45 Common Writing MistakesWhen you turn in an assignment, you will receive feedback by the

number of the mistake. Your job is to correct your writing!

1) Affect vs. EffectMost people confuse them when they're talking about something changing another thing.When you're talking about the change itself -- the noun -- you'll use "effect."

That movie had a great effect on me.

When you're talking about the act of changing -- the verb -- you'll use "affect."That movie affected me greatly.

2) "Alot" vs. “A lot” vs. “Allot”Hate to break it to all of you "alot" fans out there ... but "alot" is not a word. If you're trying to say that someone has a vast number of things, you'd say they have "a lot" of things. And if you're trying to say that you've set aside a certain amount of money to buy something, you'd say you "allotted" $20 to spend on gas.

3) Alright vs. all right To be correct, use only all right.

4) Apostrophes Apostrophes are used to denote missing letters or ownership.

A. When you remove a letter, or letters, you use an apostrophe to tell the reader they are missing. When in doubt, just spell it out! And always spell out contractions in academic essays.

We’re going to the store; we won’t be back for an hour. (We’re stands for we are; Won’t stands for will not so you are telling the reader you are not only removing letters but changing the wording.) To make it perfectly clear remove the contraction and write out every word, write We are going to the store; we will not be back for an hour.

B. Do not stick apostrophes in where they do not belong. For example, just because a word is plural does not mean it gets an apostrophe.

The car’s have many owner’s. It should be: The cars have many owners. The pet’s have run away from their owner’s house. It should be: The pets have run away from their owner’s house.

C. Years have the following rules:

“The 1970’s” should be “the 1970s.” If you want to refer to only the last two numbers for a decade, then you need an apostrophe

inserted in place of the missing numbers. The best decade of the 1900s was the ‘60s. The Great Depression spanned the ‘20s and ‘30s.

D. Apostrophes also show ownership.

The cat’s big bowl was blue. (singular) The cats’ meows were loud. (plural)

5) Assure vs. Insure vs. EnsureAll of these words have to do with "making an outcome sure," which is why they're so often mixed up. However, they aren't interchangeable.

"To assure" means to promise or say with confidence. For example, "I assure you that he's good at his job."

"To ensure" means to make certain. For example, "I want to ensure you know how to properly use grammar in your writing."

Finally, "to insure" means to protect against risk by regularly paying an insurance company. For example, "I insure my car because the law requires it."

All together now: I assure you my car is insured, but before I drive your car I want to ensure you have insurance.

6) “Based on” vs. “Based off” vs. “Based off of” vs. “Based around” The word “base” means “to form a foundation for.” Therefore, a base is the foundation on which something rests. Things cannot stand off or around something; they always stand on something. (Would you stand off someone’s shoulders? Would you build a house off its foundation?)

The results of the experiment were based off an earlier experiment. (The previous experiment had nothing to do with the current one.)

The results of the experiment were based around an earlier experiment. (Were the results near the other experiment or circling it?)

The results of the experiment were based on an earlier experiment. (Ah, now we know that an earlier experiment helped provide the base for the new experiment.)

7) Between vs. Among Let's clear this one up: The word "between" is used to refer to two (or sometimes more) things that are clearly separated, and the word "among" is used to refer to things that aren't clearly separated because they're part of a group or mass of objects.

So you choose between a red shirt and a black shirt, but you choose among all your shirts. You walk between Centre Street and Broad Street, but you walk among your friends.

8) CommasThere are entire courses on correct comma usage, but let's go over some of the more common comma use cases here.

A. To separate elements in a series.

Each element in a series should be separated by a comma. For example: "I brought a jacket, a blanket, and an umbrella to the park." That last comma is optional. It's called an "Oxford comma," and you use it for additional clarity.

B. To separate independent clauses.You can use commas to separate independent clauses that are joined by "and," "but," "for," "or," "nor," "so," or "yet." For example, this is correct: "My brother is very smart, and I've learned a lot from him."

