3513 >
