Worst Amateur Writing Mistakes - Part I

‍Writing engaging and error-free content is essential in capturing your reader's attention and gaining credibility. By recognizing and rectifying these common pitfalls, you can elevate your writing to new heights. Each of these could be their own long post, but here's the quick and easy. From confusing homophones to excessive adjectives, we've got you covered in this three-part series.

Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

📣 HOMOPHONES

Good writing starts with proper grammar. Unfortunately, many amateur writers fall into the trap of making common grammar mistakes, which can undermine the clarity and effectiveness of their writing.

One of the most common grammar mistakes is the misuse of homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Examples include "their," "they're," "there," and "your/you're." Reminders:

• Their = possessive form of the third-person plural pronoun “they.” It means “belonging to them.”

• They're = shortened version of "they are"

• There = indicates a location ("in THAT place" as opposed to "here," meaning in THIS place.

• Your = possessive adjective describing something that belongs to you

• You're = shortened version of "you are"

Using the wrong homophone can confuse your readers and make your writing appear unprofessional. To avoid this mistake, take the time to learn and understand the correct usage of homophones.

🧐 APOSTROPHES

Another frequent grammar mistake is the misuse of apostrophes. Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or contraction, but many writers struggle with when and where to use them. Reminders:

• Possive = "That is John's book"

• Contraction = "That's John's book."

BONUS: The holiday season is fast approaching. When you are addressing an envelope, you don't use an apostrophe. Example:

• "The Smiths" not "The Smith's" (the apostrophe ‘s’ indicates possession; the Smith’s what?)

• If the last name ends in an 's' the safest way to address it would be "The Bliss Family" but you could say "The Blisses" - adding an apostrophe to the end (The Bliss' ❌) makes this possessive (The Bliss’ what?)

Incorrect usage of apostrophes can make your writing appear sloppy and unpolished. To avoid this mistake, familiarize yourself with the rules of apostrophe usage and proofread your work carefully.

🫣 Improper Subject-verb Agreement

Additionally, improper subject-verb agreement is a common grammar mistake that can make your writing sound awkward and ungrammatical. Ensure that your subjects and verbs match in number and tense to maintain clarity and coherence in your writing. 3 Most Common Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes:

• Nouns Ending in 's' - In the English language we add 's' to pluralize words; however, not all nouns ending in 's' are plural (like news or billiards; these are singular nouns and should have a singular verb)

• Two Subjects Connected With And - almost always plural verb; exceptions are compound nouns like 'bed and breakfast,' which would be singular

• Connecting a Plural and Singular Subject - the verb agrees with the closest subject. Examples: "Neither the cats nor the dog is awake." "Neither the dog nor the cats are awake."

There are others, but these top our list. By avoiding them, you can significantly improve the quality of your writing and gain the trust of your audience. Stay tuned for Part II where we tackle punctuation errors and why clarity and coherence are important in your manuscript.