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29 Common Grammar Mistakes in English With Examples
29 Common Grammar Mistakes in English With Examples
Grammar mistakes can easily confuse readers or change a sentence’s meaning. This guide highlights 29 common grammatical mistakes with examples to help you write more clearly and better.
Oct 28, 2025
Grammar Rules
15 min read
Grammar mistakes are very common for both native speakers and English learners. Common mistakes happen when the rules of sentence structure, word agreement, punctuation, or syntax are broken. These include issues like subject-verb disagreement, misuse of articles, incorrect verb tenses, and sentence fragments.
According to the research, misuse of verb tenses (34%), subject–verb agreement errors (24%), and incorrect article usage (15%) are among the top grammar issues made by ESL students. Moreover, in this study it was found that nearly 80% of English learners struggle with consistent verb tense usage, especially in writing and speaking.
That’s where an AI copilot for writing and studying, like StudyAgent, with comprehensive support, can really help.
What Are Grammar Mistakes In Academic Writing?
In writing, a grammatical error typically refers to a mistake in how words are structured or used according to the rules of a language. That said, not every deviation from standard grammar is necessarily incorrect.
Language evolves with context, tone, and purpose. For instance, informal or artistic expressions often bend the rules intentionally, think of lyrics or conversational writing. Still, it becomes a genuine error when the sentence loses meaning, misleads the reader, or disrupts communication.
You can generally consider it an error if:
- The meaning of the sentence becomes unclear;
- The structure clashes with the context or intent;
- It undermines the writer’s credibility or message.
The List of Common Grammar Mistakes
So, what are some common grammar mistakes to avoid?
Let’s categorize the whole confusing and complicated field of grammar into three easy-to-grasp categories:
→ Word choice mistakes
→ Common phrases errors
→ Sentence-building mistakes
This article will cover the most common ones in each category. There are more, but you can use this checklist as a basis and complete it with others further on:
Learn more: Want to avoid these common mistakes? Discover the Textero AI review to learn how this tool assists in refining grammar.
Common Word Choice Mistakes
A lot of common grammar errors come from mixing up similar-sounding words, misspelling or misusing terms. Let’s cover the 13 types of them in this block.
1. Mixing Up Similar-Sounding Words
Even advanced English learners can struggle with words that sound alike but mean totally different things. It’s very common when you write quickly or rely too much on auto-correct.
Let’s break it down:
- Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings (their/there/they’re, to/too/two, your/you’re).
- Heterographs sound similar and are often confused, even though they have different roles in a sentence (accept/except, loose/lose, desert/dessert).
Here are some examples to keep in mind:
Confusing Pair | Correct Usage | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Your / You’re |
| “Your” is possessive. “You’re” is a contraction of you are. |
There / Their / They’re |
| Different meanings for place, possession, and contraction. |
Its / It’s |
| “Its” = possessive; “It’s” = it is. |
Principal / Principle |
| One’s a school official, the other is a value or rule. |
Loose / Lose |
| “Loose” = not tight. “Lose” = misplace something. |
2. Getting Apostrophes Wrong
It’s very common to miss an apostrophe, usually because of a lack of attention or confusion about the grammar rules. Also, many people tend to avoid them, especially while texting, as if they don’t matter, which, of course, is not the case. Here are the rules with examples:
- Contractions Case. Combine two words by omitting letters and replacing them with an apostrophe (“Do not” → “Don’t”, “He is” → “He’s”.)
- Singular Possessive Case. Add an apostrophe and “s” to a singular noun to show ownership. Example: “The teacher’s book” (the book belongs to one teacher).
- Plurals Possessive Case. Add only an apostrophe after the “s” to show ownership for plural nouns. Example: “The students’ essays” (essays written by multiple students).
Common catch: Using an apostrophe to form a standard plural, like writing cat’s instead of cats, is incorrect. That’s one of the most frequent apostrophe errors.
