Essay writing is a skill that helps us put our thoughts into words, explain complicated ideas, and have important conversations. But even the most interesting material can lose its power if it has common language mistakes. Just like a painter carefully chooses their colors to make a work, a writer must carefully choose their words and structure to make an article that is interesting and convincing.
Let’s analyze the most common mistakes and discuss how to rectify them. Additionally, we offer a carefully selected compilation of resources that can assist you in editing and modifying grammar mistakes as well as enhancing your writing abilities!
Common Mistakes in Essay Writing
There are various types of grammar issues, but we’ll concentrate on the five most frequently made errors.
- Prepositions
Prepositions are words that come before a noun or pronoun and indicate the relationship between that word and another word in the sentence or clause. One of the most challenging aspects of prepositions is that there are not a lot of rules to follow.
- Determiners
Determiners are words that appear before a noun or noun phrase. They help us determine whether the noun is general or specific and often provide information about quantity. This category consists of articles (a, an, the) and determiner words like this, that, every, each, which, and that. One of the most common issues that people often face is figuring out which determiner to use or leave out, and when to make that decision.
Verbs Related Errors
- Common Forms of Verbs
There are six common forms of verbs that you should know. These include the base form, which is the dictionary form of the verb. Then there is the infinitive form, which is the base form preceded by “to.” The third person singular form adds a “s” to the verb. The present participle form adds “ing” to the verb.
The past simple form is used to talk about actions that happened in the past. Lastly, the past participle form is used in different verb tenses. It’s interesting how certain verbs have a smaller number of forms, whereas the verb “be” stands out with its eight different forms! One common cause of confusion with verb forms arises when individuals mistakenly use the incorrect participle or rely excessively on the present participle (verb+ing form).
- Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement is a concept that necessitates the agreement of a subject and verb in terms of their number, whether singular or plural. The most common occurrence of problems happens when the subject is a noun phrase that includes a prepositional phrase.
- Verb Tense Shifts
Verb tense shifts can be a problematic situation when we discuss a specific topic at a certain point in time, but end up using multiple tenses to describe it within the same clause. To ensure consistency in verb tenses, it is important to either use a single tense throughout or introduce a new clause or sentence when shifting verb tenses.
Some Further Common Mistakes in Essay Writing
Effect or Effect?
Most of the time, the word “affect” is a verb and the word “effect” is a term. “It made him feel. It was a shocking result.”
Alright or All Right?
Alright/All Right: Even though “alright” is becoming more popular, “all right” is still the right answer.
A Lot or Allot?
A Lot: “a lot” is not one word; it is two. Allot means “to divide into parts.”
You and I or You and Me?
This one is such a basic mistake which a lot of the professionals do and its pretty disappointing to see, “between you and I” is a wrong phrase. The right phrase is “between you and me.”
Complement or Compliment?
Complement or Compliment? When two things go well together, they complement each other. Praise comes in the form of compliments.
Farther or further?
Farther/Further: Farther means “physical distance,” while “further” means “metaphorical distance” or “moreover.”
Why is the improper use of articles the most prevalent grammatical error?
Although they are very short, articles such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are extremely important in the English language because they convey us the particular meaning of a noun. It’s possible that many of you who speak English as a second language don’t have articles in your original tongue; if this is the case, we can certainly see why it might be challenging for you to choose the appropriate article or determiner to employ while writing in or speaking English.
This little mistake can cause big problems and understanding issues for your essay writing services or any other writing program.
Some More Alarming Grammatical Mistakes in Essay Writing
Too Long Sentences
Sentences that are too long or don’t make sense: Don’t use long words that are hard to understand or that aren’t written right. Make sure each line says something full, and use breaks to separate thoughts.
Comma Error
Don’t put a comma between two complete thoughts that can stand on their own. Instead, use a conjunction (such as and, but, or so), or two separate lines.
Hanging Modifiers
Not fitting and hanging modifiers. Make sure that the words or lines that describe a noun are close to the noun. Also, be careful with words or phrases that start a sentence but seem to have nothing to do with the subject.
Misusing Apostrophes
Misusing apostrophes: Use apostrophes to show who owns something (e.g., the bone is the dog’s) or to shorten words (e.g., it’s for it is). Don’t put an apostrophe before a group of words.
Past vs Present vs Future
Use the same word tense throughout your work unless there is a clear reason to change. When you mix past, present, and future tenses, you can confuse your readers.
Homophones
Homophones: Look out for words that sound the same but mean different things and are written in different ways. Their/there/they’re, your/you’re, and it’s/its are popular cases.
Same Word Form?
Make sure that when you list things or ideas, they all use the same word form. For example, ” She likes to ski, swim, and run” is wrong, but “She likes skiing, swimming, and running” is right.
Double Negative
When you use two negatives in one sentence, it can be confusing or say the opposite of what you mean. “I don’t need no help” is not correct, but “I don’t need any help” is.
Ending Lines
Reviewing this article properly will bump up your essay writing skills because our team has compiled these errors and mistakes after careful consideration, if you want to head over to our website then follow this link. IntellectFolks