An independent clause is a sentence that can stand on its own. Here's how to test it: Would the second part of the sentence (following one of those coordinating conjunctions) make a full sentence on its own? If so, add a comma. If it doesn't, leave it out. Think FANBOYS.

C. To separate an introductory word or phrase.At the beginning of a sentence, we often add an introductory word or phrase that requires a comma after it. For example, "In the beginning, I had no idea how to use a comma." Or, "However, after reading an awesome blog post, I understand the difference." Other common introductory words and phrases include "after," "although," "when," and "while," “being,” “seeing,” “going,” etc. Think AAAWUBBUS.

D. In dates and cities/statesCommas should be used when writing dates after the month, date, and year if it appears in the middle of a sentence. Example: On July 10, 2016, a comet was born.They should also be used after the name of a city and state when appearing in the middle of a sentence.

Example: AFSA is located in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, on Vadnais Boulevard.

E. In quotesUse a comma at the end of an attribution and before the start of the quote if the attribution comes at the start of the quote. Use a comma at the end of the quote (inside the quote marks) if the attribution comes after the quote.

Jane said, “I am going to the store.”“I am going to the store,” Jane said.

F. To separate nonessential clauses or other phrasesUse commas to separate clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. To determine if something is nonessential, take it out and see if the sentence is still complete.

He ran, quite fast, to the store. (You can remove quite fast and it remains a complete sentence.)She meant, literally, that it was a bad book. (It’s still a complete sentence without literally.)

G. Unneeded comma(s)Too many commas are just as bad as missing or misused commas.

Incorrect: Too many cats, and dogs, have been escaping. The comma is not needed. Correct: Too many cats and dogs are escaping. Incorrect: She wants to get her degree in ecology, or mathematics. The comma is not needed.Correct: She wants to get her degree in ecology or mathematics.

9) “Compared with” vs. “Compared to”Compared to refers to things in different classifications, e.g., cats to dogs; compared with examines things within the same classification, e.g., dogs to dogs. Unsure? Use compared to as then it’s clear you are comparing two things.

10) Compliment vs. ComplementThese two words are pronounced exactly the same, making them easy to mix up. But they're actually quite different. If something "complements" something else, that means it completes it, enhances it, or makes it perfect. For example, a wine can complement a meal, and two colors can complement each other.

The word "compliment" though, refers to an expression of praise (as a noun), or to praise or express admiration for someone (as a verb). You can complement your friend's new haircut with yours, or pay someone a compliment on his or her haircut.

11) Dangling ModifiersThis mistake happens when a descriptive phrase doesn't apply to the noun that immediately follows it. Here’s an example of a student’s mistake:

My mom met John Doe, and they got married when I was eight and had a child.

The writer was eight years old and had a child? Wow! Now you see why modifiers must be placed correctly! To fix this problem, try flipping around the sentence structure (though beware of passive voice).

My mom met John Doe, and they got married and had child when I was eight years old.

Another example:If you already have a number 4, I have a set of jerseys with 90 that fit him. (Which is it: Do you have 90 jerseys that fit him or a set of jerseys that fit him with the number 90?)

12) “Dinosaur” Words and PhrasesThese words and phrases are vague and do not add meaning to your work. They are called dinosaur words because they should be long buried and not used.

Some dinosaur words are: very, really, nice, fun, bad, good, great, happy, hot, little, mad, old, sad, a lot, lots, but, funny, got, good, guy, kid (unless you’re speaking of a goat!), basically, totally, interesting, like, pretty, scared, and others.

Dinosaur phrases to avoid: I think, I feel, I believe; and also; as to whether; considered to be; due to the fact that; each and every; equally as; firstly, secondly, thirdly; had ought; in terms of; kind of, and sort of; try and; and others.

13) “Do’s” and “Don’ts” I'm not talking about the do's and don'ts of grammar here -- I'm talking about the actual words: "do's" and "don'ts." They look weird, right? That's because of two things:

1. There's an apostrophe in one to make it plural ... which typically isn't done, and

2. The apostrophes aren't put in the same place in both words.

Unfortunately, it's AP Style ... so we just have to live with it. It's a hot angle for content formats, so I wouldn't shy away from using it. But when you're checking your writing for grammatical errors, just remember that the apostrophes should be in different places.