Always pause and ask: “Is this possession, contraction, or neither?” If neither, skip the apostrophe.
3. Missing Necessary Words
As a rule, writers tend to leave out prepositions. Since they are “small” words, it’s easy to miss them. This usually happens when translating directly from other languages, rushing through writing, or not being familiar with how prepositions work in context.
Check preposition rules for clarity:
- Prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun to show how it relates to another word in the sentence.
- You should avoid ending sentences with prepositions in formal writing, unless the alternative sounds overly stiff or unnatural.
Now let's look at examples of typical errors in the table below:
Incorrect Sentence | Corrected Sentence |
|---|---|
According the report, sales rose in May. | According to the report, sales rose in May. |
She depends her friends a lot. | She depends on her friends a lot. |
What are you talking? | What are you talking about? |
This is the team I worked with. (acceptable in informal writing) | This is the team with which I worked. (formal) |
4. Misusing Latin Terms
One of the common grammar mistakes in English writing involves the misuse of Latin abbreviations. Because these expressions like i.e., e.g., etc., and et al. come from academic and formal contexts, many people confuse their meanings or apply them inconsistently. They are very common in texting, but many do not know their meanings or origin.
- I.e. means “that is” and is used to clarify a statement or restate something more precisely (She prefers strong colors, i.e. red and navy.);
- E.g. means “for example” and introduces examples rather than definitions (She likes outdoor activities, e.g. hiking and cycling.);
- Etc. means “and so on” and is best reserved for informal lists (We packed snacks, fruits, etc.);
- Et al. means “and others” and is used in academic citations (The study was conducted by Lee et al.).
i.e. explains, e.g. gives examples, etc. continues lists, and et al. acknowledges additional authors.
5. Misusing Articles
There are two types of articles in the English language: definite articles and indefinite articles. Also, there is a case where there is no article. Let’s look closely.
Definite article ("the") refers to a specific noun. They are used when referring to specific, known, or unique nouns, or when something has already been mentioned in separate sentences before.
- Incorrect: I met a man in the park. A man was very nice.
- Correct: I met a man in the park. The man was very nice.
Indefinite articles "a" and "an" refer to any noun, not a specific one. You may usually use indefinite articles referring to non-specific nouns, to singular countable nouns or when introducing something for the first time.
- Incorrect: I want the new iPhone.
- Correct: I want a new iPhone. (Here, "an iPhone" refers to introducing something for the first time).
We don’t need to use articles (a, an, the) before certain types of nouns. Check out the examples:
Type of Noun | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
Uncountable nouns used in a general sense | She enjoys music. | She enjoys the music. (unless referring to specific music) |
Plural nouns when talking generally | Cats are independent animals. | The cats are independent animals. (unless referring to specific cats) |
Names of languages and subjects | He studies physics and English. | He studies the physics and the English. |
Meals and days | We had lunch on Monday. | We had lunch on the Monday. |
6. Quantifiers and Countability Errors
Quantifier and countability errors are common because many English learners struggle with the subtle differences between similar terms that depend on whether a noun is countable or uncountable. Words like less and fewer, each and every, or over and more than are often used interchangeably, even though they follow specific rules.
Use “fewer” with countable nouns and “less” with uncountable ones:
- Fewer students attended the lecture.
- There’s less water in the bottle.
“More than” and “over” are often interchangeable, but traditionally, more than refers to quantity and over to physical position:
- More than 50 people registered.
- The picture hangs over the sofa.
“Each” refers to individual items in a group, while “every” emphasizes the group as a whole:
- Each student received feedback.
- Every student must submit the assignment.
7. Mistakes with Expressions and Phrasal Verbs
Many of the most common grammar mistakes happen when everyday expressions, idioms, or phrasal verbs are used incorrectly. Learners often mix prepositions, rearrange word order, or translate phrases literally from another language, which makes sentences sound unnatural. Phrasal verbs are fixed combinations; changing one small word can distort the meaning entirely.
