8 Grammatical Errors You Really Need to Stop Making - Grammar is one of those things we’ve been taught a million times, but we still mess up every now and then--there are just so many rules. And since we’re probably going to keep mixing up who and whom, we came up with this little cheat sheet of some of the most common mistakes—and how to avoid them.
1. Unnecessary Commas
When a part of a sentence is essential to that sentence’s meaning, it doesn’t need to be set apart by commas.
Wrong: The woman, who teaches my spin class, is blonde.
Right: The woman who teaches my spin class is blonde.
2. Possessive Apostrophes
Possessives show ownership. If a word is simply plural, it doesn’t need an apostrophe.
Wrong: The womens’ locker room is around the corner.
Right: The women’s locker room is around the corner.
3. Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier should go next to the word it’s modifying. If it’s anywhere else in the sentence, it can confuse the meaning.
Wrong: I sipped an iced coffee wearing red lipstick.
Right: Wearing red lipstick, I sipped an iced coffee.
4. Dangling Modifiers
Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers happen when the modifier is implied, and not explicitly mentioned in the sentence.
Wrong: After reading the book a second time, it’s still confusing.
Right: After reading the book a second time, I still find the plot confusing.
5. Fewer Versus Less
Use fewer when you’re talking about countable objects and less when you’re talking about general or intangible concepts.
Wrong: I ate fewer than three chocolates today, which is a win in my book.
Right: I ate less than three chocolates today, which is a win in my book.
6. Split Infinitives
An infinitive is a verb preceded by “to”. A split infinitive is when there is a word or multiple words between the “to” and the verb.
Wrong: My boss asked to quickly meet about the presentation.
Right: My boss asked to meet about the presentation quickly.
7. Subject/Verb Disagreement
When the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number and person. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well, and vice versa.
Wrong: The group of students are learning to speak Italian.
Right: The group of students is learning to speak Italian.
8. Who Versus Whom
Who is a subjective pronoun while whom is an objective pronoun. Substitute “who” with the subjective pronouns “he” or “she and “whom” with the objective pronouns “him” or “her.”
Wrong: Who should I vote for in the election?
Right: Whom should I vote for in the election?
8 Grammatical Errors You Really Need to Stop Making
1. Unnecessary Commas
When a part of a sentence is essential to that sentence’s meaning, it doesn’t need to be set apart by commas.
Wrong: The woman, who teaches my spin class, is blonde.
Right: The woman who teaches my spin class is blonde.
2. Possessive Apostrophes
Possessives show ownership. If a word is simply plural, it doesn’t need an apostrophe.
Wrong: The womens’ locker room is around the corner.
Right: The women’s locker room is around the corner.
3. Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier should go next to the word it’s modifying. If it’s anywhere else in the sentence, it can confuse the meaning.
Wrong: I sipped an iced coffee wearing red lipstick.
Right: Wearing red lipstick, I sipped an iced coffee.
4. Dangling Modifiers
Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers happen when the modifier is implied, and not explicitly mentioned in the sentence.
Wrong: After reading the book a second time, it’s still confusing.
Right: After reading the book a second time, I still find the plot confusing.
5. Fewer Versus Less
Use fewer when you’re talking about countable objects and less when you’re talking about general or intangible concepts.
Wrong: I ate fewer than three chocolates today, which is a win in my book.
Right: I ate less than three chocolates today, which is a win in my book.
6. Split Infinitives
An infinitive is a verb preceded by “to”. A split infinitive is when there is a word or multiple words between the “to” and the verb.
Wrong: My boss asked to quickly meet about the presentation.
Right: My boss asked to meet about the presentation quickly.
7. Subject/Verb Disagreement
When the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number and person. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well, and vice versa.
Wrong: The group of students are learning to speak Italian.
Right: The group of students is learning to speak Italian.
8. Who Versus Whom
Who is a subjective pronoun while whom is an objective pronoun. Substitute “who” with the subjective pronouns “he” or “she and “whom” with the objective pronouns “him” or “her.”
Wrong: Who should I vote for in the election?
Right: Whom should I vote for in the election?
8 Grammatical Errors You Really Need to Stop Making
