Language is a powerful tool. It’s how we communicate ideas, persuade others, and express ourselves. Yet, even the most articulate and educated individuals often fall prey to subtle grammar mistakes. These errors aren’t just typos, they’re misunderstandings of the rules themselves or habits picked up from everyday speech.
This article explores ten common grammar mistakes, not just as a list, but as a deeper exploration into why they happen and how to fix them.
The Confusion of Homophones: Their, There, and They’re
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. The most notorious trio? Their, there, and they’re. Even well-read individuals knowledgeable across different fields like art, science, and cricket online betting, sometimes slip up, especially when typing quickly or multitasking.
Their is possessive: Their house is beautiful.
There refers to a place or is used with the verb “to be”: The book is over there. / There are many options.
They’re is a contraction of they are: They’re going to the park.
Misplaced Apostrophes: It’s vs. Its
This is a classic pitfall. Apostrophes usually indicate possession (John’s car) or contractions (don’t = do not), but its is an exception.
It’s = it is or it has.
Its = possessive form of it (no apostrophe).
Example: It’s raining outside vs. The cat licked its paw.
Subject-Verb Agreement Slip-Ups
Subject-verb agreement means singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. Seems simple, until sentences get complex.
Wrong: The list of items is on the table.
Right: The list of items is on the table.
The subject here is a list, not items. A common mistake is aligning the verb with the nearest noun rather than the actual subject.
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that doesn’t clearly or logically refer to the noun it’s supposed to modify.
Wrong: Running to catch the train, my bag fell open.
(Who was running? The sentence makes it seem like the bag was.)
Right: Running to catch the train, I dropped my bag, and it fell open.
These errors are subtle but can make sentences confusing or unintentionally humorous.
Solution: Make sure your modifier is immediately followed by the noun it’s meant to describe.
Overusing the Passive Voice
The passive voice isn’t always incorrect, but overusing it can lead to vague, weak writing.
Passive: The team made a mistake.
Active: The team made the mistake.
Smart people, especially in academia or business, sometimes default to passive constructions to sound formal. But active voice is usually clearer and more engaging.
Solution: Prefer active voice unless there’s a good reason for using passive (like emphasizing the object over the subject).
Mixing Up “Fewer” and “Less”
Use fewer for countable nouns and less for uncountable nouns.
Fewer apples, fewer people, fewer hours.
Less water, less time, less stress.
Wrong: There were less people at the event this year.
Right: There were fewer people at the event this year.
This mistake is common in everyday speech and advertising (“10 items or less”), which only reinforces the error.
Solution: Ask yourself: Can I count this in whole numbers? If yes, use fewer.
That vs. Which
Many smart people use which and that interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference:
Use that for essential information (restrictive clause).
Use which for extra information (non-restrictive clause), usually with a comma.
Correct: The book that I borrowed was amazing.
Correct: The book, which I borrowed yesterday, was amazing.
Solution: If the clause can be removed without changing the meaning, use which. If it’s essential, use that.
Redundant Phrasing
Phrases like “free gift,” “advance warning,” or “past history” are redundant. A gift is already free, a warning is always in advance, and history is by definition in the past.
These expressions are so common in marketing and casual speech that even educated people use them without thinking.
Solution: Be concise. Review your writing for repetition of meaning and cut unnecessary words.
Misusing “Literally”
Literally means “in a literal or exact sense,” but it’s often used for emphasis:
Wrong: I was literally dying of laughter.
Right (and humorous): I was figuratively dying of laughter.
Even intelligent speakers use literally for drama, but doing so dilutes its meaning.
Solution: Use literally only when something actually happened as described.
Conclusion
Grammar mistakes don’t make you less intelligent, but they can affect how your ideas are received. Misused words and phrases can lead to confusion or make writing seem careless, even when the content is brilliant. By becoming aware of these common slip-ups, you can strengthen your communication, boost your credibility, and ensure that your message comes through clearly. After all, good grammar isn’t about perfection, it’s about precision.
Oliver Smith is an experienced blogger at Grammar Globe, Oliver Smith, an expert in English grammar and a master of wit, brings language to life with his playful take on puns. Through his works, he weaves humor into the rules of grammar, making learning fun and engaging for readers of all ages. Discover language with a smile!”
