8 of the Most Common Grammar Errors to Fix in 2025

We've all been there. You hit 'send' on a crucial email, publish a blog post, or update your LinkedIn profile, only to spot a glaring grammar mistake moments later. That sinking feeling is universal. While a small typo might seem insignificant, a pattern of the most common grammar errors can undermine your credibility, make your message unclear, and create a poor impression on clients, colleagues, or your audience.

This guide isn't just another boring grammar lesson; it's a practical roundup designed to help you identify and eliminate the 8 most persistent errors that trip up even seasoned writers. We'll break down each mistake with clear examples and actionable tips so you can understand why you're fixing them. But before focusing on sentence-level details, it’s wise to ensure your platform is solid. Taking a moment to check website for errors can uncover technical issues that impact credibility just as much as a misplaced comma.

For those looking to streamline their workflow, modern tools are a game-changer. Imagine an AI assistant that learns your preferred style and fixes text with a single keyboard shortcut. Tools like TypeBoost offer this, allowing you to apply custom prompts like 'Fix grammar' system-wide, without ever leaving the app you're in. Now, let's build your expertise by mastering the rules themselves.

1. Subject-Verb Disagreement

Let's kick things off with a classic. Subject-verb disagreement is one of the most common grammar errors out there, and it’s a sneaky one. It happens when your sentence's subject and verb don't match in number. If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. Simple, right?

The real trick is finding the actual subject. It often hides behind other words, especially prepositional phrases (like "of ornaments" or "in the cabinet"). Your brain sees the plural noun right before the verb and gets tripped up. For instance, in the sentence, "The box of old trophies is in the attic," the subject isn't "trophies" (plural), it's "box" (singular). That's why the verb is "is," not "are." Mastering this means learning to spot the sentence's core structure.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this issue is all about identifying the true hero of your sentence: the subject.

• Isolate the Subject: Mentally (or literally) cross out any prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb. For example: A list of action items for the team is on the whiteboard. The subject is "list," which is singular.
• Handle Collective Nouns: Words like team, family, group, or committee are usually treated as a single unit, so they take a singular verb. For example: The design team launches a new feature every quarter.
• Use the 'Or/Nor' Rule: When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. For example: Neither the client nor the freelancers are happy with the deadline.

To help you remember these core principles, here’s a quick reference guide visualizing the essentials of subject-verb agreement.

This visual summary highlights that the key is always to isolate the true subject before choosing your verb, a simple step that ensures clarity and professionalism in your writing.

2. Apostrophe Misuse

Ah, the rogue apostrophe. Misusing this tiny punctuation mark is easily one of the most common grammar errors, creating confusion where there should be clarity. It often boils down to two core functions: showing possession (the user's guide) or forming a contraction (it's). The problem is, apostrophes often get thrown into simple plurals, leading to what some writers call the "greengrocer's apostrophe" (e.g., fresh apple's).

The real trouble usually starts with "its" versus "it's." This single mix-up can undermine your credibility in an instant. Remember, "it's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has." The word "its" is a possessive pronoun, just like "his" or "her." You wouldn't write hi's car, so you shouldn't write it's color. Mastering this distinction, along with possessives for plural nouns (like "the Smiths' house"), is a major step toward flawless writing.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this error is all about pausing and asking what job you need the apostrophe to do.

• Check for Contractions: If you can replace the word with its two-word version (like don't for do not or it's for it is), you need an apostrophe. The apostrophe simply marks the spot of the missing letter.
• Show Ownership (Possession): Use an apostrophe to show something belongs to someone or something. For singular nouns, add 's (e.g., the designer's portfolio). For plural nouns ending in 's', just add an apostrophe after the 's' (e.g., the clients' feedback).
• Just Say No to Plurals: This is the golden rule. If you are simply making a word plural to mean "more than one," like dogs, reports, or services, you do not need an apostrophe.
• The "Its" vs. "It's" Test: The easiest way to check is to say the sentence with "it is" or "it has." If the sentence makes sense, use "it's." If not, the correct word is "its." For example: The company updated its logo. ("The company updated it is logo" makes no sense).

Internalizing these few rules will make your writing instantly more professional. It’s a small detail that carries significant weight, signaling to your clients and colleagues that you pay attention to the little things that make a big difference in clear communication.

3. Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Next up is a writing issue that can make your content feel breathless and hard to follow. Run-on sentences and their close cousin, the comma splice, are definitely among the most common grammar errors we see. This mistake happens when you join two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) without the right punctuation or connecting words. The result is a jumbled thought that forces your reader to do the work of separating your ideas.