For example:
- Not rely in → rely on;
- Not talk about to someone → talk to someone about;
- Not fill up the form → fill out the form;
- Not consist in → consist of.
8. Modal Verbs Errors
One of the most common grammar mistakes in English writing involves misusing modal verbs, especially “can” and “could”. Knowing when to use each helps improve clarity, tone, and accuracy in both speech and writing. Below, we break down their correct usage and give examples to make things clearer.
- Can is used to express ability or permission in the present or near future.
- Could is the past form of can, but also works for polite requests or hypothetical situations.
Examples:
- I can solve this problem. (present ability)
- I could solve it if I had more time. (hypothetical)
- Can I leave early today? (asking permission)
- Could you help me with this? (polite request)
9. Common Errors with Parts of Speech
Many common grammar mistakes happen when words with similar forms are used in the wrong way. English often has related words like create / creative / creatively or beauty / beautiful / beautifully, and mixing them up changes the meaning of a sentence.
Each part of speech: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, and so on, has a specific role. When the wrong form is used, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect or awkward.
Mistake | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Adjective vs. Adverb | She plays careful. | She plays carefully. |
Noun vs. Verb | Her advice really motivated my improving. | Her advice really motivated my improvement. |
Verb vs. Adjective | He is interesting in science. | He is interested in science. |
10. Mistakes with Compound Words
One of the common English grammar mistakes is confusing how to properly combine words that function together in a sentence. Writers often struggle with whether to write them as one word or keep them separate.
The rule is simple: when two words form a single concept or noun, they are usually written as one (e.g., “schoolyard”). If the meaning changes when split, it’s likely meant to be compounded.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The children are playing outside the school yard.
- Correct: The children are playing outside the schoolyard.
- Incorrect: He is a well known author.
- Correct: He is a well-known author.
11. Common Errors in Making Nouns Plural
Some of the most common grammar mistakes in English involve misusing plural nouns. These errors often happen when learners try to apply general rules to irregular cases. The basic rule is to add “-s” or “-es” to form plurals, but some nouns don’t follow this pattern.
Irregular nouns like child → children or mouse → mice don’t take a regular ending. Other mistakes include making uncountable nouns plural (e.g., “informations”) or using apostrophes in plurals.
- Incorrect: The datas are incorrect.
- Correct: The data is incorrect.
- Incorrect: She has many equipments.
- Correct: She has a lot of equipment.
12. Using Capital Letters in Titles
Many writers make common English grammar mistakes when capitalizing titles because they don’t know which words to treat as “major” or “minor.” The rule is: in title case, always capitalize the first and last word plus all major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns). Leave short conjunctions, prepositions, and articles in lowercase, unless they’re the first or last word.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The Journey Of a Thousand Miles
- Correct: The Journey of a Thousand Miles
- Incorrect: Understanding The Art Of War
- Correct: Understanding the Art of War
13. Em Dashes, En Dashes, and Hyphens Errors
Writers often confuse hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes because they appear similar but serve very different purposes. Each mark plays a unique grammatical role, and using them interchangeably can disrupt clarity and precision in writing.
- A hyphen (-) connects compound words or splits a word at the end of a line (high-quality, mother-in-law).
- An en dash (–) shows a range of numbers, dates, or time, or connects related concepts (The meeting runs from 10–11 a.m., the London–Paris flight).
- An em dash (—) adds emphasis, introduces a break in thought, or sets off a phrase within a sentence (She brought the essentials—water, snacks, and sunscreen.)
Avoid using spaces around em dashes, and always match the dash type to its function.
Common Phrases Errors
The next level, after the misuse of separate words, involves errors in phrases, redundant structures, and awkward word combinations. These issues can be harder to spot, especially for non-native speakers or early writers. To help you identify and correct them, we’ve compiled seven categories that highlight common grammar mistakes with examples. Let’s look at 7 more common mistake categories.