Note: There are different schools of thought about how to punctuate this one depending on what style guide/usage book you're using. The Chicago Manual of Style, for instance, recommends "dos" and "don'ts." The important thing is to be consistent and stick to one style guide.

14) Farther vs. Further People often use "farther" and "further" interchangeably to mean "at a greater distance."However, in most countries, there are actually subtle differences in meaning between the two: "Farther" is used more to refer to physical distances, while "further" is used more to refer to figurative and nonphysical distances. So while Paris is "farther" away than Madrid, a marketing team falls "further" away from its leads goal.

The word "further" can also be used as an adjective or as an adverb to mean "additionally." For example, "I have no further questions."

15) GrammarYou have made an error in grammar. Read it out loud, check with someone else, ask your teacher, read a reference book, google it, etc., but figure it out!

16) Hyphen UseHyphens can be tricky, but follow a couple of simple rules to make it easier.

A. Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify. This is a compound adjective.

an off-campus apartmentstate-of-the-art design

When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary.The apartment is off campus.

However, some established compound adjectives are always hyphenated, as are some numbers. Double-check with a dictionary or online.The design is state-of-the-art.

B. A hyphen is often required when forming original compound verbs for vivid writing, humor, or special situations.

The slacker video-gamed his way through life.Queen Victoria throne-sat for six decades.

C. When writing out new, original, or unusual compound nouns, writers should hyphenate whenever doing so avoids confusion.

I changed my diet and became a no-meater. You are basically making up a word by using two words, so use the hyphen to prevent confusion.

D. The adverb very and adverbs ending in ly are not hyphenated.Incorrect: the very-elegant watch, the finely-tuned watch

This rule applies only to adverbs. The following two examples are correct because the ly words are not adverbs:Correct: the friendly-looking dogCorrect: a family-owned café

17) i.e. vs. e.g.Lots of people use the terms interchangeably when trying to elaborate on a point, but they really mean two different things: "i.e." roughly means "that is" or "in other words," while "e.g." means "example given" or "for example." The former is used to clarify something you've said, while the latter adds color to a story through an example.

I love all types of music, e.g., classical, hip-hop, folk, and rock. (examples)I listen to music where it is quiet, i.e., the library.

18) Improper Capitals or Random CapitalsA. Proper nouns (names) should always be capitalized.

Judy, John, and Carol went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on vacation.

B. Beware of random caps in your writing, in particular when you handwrite something.I traveled to a Big island in the PaciFic Ocean where we Swam a race. The capital signals a proper noun and random caps are confusing.

I traveled to the big island in the Pacific Ocean where we swam a race. This is less confusing, and easier on eye movement.

C. Capitalize a formal title when it appears in front of the name, but not when it stands alone or comes after the name.

When I became president of the club, I took over from President Pro-Tem Bob Anderson. John Anderson, who was president two years ago, is his brother.

19) Incomplete ComparisonsCan you see what's wrong with this sentence?

Our car model is faster, better, stronger.

Faster, better, stronger ... than what? What are you comparing your car to? A horse? An older model? When you're asserting that something should be compared to something else, always clarify what that something else is ... otherwise it's impossible for your readers to discern what the comparison actually means.

20) Into vs. In toLet's clarify the "into" versus "in to" debate. They're often confused, but "into" indicates movement (Lindsay walked into the office) while "in to" is used in lots of situations because the individual words "to" and "in" are frequently used in other parts

of a sentence. For example, "to" is often used with infinitive verbs (e.g. "to drive"). Or "in" can be used as part of a verb (e.g. "call in to a meeting").So if you're trying to decide which to use, first figure out if the words "in" or "to" actually modify other words in the sentence. If they don't, then ask yourself if it's indicating some sort of movement -- if it does, you're good to use "into."