A comma splice is a specific type of run-on where you use only a comma to connect two complete thoughts, which isn't strong enough for the job. For example: "The app launched yesterday, users are already giving feedback." A true run-on smashes them together with nothing in between: "The app launched yesterday users are already giving feedback." Both errors make your writing feel cluttered and can confuse your core message, undermining your credibility with clients and followers.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this issue is all about giving your sentences proper boundaries. You have four excellent options.

• Use a Comma and a Conjunction: This is the most common fix. Use a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to link the two clauses. For example: I went to the store, and I bought milk.
• Try a Semicolon: If the two independent clauses are closely related, you can link them with a semicolon. It’s a great way to show a tight connection between ideas without a conjunction. For example: The weather was nice; we went hiking.
• Create Separate Sentences: Don't underestimate the power of a period. The simplest solution is often the best. Breaking a long sentence into two shorter ones can improve clarity and impact. For example: She studied hard. She passed the exam.
• Add a Subordinating Conjunction: Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause with a word like because, although, since, or while. This creates a more complex and sophisticated sentence structure. For example: Because she studied hard, she passed the exam.

4. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Next up is a grammar gaffe that can lead to some seriously confusing (and often hilarious) sentences. Misplaced and dangling modifiers are among the most common grammar errors because they disrupt the logical flow of your writing. A misplaced modifier is a descriptive word or phrase that’s in the wrong spot, accidentally modifying the wrong thing. A dangling modifier is a descriptor whose subject is completely missing from the sentence.

The result? Sentences like, "She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates," which sounds like the children were sitting on the plates. The modifier "on paper plates" is misplaced. Or, "Having finished the assignment, the TV was turned on," which implies the TV finished the assignment. Here, the modifier "Having finished the assignment" is dangling because the person who did the work isn't mentioned. Fixing these requires a bit of sentence surgery.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Correcting these errors is all about ensuring every description has a clear, logical connection to the word it's modifying.

• Place Modifiers Strategically: Always put modifying phrases and clauses as close as possible to the noun they are meant to describe. For example: She served sandwiches on paper plates to the children. Now it's clear the sandwiches, not the children, are on the plates.
• Give Dangling Modifiers a Subject: If a modifier is dangling, rewrite the main clause to include the correct subject. For example: Having finished the assignment, I turned on the TV. By adding "I," you clarify who completed the task.
• Read It Aloud: Your ear will often catch an awkward construction that your eye misses. If a sentence sounds unnatural or silly when you say it, there’s a good chance a modifier is out of place. This simple check can save you from unintended ambiguity.

5. Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement

Next up is a subtle error that can easily make your writing confusing. Pronoun-antecedent disagreement is one of the most common grammar errors, and it happens when a pronoun doesn't match the noun it's replacing (its antecedent) in number or person. If the antecedent is a singular noun, the pronoun referring to it must also be singular.

The confusion often comes from indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, or anybody. These words feel plural because they refer to a group, but they are grammatically singular. This is why a sentence like, "Everyone should bring their own lunch," is technically incorrect in formal grammar. Another classic pitfall is ambiguity, where a pronoun could refer to multiple nouns, leaving your reader to guess your meaning. For instance, in "The manager told the intern that he was getting a promotion," who is getting promoted?

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this issue is all about making sure your pronouns have a clear and correct partner: the antecedent.

• Pinpoint the Antecedent: Before using a pronoun, consciously identify the noun it refers to. Is it singular or plural? This first step solves most problems. For example: The company (singular) released its annual report.
• Handle Indefinite Pronouns Carefully: Remember that words like everyone, somebody, and each are singular. To stay grammatically correct, you can use "his or her" or, for a smoother read, rewrite the sentence entirely. For example: Incorrect: Each student needs their book. → Correct: Each student needs his or her book. → Better: All students need their books.
• Eliminate Ambiguity: When a pronoun could refer to more than one person or thing, rewrite the sentence to be specific. Clarity is king. For example: Unclear: Maria told Susan that she had made a mistake. → Clear: Maria told Susan, "I made a mistake."

6. Incorrect Word Usage (Homophones and Confusables)

Next up is a digital-age landmine that even careful writers can step on. Incorrect word usage, especially with homophones (words that sound the same), is one of the most common grammar errors we see. This happens when you use a word that sounds right and is spelled correctly, but just doesn't mean the right thing in context. Think your vs. you're or then vs. than.