14. Avoiding Repetitive Phrases
One common cause of redundancy is when writers repeat ideas using different words, thinking it adds emphasis, when it actually clutters the sentence. This often happens with synonyms, pleonasms, or phrases that include words already implied by others.
Use only the words needed to convey your message. Avoid repeating ideas using different terms or adding words that don’t change the meaning.
Check these examples of sentences with mistakes:
- The teacher gave a free gift to the students. (“Gift” already implies it’s free.)
- He caught the ball with his two hands. (“Hands” are implied in the act of catching.)
15. Common Mistakes With Pronouns
One of the frequent reasons for pronoun mistakes is confusion about how they agree with the nouns they replace. When pronouns don’t match in number, gender, or case, sentences become unclear or grammatically incorrect.
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents and take the right case depending on their role in the sentence: subject, object, or possessive. So, let's check some examples.
I vs. Me
- Incorrect: The teacher gave my brother and I a book.
- Correct: The teacher gave my brother and me a book. (Use me as the object of the verb “gave.”)
- Correct: My brother and I went to the cinema. (Use I as the subject performing the action.)
Unclear Reference
- Incorrect: When Mary talked to Linda, she was upset.
- Correct: When Mary talked to Linda, Linda was upset. (Clarify who “she” refers to.)
16. Infinitives and Gerunds Errors
Many grammar mistakes happen when writers aren’t sure whether to use an infinitive (“to” + verb) or a gerund (verb + “-ing”) after a particular verb. The confusion arises because different verbs require different forms, and there’s no single rule that applies to all.
Some verbs are followed by gerunds (enjoy, suggest, avoid), while others require infinitives (want, plan, hope). You need to memorize or check which verbs pair with which structure.
Examples:
- Incorrect: He suggested to go to the park.
- Correct: He suggested going to the park. (“Suggest” takes a gerund.)
17. Punctuation Mistakes
In academic writing, punctuation does more than separate clauses; it defines clarity, tone, and logical flow. Errors with commas, semicolons, colons, or quotation marks can cloud your argument or make your paper seem less credible. Whether you’re writing an argumentative essay or a research paper, poor punctuation weakens your thesis and confuses readers.
Rules to Remember:
- Commas separate ideas, items in a list, or introductory phrases.
- Semicolons join related independent clauses or separate complex list items.
- Colons introduce examples, explanations, or lists.
- Quotation marks enclose direct speech, with punctuation inside the marks.
- Parentheses hold additional information; punctuation goes outside unless part of the parentheses.
Look at this table with common error types and explanations:
Error Type | Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
Missing Comma | Let’s eat daddy. | Let’s eat, daddy. | A missing comma changes the meaning entirely. |
Overused Commas | I went to the store, and, I bought milk, and, then went home. | I went to the store and bought milk, then went home. | Unnecessary commas interrupt the sentence flow. |
Semicolon Error | I love tea, I drink it every morning. | I love tea; I drink it every morning. | Use semicolons to join related sentences. |
Colon Misuse | She brought: apples, oranges, and pears. | She brought apples, oranges, and pears. | Don’t use a colon right after a verb. |
18. Errors With That, Which, and Who/Whom
Writers often mix up relative pronouns because they sound similar and sometimes appear interchangeable. These words connect clauses to a noun, but using the wrong one can make sentences unclear or grammatically incorrect.
Here are the grammar rules defining who/whom; that/which usage:
- Who refers to people.
- Whom is used for people when they are the object of the verb or preposition.
- That introduces essential (defining) information.
- Which introduces non‑essential (additional) information, usually set off by commas.
Let’s check a couple of examples:
Pronoun | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Who | The woman that helped me is my teacher. | The woman who helped me is my teacher. |
Whom | Who did you send the letter to? | To whom did you send the letter? |
That | The car which I bought is new. | The car that I bought is new. |
Which | The car that I bought, which is blue, is new. | The car I bought, which is blue, is new. |
19. Unclear Sentence Starters
A dangling participle happens when a sentence begins with a descriptive phrase that isn’t clearly or logically connected to the noun that follows. This often leads to confusion or unintentional humor.
