English transcends being merely a subject; it is a cornerstone of the UK’s national curriculum, stemming from a rich fusion of ancient languages. Originating in the West Germanic region, the language found its way to the British territory, evolving into a modern-day necessity.
Ever pondered what lends allure to writing?
Grammar serves as the linchpin, rendering writing more comprehensive, detailed, and captivating. The primary stumbling block in writing is the prevalence of common English mistakes. Many students grapple with intricacies in advanced academic writing. It’s imperative to acknowledge persistent errors in academic writing, often overlooked due to their subtlety. Understanding common mistakes in English grammar is the initial step, and this post delves into elective measures crucial for rectifying grammatical errors in writing.
**10 Common Mistakes in English**
For ease of reference, we’ve compiled prevalent mistakes in English academic writing. Confronting these errors is the inaugural stride towards enhancement. Let’s delve in!
1. **Spelling Fallacy:**
Spelling errors are rampant in English writing, particularly with homophones like:
– Hour-Our
– Sell-Cell
– Blue-Blew
– See-Sea, and more.
Common mistakes surface in sentences, e.g.:
– Incorrect: Madeline bought a new course pack.
– Correct: Madeline bought a new course pack.
2. **Overuse of Adverbs:**
The excessive use of adverbs is a recurring grammatical error. While adverbs enhance sentence dynamics, students tend to overuse them. Example:
– Incorrect: He ran very fastly in the marathon.
– Correct: He ran fastly in the marathon.
Abiding by grammatical rules, a sentence should typically contain one adverb and one adjective, rendering the first sentence incorrect and the second one accurate.
3. **Possible Wordy Sentences:**
Wordiness, a prevalent error, involves sentences inundated with redundant articles or words. This inflation diminishes content authenticity. Example:
– Incorrect: It has come to our knowledge that your projects are not submitted yet, and we urge you to please submit within an hour.
– Correct: Your project is pending. Kindly submit within an hour.
4. **Punctuation Error:**
Punctuation misconceptions, such as comma splices, are common among English language learners. Example:
– Incorrect: Allyn was hungry, she ate a whole pizza.
– Correct: Allyn was hungry, so she ate a whole pizza.
Introducing ‘so’ provides clarity, or alternately, separating sentences is a viable solution.
5. **Ambiguous Pronoun Reference:**
Ambiguity in pronoun reference is a frequent error. Pronouns should clearly reflect nouns. Example:
– Incorrect: Larry had an appointment; therefore, could not deliver the parcel to him.
– Correct: Larry had an appointment; therefore, he could not deliver the parcel to Celery.
The first sentence lacks a clear antecedent for the pronoun ‘he,’ leading to confusion.
6. **Sentence Fragments:**
Sentence fragmentation, signifying the absence of nouns, is a common mistake. Example:
– Incorrect: Making an assessment will help.
– Correct: The tutor should practice regular assessment in class.
Adding nouns justifies sentence structure, ensuring grammatical correctness.
7. **Subject-Verb Agreement:**
Students often grapple with subject-verb agreement rules. The basic rule dictates a singular noun aligns with a singular verb, and plural nouns correspond to plural verbs. Example:
– Incorrect: She eat her meal.
– Correct: She eats her meal.
For third-person singular, ‘s’ or ‘es’ is appended to the verb.
8. **Run-on Sentences:**
Joining two or more complete sentences leads to run-on sentences. Example:
– Incorrect: Joe was playing in the garden Marline was watching the children.
– Correct: Joe was playing in the garden, and Marline was watching the children.
Introducing conjunctions or punctuation prevents run-on sentences.
9. **Tautologies:**
Expressing similar thoughts repetitively constitutes a common error. It reflects a lack of brainstorming and proofreading. Vigilance is essential in advanced English writing.
10. **Common Error Irregular Verb Form:**
Incorrect use of verbs, especially concerning the present and past participle, is a common pitfall. Examples:
– Participate. Participated
While some past participles entail merely adding ‘ed,’ others exhibit distinct spellings (e.g., run/ran, come/came).
Exercising caution in advanced English writing is paramount.
