Even the most seasoned professionals slip up when it comes to grammar. Whether you’re sending a quick email or drafting a business proposal, small mistakes can sneak in—and they can make a big impact on how you’re perceived. The good news? Most errors are easy to fix once you know what to look for. Here are the ten most common grammar mistakes I see and how you can avoid them:
1. Their, There, and They’re
Mistake: Mixing up these commonly confused words.
Wrong: “Their going to the beach right now.”
Right: “They’re going to the beach right now.”
Remember these:
Their = possession (“Their report was impressive.”)
There = place or existence (“I placed the boxes over there.”)
They’re = they are (“They’re joining the meeting.”)
2. Your vs. You’re
Mistake: Using “your” instead of “you’re,” or vice versa.
Wrong: “Your one of the most respected leaders in town.”
Right: “You’re one of the most respected leaders in town.”
Remember these:
Your = possession (“Your feedback is valuable.”)
You’re = you are (“You’re doing a great job.”)
3. Its vs. It’s
Mistake: Mixing up the possessive and the contraction.
Wrong: “Its not your fault that the report went missing.”
Right: “It’s not your fault that the report went missing.”
Remember these:
Its = possession (“The company increased its revenue.”)
It’s = it is (“It’s time for us to get back to reality.”)
4. Subject-Verb Agreement
Mistake: Pairing a singular subject with a plural verb, or the other way around.
Wrong: “The boys is playing ball at the backyard.”
Right: “The boys are playing ball at the backyard.”
Remember these:
Always pair a singular subject with a singular verb, and a plural subject with a plural verb. “The team is ready.” (singular) “The teams are ready.” (plural)
5. Misplaced Apostrophes
Mistake: Adding apostrophes to make words plural or forgetting them in contractions.
Wrong: “The mans wife thanked him profusely.”
Right: “The man’s wife thanked him profusely.”
Remember these:
Always use apostrophes for contractions (e.g., “don’t,” “can’t”) and possession (e.g., “the writer’s laptop”).
6. Run-On Sentences
Mistake: Stringing together too many ideas without proper punctuation.
Example: “I love writing content for my website it helps me reach new clients and it also improves my SEO but sometimes it takes a lot of time and effort and I wish I had more hours in the day to finish everything.”
Fix:
Break long sentences into shorter ones or use conjunctions.
Right: “I love writing content for my website. It helps me reach new clients, and it also improves my SEO. However, sometimes it requires a significant amount of time and effort. I wish I had more hours in the day to finish everything.”
7. Comma Splices
Mistake: Joining two independent clauses with just a comma.
Wrong: “I finished designing the landing page, it still needs SEO optimization.”
Fix:
Use a conjunction, semicolon, or break into two sentences.
Right: “I finished designing the landing page; it still needs SEO optimization.”
8. Incorrect Use of “Me” vs. “I”
Mistake: Using “me” where “I” is correct, and vice versa.
Wrong: “John and me will attend the meeting.”
Right: “John and I will attend the meeting.”
9. Dangling Modifiers
Mistake: Starting a sentence with a descriptive phrase that doesn’t match the subject.
Wrong: “After reviewing the document, feedback was given by the manager.”
Right: “After reviewing the document, the manager gave feedback.”
10. Overusing Passive Voice
Mistake: Making writing less direct and harder to read.
Wrong: “The file was reviewed by the editor.” (Passive voice)
Right: “The editor reviewed the file.” (Active voice)
Why Correcting Common Grammar Mistakes Matters
Grammar mistakes might seem minor, but they can affect your credibility, confuse your message, and even impact business outcomes. By catching these common errors, you’ll make your writing clearer, more professional, and more effective, whether you’re crafting a client proposal or a quick Slack message.
Pro Tip:
Don’t rely solely on spellcheckers. Take a few minutes to proofread, or better yet, ask a professional editor to review your work.