21) Its vs. It'sThis one tends to confuse even the best of writers. "Its" is possessive and "it's" is a contraction of "it is." Lots of people get tripped up because "it's" has an 's after it, which normally means something is possessive. But in this case, it's actually a contraction. Do a control + F to find this mistake in your writing. It's really hard to catch on your own, but it's a mistake everyone can make.

22) Its vs. TheirBoth its and their are pronouns; that is, they can stand in for nouns. Its is singular, while their is plural. When you are talking about a nonliving single group, a single company, or a school, you would use its. If you are talking about more than one, you would use their.

AFSA has its Potato Hug once a year. It’s only one school. Maaco, 3M, and IBM have their company picnics once a year. More than one, so use their.That group of students has its good points. There is only one group, so use the singular its.

23) Lay vs. LieThis is the crown jewel of all grammatical errors. “Lay” is a transitive verb. It requires a direct subject and one or more objects. Its present tense is “lay” (e.g., I lay the pencil on the table) and its past tense is “laid” (e.g., Yesterday I laid the pencil on the table).

“Lie” is an intransitive verb. It needs no object. Its present tense is “lie” (e.g., The Andes mountains lie between Chile and Argentina) and its past tense is “lay” (e.g., The man lay waiting for an ambulance). The most common mistake occurs when the writer uses the past tense of the transitive “lay” (e.g. , I laid on the bed) when he/she actually means the intransitive past tense of “lie" (e.g., I lay on the bed).

24) Less vs. FewerYou know the checkout aisle in the grocery store that says "10 Items or Less"? That's actually incorrect. It should be "10 Items or Fewer."

Why? Because "items" are quantifiable -- you can count out 10 items. Use "fewer" for things that are quantifiable, like "fewer M&Ms" or "fewer road trips." Use "less" for things that aren't quantifiable, like "less candy" and "less traveling."

25) “Like” vs. “Such as”Use like when it is similar to something; use “such as” when it is a direct example.

The weather was like a mop: wet, rainy, and gray. It is not directly a mop, but similar.Monsters exist in the real world, such as yeti, Bigfoot, and mass murderers. You are listing specific examples by using “such as.”

26) Lose vs. Loose

When people mix up "lose" and "loose," it's usually just because they're spelled so similarly. They know their definitions are completely different.

"Lose" is a verb that means "to fail to keep or maintain; fail to win; cease to have," like losing your keys or losing a football match. "Loose" is an adjective that means "not tight" or "not closely constrained," like loose clothing or a loose tooth.

A trick for remembering the difference is to think of the term "loosey-goosey" -- both words that make up that compound word are spelled with two o's.

27) Me vs. IMost people understand the difference between the two of these ... until it comes time for them to use one in a sentence. They'll say something like:

When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and I?But that's wrong.Try taking Bill out of that sentence -- it sounds weird, right? You would never ask someone to send something to "I" when he or she is done. The reason it sounds weird is because "I" is the object of that sentence -- and "I" should not be used in objects. In that situation, you'd use "me."

When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and me?Much better.

28) Misspelled Word(s) You’ve spelled something wrong. Use a dictionary or google it, but look it up!

29) “More than” vs. “Fewer” vs. “Over”More than refers to a number of things. Fewer refers to something that isn’t counted or has no plural. (Remember not to use over when referring to numbers!)

They made more than ten thousand cupcakes. He has fewer pets than I do. She has fewer friends than Jack.Ms. Patt has more than 100 students. Ms. Patt’s classroom is over Ms. Olson’s room.

30) Number Usage Follow these rules:A. For numbers of 10 or more than 10, use numerals. For numbers of less than 10, spell them out. Always spell out zero.

The 100 puppies ran from the woman. When one more joined them, there were 101 puppies. Almost two million people ran the race over the years. Almost 5.4 million applied to run the race over the years. She got zero points on the assignment.

B. Hyphenate compound numerals and most fractions.More than two-thirds of the people finished the race. I saw one-half of the people running.