So why could it happen? Normally, writers may forget to include the subject performing the action described by the participial phrase, leaving it “dangling” without a clear referent.
The noun immediately following a participial phrase must be the one performing the action.
Incorrect Sentence | Corrected Sentence |
|---|---|
Walking down the street, the birds were singing. | Walking down the street, I heard birds singing. |
Covered in mud, Sarah found the dog in the yard. | Sarah found the dog covered in mud in the yard. |
Running late, the bus had already left. | Running late, I realized the bus had already left. |
To avoid these common grammar mistakes, always ask: Who is doing the action in the opening phrase? If it’s not clear or doesn’t match the subject, revise the sentence to make it logical and readable.
20. Common Mistakes With Either/Or, Neither/Nor
Writers often mispair correlative conjunctions like either/or and neither/nor, or mismatch them with verbs that don’t agree in number with the subject. There are reasons behind this common mistake. These issues affect clarity and grammatical consistency in sentences.
The rule claims that correlative conjunctions must be used in matching pairs and must follow subject-verb agreement rules. When connecting two subjects, the verb typically agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
Check out the examples:
Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Either the manager or the employees is late. | Either the manager or the employees are late. | The verb agrees with the closer subject, “employees” (plural). |
She likes neither coffee or tea. | She likes neither coffee nor tea. | The correct pairing is “neither…nor,” not “neither…or.” |
Not only he sings but also dances. | Not only does he sing but he also dances. | When using “not only/but also,” verb structure should be consistent. |
Common Sentence-Building Mistakes
Finally, some of the most confusing grammatical rules in English are found at the sentence level. These often lead to common grammar mistakes with examples that can be tricky to spot and fix. From sentence fragments and faulty comparisons to dangling modifiers and unclear references, this next section covers 10 additional error types that occur not with single words, but with how entire sentence parts are combined.
21. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement
Writers often struggle with making subjects and verbs agree in number, especially when sentences include collective nouns or indefinite pronouns. That’s why these are among the common grammatical errors that affect clarity and accuracy in writing.
The rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. When the subject follows the verb or is joined by phrases like either…or, make sure the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Check out these examples:
Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
The team of engineers are testing the system. | The team of engineers is testing the system. | “Team” is a collective noun treated as singular. |
Everyone in the class have finished the exam. | Everyone in the class has finished the exam. | Indefinite pronouns like “everyone” take singular verbs. |
Either the teacher or the students is here. | Either the teacher or the students are here. | The verb agrees with the closest subject, “students.” |
22. Fixing Long and Confusing Sentences
Run‑on sentences happen when two or more independent ideas are joined together without proper punctuation or linking words. Writers often make this mistake when trying to sound fluent or when unsure how to separate related thoughts.
So, what are the rules? Each independent clause should be separated correctly. You can fix run‑on sentences by:
- Adding a period to create two sentences.
- Using a comma with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, etc.).
- Using a semicolon to connect closely related ideas.
Let’s check out the examples:
Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
She loves to paint she also teaches art. | She loves to paint, and she also teaches art. | Joined with a coordinating conjunction. |
It was late we still went for a walk. | It was late; we still went for a walk. | Joined with a semicolon. |
The rain stopped, the sun came out. | The rain stopped. The sun came out. | Separated into two sentences for clarity. |
23. Mistakes With Forming Questions
Learners often make errors when forming questions due to confusion with English word order or uncertainty about when to use auxiliary verbs. These mistakes are especially common among non-native speakers who transfer sentence patterns from their native language.
The rules can be easily maintained by following these principles:
- Invert the subject and auxiliary verb (e.g., Are you, Can she, Does it).