The reason this error is so sneaky is that your spell checker is completely useless. It sees a correctly spelled word and gives you a green light, offering a false sense of security. For instance, in the sentence, "The new update will have a positive affect on user engagement," your software won't flag "affect," but the correct word is "effect." These small mix-ups can instantly damage your credibility with clients and readers, making your writing seem less professional.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this is about building a mental checklist for these common culprits before you hit publish.

• Test the Contraction: When using you're, it's, or they're, try expanding it to "you are," "it is," or "they are." If the sentence still works, you're golden. For example: You're [You are] the right person for the job.
• Remember 'RAVEN' for Affect/Effect: Use this simple mnemonic: Remember, Affect is a Verb, and Effect is a Noun. The change will affect (verb) the outcome; the effect (noun) was significant. This clears up the vast majority of confusion.
• Focus on Possession vs. Place: For pairs like your/their, check if they show ownership. Is this your report? Their logo is great. If it shows possession, you're correct. Use there for a place and they're for "they are."

Mastering these pairs is a powerful way to elevate your writing. By creating these small mental checks, you move from guessing to knowing, ensuring your message is not just understood, but also respected. This focused proofreading is a small investment that pays huge dividends in clarity and professionalism.

7. Sentence Fragments

Up next is an error that can make your writing feel disjointed and incomplete. Sentence fragments are one of the most common grammar errors, happening when a group of words is punctuated like a sentence but doesn't actually express a complete thought. It's like serving just the appetizer and forgetting the main course; it leaves your reader wanting more.

A true sentence needs a subject (who or what) and a predicate (what the subject is doing or being). Fragments happen when one of these is missing, or when a dependent clause is left to stand on its own. For example, a phrase like, "Because I was running late for the meeting," isn't a full sentence. It explains why something happened, but we never learn what actually happened. It needs to be attached to a complete sentence to make sense: "I skipped my morning coffee because I was running late for the meeting."

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing sentence fragments is all about ensuring each sentence can stand on its own two feet.

• Perform the Subject-Verb Check: Look at the sentence in question and ask: Does it have a main subject and a main verb? For example, in Running to catch the bus, we don't know who is running. To fix it, add a subject: He was running to catch the bus.
• Connect Dependent Clauses: Be on high alert for sentences that start with words like because, although, since, if, or when. These words introduce dependent clauses, which cannot be sentences by themselves. They must be joined to a main, independent clause. For example: Although the design was beautiful. (Fragment) → Although the design was beautiful, it wasn't practical. (Complete).
• Read It Aloud: This is a surprisingly effective trick. Read your writing out loud, pausing where you’ve put periods. If a "sentence" sounds unfinished or leaves you hanging, it’s likely a fragment that needs to be revised or connected to the sentence before or after it.

8. Parallel Structure Violations

Next up is a subtle error that can throw off the rhythm of your entire sentence. Violating parallel structure is one of the most common grammar errors that writers make, especially when constructing lists or comparisons. Parallelism is all about balance; it means that items in a series must share the same grammatical form. When they don't, your sentence becomes awkward, clunky, and difficult for the reader to follow.

This error often happens when you're writing quickly and lose track of the pattern you started. Your brain knows what you want to say, but the structure gets jumbled along the way. For instance, you might write, "The job requires dedication, patience, and you must be creative." The list starts with two nouns ("dedication," "patience") but ends with a full clause ("you must be creative"). The lack of balance is jarring and disrupts the professional flow of your writing.

How to Get It Right Every Time

Fixing this issue is about creating a smooth, consistent rhythm that makes your points clear and memorable.

• Match Your Forms: Make sure every item in your list is the same part of speech. If you start with a noun, stick with nouns. If you begin with an ‘-ing’ verb, continue with ‘-ing’ verbs. For example, change “I like swimming, hiking, and to read” to the much smoother “I like swimming, hiking, and reading.”
• Keep Phrases Consistent: This rule also applies to descriptive phrases. Don’t mix and match how you describe things. Instead of writing, “She is smart, funny, and has talent,” balance the list of adjectives: “She is smart, funny, and talented.”
• Read Your Sentences Aloud: This is the ultimate hack for catching parallelism errors. Your ear will often detect a clunky, unbalanced rhythm that your eyes might miss. If a sentence sounds off when you say it, check your lists and comparisons for a structural mismatch.

Mastering parallelism brings a sense of elegance and clarity to your work, ensuring your ideas are presented in a polished and easily digestible way.