C. Numbers at the beginning of a sentence are spelled out.

Sixty people ran the marathon this year compared to 180 last year.

D. Always use numerals for money, as well as the dollar sign. For amounts below $1, use numerals and spell out cents.

I spent $43.39 on a pair of shoes. I saved 71 cents.

E. Use numerals for time of day. Note how to use the abbreviations for morning and afternoon.The dog has to go to the vet at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, while the cat goes at 9:50 a.m. today.

F. Use numerals for percentages.It totaled 23 percent of her income. (for non-scientific papers/works)It totaled 23% of her income. (for scientific papers/works)

G. Use numerals for house numbers in addresses, dates, years, room numbers, page numbers and divisions in books and plays, and measurements. Notice the comma usage!

I live at 1342 Oak Street. I have lived there since July 23, 1998, and the house stands 39 feet tall. Mrs. Nelson teaches in room 217. Please read chapter 6, pages 24 through 36.

31) Passive Voice Passive happens when the object of a sentence is at the beginning of a sentence instead of at the end. With passive voice, your writing comes across as sounding weak and unclear.

The car was driven by Jimmy. (passive) Jimmy drove the car. (active) The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. (passive) Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah. (active) While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, he was pulled over and

given a ticket by a police officer. (passive) While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, a police officer pulled

him over and gave him a speeding ticket. (active) A fight was happening. (passive) A fight erupted. (active)

Above all, avoid using the word “there” especially when combined with “were” or “are.” It seldom adds meaning to a sentence, it adds clutter, and it is passive.

There are giraffes running across the schoolyard. (passive, clutter) Giraffes are running across the schoolyard. or Giraffes run across the schoolyard. (active) I ran to help, but there were a dozen people already there. (passive, unclear—where are they?) I ran to help her, but a dozen people surrounded her. (active, clear)

32) Peek vs. Peak vs. PiqueThis is another one I often see people mess up even if they know what they mean.

Peek is taking a quick look at something -- like a sneak peek of a new film. Peak is a sharp point -- like the peak of a mountain. And pique means to provoke or instigate -- you know, like pique your interest.

If you're going to use one in your writing, stop and think for a second -- is that the right "peek" you should be using?

33) Possessive Nouns

Most possessive nouns will have an apostrophe -- but where you put that apostrophe can be confusing. Here are a few general rules to follow:

If the noun is plural, add the apostrophe after the s. For example: the dogs' bones.If the noun is singular and ends in s, you should also put the apostrophe after the s. For example: the dress' blue color.

On the other hand, if the noun is singular and doesn't end in an s, you'll add the apostrophe before the s. For example: the lizard's tail.

34) Pronoun UsageA pronoun can replace a noun. For example, in the sentence “Douglas ran fast,” Douglas is the noun. You can use a pronoun to replace a noun, e.g., “He ran fast,” in which He is the pronoun. However, it can be easy to confuse the reader about what or to whom the pronoun refers.

Example: When Billy ran to the store with his dog, he was excited. Who was excited: Billy or the dog? Correct: Billy was happy when he ran to the store with his dog.

Example: When the parakeet and cat were put into the room, only it came out.Who lived, the cat or the parakeet? Correct: When the parakeet and cat were put into the room, only the bird came out. Or “Only the parakeet came out when it and the cat were put into the room.” In this case, it is clear that “it” refers to the parakeet.

35) Run-on SentenceToo many thoughts in one sentence; break it up.

The day was cold and wet and rainy, and when I woke up I thought I’d run away from home but then I realized that I didn’t have a raincoat or a hat so I ran back to get one and the smell of my mom’s cooking convinced me I didn’t want to leave home. It’s clear how this can be broken into different parts to make it easier on the reader.

36) SemicolonsSemicolons are used to connect two independent clauses (complete sentences) that, though they could stand on their own, are closely related. For example, you could use a semicolon in the sentence: "Call me tomorrow; I'll have an answer for you by then."

