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Do you make a lot of grammar mistakes while writing? You shouldn’t. Not only it ruins the effectivity of your content, but also projects the author as a noob.

Here’s a list of some of the most common grammatical errors that content writers often make. Avoiding them can significantly improve the quality of your content.

Most common grammar mistakes

1. It’s vs its

It’s is used as a contraction to It is,

– It’s a sunny day.

– Don’t worry, it’s me.

While its is a possessive pronoun.

– The company is back on its track.

– I like its new design.

2. Their vs there

Their is the possessive form of they.

– All the visitors need to bring their passport.

There is used to denote a place or an idea (source)

– I’ll go there today.

– There was a king.

3. Use comma appropriately

Always remember the thumb rule, a comma should be used whenever there’s a pause. Speak the sentence in your mind and put a comma wherever you paused.

4. Use a hyphen with modifiers

When you are modifying a noun by using one more word, make sure to use a hyphen. Simply put, use a hyphen when using two words as one.

– Pass me on the red-colored ball.

– I want to become a full-time writer.

But make sure not to use it when the same two words are being actually used as two words.

– Today, I am working for full time.

5. Which vs that

– I have a hotel, which is in Singapore.

– I have a hotel that is in Singapore.

In the first case, the focus is on the hotel. The subject owns just one hotel, which is in Singapore.

In the second case, the focus is on Singapore. The subject owns multiple hotels, out of which, one is in Singapore.

6. Random Capitalization

Do not just capitalize any random word of the sentence. Follow the rules.

– The first word of a sentence must start with a capital letter.

– Proper nouns (including names) must start with a capital letter.

Read more capitalization rules on Grammarly.

7. Mixing US and British languages

Maintain consistency. Use either US or British language throughout the copy.

8. Never use a space before full-stop (period), but always use one after it.

– Today is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday.

9. Never use a space before the comma, but always use one after it.

– David, Cyrus, and Graham; all are coming.

10. Never use a space before the colon, but always use one after it.

– Touch me not: A plant that shrinks when touched.

11. Never use a space before the semi-colon, but always use one after it.

– David, Cyrus, and Graham; all are coming.

12. Use full-stop (period) when a sentence is completed.

– Today is Sunday.

13. Use a space before and after the hyphen when using it in a sentence.

– The car is launched in three colors – Black, Red, and White.

14. Use a space before opening parentheses but not after it. Don’t use a space before closing parentheses.

– Proper nouns( including names ) must start with a capital letter. (Wrong)

– Proper nouns (including names) must start with a capital letter. (Correct)

15. Use semi-colon instead of a comma, if commas are already being used in the sentence with a different context.

– Cyrus and Graham, both are coming.

– David, Cyrus, and Graham; all are coming.

16. Add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb only when the subject is singular and third person.

– Messi plays well.

– Both Messi and Ronaldo play well.

– David goes back to the pavilion.

17. Do not add ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the verb if it’s appearing after does

– The new player does not plays well. (Wrong)

– The new player does not play well. (Correct)

18. Do not use past tense with ‘Did’.

– Did you went there? (Wrong)

– Did you go there? (Correct)

– I did not wanted to go. (Wrong)

– I did not want to go. (Correct)

I’ll keep adding more such common grammar mistakes to the list as I find them. It could be a good idea to bookmark this page and check back once in a while.