Top 8 Grammar Errors Comparison

Grammar Issue	Implementation Complexity 🔄	Resource Requirements ⚡	Expected Outcomes 📊	Ideal Use Cases 💡	Key Advantages ⭐
Subject-Verb Disagreement	Moderate: requires understanding subject-verb rules, exceptions with collective nouns	Low: mainly attention to sentence structure	High: clearer, professional writing	Academic, business, formal writing	Ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity
Apostrophe Misuse	Low: learn apostrophe rules for contractions and possessives	Low: focus on punctuation usage	High: avoids confusion between plurals and possessives	Everyday writing, emails, signage	Improves clarity and professionalism
Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices	Moderate: requires identifying independent clauses and punctuation rules	Moderate: knowledge of conjunctions and punctuation	High: better readability and sentence flow	All writing styles needing clear sentence boundaries	Enhances sentence clarity and flow
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers	Moderate to High: careful sentence structure and modifier placement	Moderate: requires editing and revision skills	High: eliminates ambiguity and confusion	Descriptive and narrative writing	Increases clarity and prevents misinterpretation
Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement	Moderate: matching pronouns to antecedents with gender and number	Low to moderate: attention to context	High: clearer references, less ambiguity	All formal writing, gender-neutral language contexts	Clarifies meaning and ensures referential accuracy
Incorrect Word Usage (Homophones and Confusables)	Low to Moderate: memorization of commonly confused words	Low: requires vocabulary knowledge	High: avoids meaning errors and confusion	All writing, especially proofreading	Prevents semantic errors and miscommunication
Sentence Fragments	Low to Moderate: requires identifying complete thoughts	Low: mainly editing and revising	High: eliminates incomplete thoughts	All writing, especially academic and professional	Improves sentence completeness and readability
Parallel Structure Violations	Moderate: attention to grammatical forms in lists and series	Low: mainly editing and style awareness	High: smooth, balanced, and professional writing	Lists, comparisons, correlative conjunctions	Enhances sentence rhythm and clarity

Write Smarter, Not Harder: Your Grammar Game Plan

We’ve just journeyed through a gauntlet of grammatical tripwires, from the sneaky subject-verb disagreement to the chaos of a dangling modifier. It can feel like a lot to remember. But here’s the secret: becoming a better writer isn’t about memorizing a dusty rulebook. It’s about developing an intuition for what makes your writing clear, professional, and powerful.

Mastering these eight areas is your shortcut to that intuition. They represent the most common friction points between your ideas and your reader’s understanding. Getting them right builds a foundation of trust and authority, whether you're communicating with a client, publishing a newsletter, or pitching a new project.

The Real-World Impact of Good Grammar

Let's be honest, no one is going to cancel a contract over a single misplaced apostrophe. The issue is cumulative. A pattern of these mistakes subtly signals a lack of attention to detail. It creates tiny moments of confusion that, when added up, can dilute the impact of your message and erode your credibility.

Think of it this way:

• Run-on sentences make your brilliant ideas feel breathless and hard to follow.
• Pronoun disagreements can leave a client wondering who, exactly, is responsible for the next deliverable.
• Incorrect word usage might make a potential customer question if you truly understand their needs.

Fixing these most common grammar errors isn’t just about being “correct.” It’s a strategic move to ensure your communication is as effective and persuasive as possible, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Your Actionable Path to Polished Writing

So, what’s next? Don't try to tackle everything at once. The key is to build a sustainable system that works for you, blending conscious practice with smart automation.

First, pick one or two errors from this list to be your focus for the next week. If you know run-on sentences are your weakness, consciously hunt for them in every email and document you write. This focused practice trains your brain to spot the issue automatically over time.

Second, embrace the power of a smart workflow. Manually proofreading every single piece of content is a massive time sink, and even the most careful writer will miss things when on a deadline. While standard grammar checkers are a good first line of defense, they often lack the context and personalization needed for professional work. They give generic advice that doesn't always match your unique voice or style.

This is where you can truly start writing smarter, not harder. Instead of relying on a tool that treats everyone the same, you can build a system that adapts to you. Imagine highlighting a clunky sentence in a Google Doc and, with a single keyboard shortcut, instantly applying your personal “Rewrite for clarity and conciseness” prompt. This approach combines your growing grammar knowledge with the efficiency of AI, creating a process where polished writing becomes an effortless part of your daily workflow.

The ultimate goal is to spend less time bogged down in corrections and more time in your creative flow, bringing your best ideas to life with confidence.

Ready to stop hunting for mistakes and start building a truly efficient writing system? TypeBoost allows you to create your own library of AI prompts and trigger them with custom shortcuts, in any app. Stop settling for generic fixes and start applying your personal writing style instantly, turning the most common grammar errors into a problem of the past. Check out TypeBoost and reclaim your writing flow.