Notice that each clause could be its own sentence -- but stylistically, it makes more sense for them to be joined. (If there's a coordinating conjunction between the two clauses -- like "and," "but", or "or" -- then use a comma instead. Call me tomorrow, and I’ll have an answer for you by then.)

You can also use semicolons to separate items in a list when those items contain commas themselves.

37) Sentence Fragments These signal an incomplete thought. The words cannot stand alone as an acceptable sentence.

The car ran fast, although bigger engines. (bigger than what?)For example, the pollen of forty-eight plants in the West. (what?)

38) Style (AP or MLA)You have made a mistake in either doing your in-text citation(s) or References or Works Cited page. Use the references given by your teacher or Purdue Owl to make corrections.

39) Subject and Verb AgreementA subject must agree with its verb in number. (Number means amount. The number can be singular—one—or plural—more than one.) A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

The list of items is on the desk. (list is one, so is is correct)

My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today. Two single subjects (aunt OR uncle) get a singular verb; check for or, either/or, neither/nor.

A car and a bike are my means of transportation. Two or more subjects (car, bike) get a plural verb.

Plural subjects that function as a single unit take a singular verb. For instance:Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish.

The singular subject (“spaghetti and meatballs”) agrees with the singular verb is.

Ham and eggs was the breakfast of champions in the 1950s.The singular subject (“ham and eggs”) agrees with the singular verb was.

40) Then vs. Than What's wrong with this sentence?

My dinner was better then yours.

In the sentence above, "then" should be "than." Why? Because "than" is a conjunction used mainly to make comparisons -- like saying one thing was better "than" another. "Then" is mainly an adverb used to situate actions in time: We made dinner, and "then" we ate it.

41) They're vs. Their vs. ThereOne's a contraction for "they are" (they're), one refers to something owned by a group (their), and one refers to a place (there). Check your work to ensure that you're using the correct ones, in the right places and at the right times. It's helpful to search through a document (try control + F on PC or command + F on Mac) for those words and check that they're being used in the right context.

Correct: They're going to love going there -- I heard their food is the best!

42) Unnecessary WordsDo not add words when none are needed. “Extra” words clutter up your writing and make reading our work tedious for the reader. The rule is, cut a word if the meaning of the sentence remains clear.

On the second hand, I will go to the store. (cluttered: Second, I will go to the store.) When my old grandmother turned 90, we celebrated. (It’s obvious 90 is old, so don’t say it:

When my grandmother turned 90, we celebrated. (To avoid the passive: We celebrated when my grandmother turned 90.)

I wanted gold-metal frames on my new glasses. (gold is a metal: I wanted gold frames.) As a matter of fact, it rained yesterday. (It is fact, so state it: It rained yesterday.)

I guess I will have to be careful with my spending for the rest of the month. (wordy: I must be careful with my spending for the rest of the month.

43) Which vs. ThatThis is one of the most common mistakes out there and understandably so. “That” is a restrictive pronoun. It’s vital to the noun to which it’s referring, e.g., I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic. Here, I’m referring to all non-organic fruits or vegetables. In other words, I only trust fruits and vegetables that are organic.

“Which” introduces a relative clause. It allows qualifiers that may not be essential, e.g., I recommend you eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores. In this case, you don’t have to go to a specific grocery store to obtain organic fruits and vegetables. “Which” qualifies, “that” restricts. “Which” is more ambiguous however, and by virtue of its meaning is flexible enough to be used in many restrictive clauses. e.g., The house, which is burning, is mine. e.g., The house that is burning is mine.

44) Who vs. ThatThis is a tricky one. These two words can be used when you're describing someone or something through a phrase like "Lindsay is a blogger who likes ice cream." When you're describing a person, be sure to use "who." When you're describing an object, use "that." For example, you should say "Her computer is the one that overheats all the time." It's pretty simple, but definitely something that gets overlooked frequently.

45) Your vs. You'reThe difference between these two is owning something versus being something:

You made it around the track in under a minute -- you're fast!You are fast. You really are.

How's your fast going? Are you hungry?It is your fast.

See the difference? "Your" is possessive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are."