- Use auxiliary verbs (do/does/did) for questions in simple tenses that don’t already have one.
- Use “be” verbs (is, are, was, were) directly for continuous and passive forms.
- Never add auxiliary verbs redundantly when a verb like “be” is already functioning as auxiliary.
Look at these examples:
Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Why you are late? | Why are you late? | Inversion of subject and verb is needed. |
She is going to the party? | Is she going to the party? | Inversion is required with “be” verbs. |
You like pizza? | Do you like pizza? | “Do” is needed to form the question. |
Does she coming? | Is she coming? | Use “is” for continuous form, not “does.” |
Correct question structure is essential for clarity and natural communication. Mastering it helps eliminate common grammar mistakes with examples that confuse both listeners and readers.
24. Comparisons Errors
Faulty comparisons occur when two things that are not logically related are compared or when a comparison is left unfinished. This mistake often happens when writers omit words needed for clarity or mix categories that cannot be directly compared.
If you want to follow the rules, you should:
- Compare items from the same category (e.g., skills to skills, objects to objects).
- Always include a clear reference point, especially when using comparative adjectives like better, faster, or more efficient.
- Avoid leaving the reader to guess what the comparison refers to.
Here are the examples:
Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Her car is faster than her driving skills. | Her car is faster than any she has driven before. | Compares similar categories (cars, not skills). |
This laptop is lighter and faster. | This laptop is lighter and faster than the one I used before. | Clarifies the reference for comparison. |
John’s essay is better. | John’s essay is better than Mark’s. | Completes the comparison by adding a reference. |
25. Mistakes in Balancing Sentence Elements
One reason learners struggle with parallel structure is that different word forms often seem interchangeable, but grammar rules require consistency. In English, parallel structure means using the same grammatical pattern across parts of a sentence that are logically linked. especially in lists, comparisons, and paired ideas. If you mix forms (like a gerund with an infinitive), the sentence sounds awkward or incorrect.
Check out the examples:
Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Mixed Verb Forms | She enjoys swimming, hiking, and to run. | She enjoys swimming, hiking, and running. |
Inconsistent List Forms | The benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, and you can work remotely. | The benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, and the ability to work remotely. |
26. Mistakes with Verb Tenses
Verb tense errors happen when writers fail to keep the same time frame throughout a sentence or paragraph. This often occurs when describing past and present events together without clear time markers.
Rules are saying that to maintain clarity, make sure all verbs agree in tense unless the time frame changes intentionally.
- Use past tense for completed actions.
- Use present tense for actions happening now.
- Use future tense for actions that haven’t happened yet.
- Avoid unnecessary shifts between these tenses.
Here are the examples:
Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Shifting Tenses | He studies every night and passed the exam last week. | He studied every night and passed the exam last week. |
Sequence of Tenses | She said that she is tired. | She said that she was tired. |
27. Difficulties With Double Negatives
Double negatives are a common issue for learners and native speakers alike. The mistake usually stems from using two negative words in the same sentence for emphasis, which leads to confusion or reverses the intended meaning.
Regarding rules, in standard English grammar:
- Use only one negative word to express a negative idea.
- Combining words like “don’t,” “nothing,” “nowhere,” “no one,” “never” within the same clause results in incorrect grammar.
- Replace the second negative with a positive form (e.g., any, anyone, anywhere) to keep the meaning negative but grammatically correct.
Check out the examples below for more clarity:
Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Two negative words | I don’t have no money. | I don’t have any money. |
Negative verb + negative word | He couldn’t find his keys nowhere. | He couldn’t find his keys anywhere. |
28. Passive Voice Mistakes
Writers often use the passive voice when they want to sound formal or objective. However, it is overused. It can make sentences vague or awkward. In many cases, the subject performing the action is missing, which confuses readers about who is responsible for the action.
The rules of active and passive voice are:
- Active voice clearly identifies the doer of the action (e.g., “The teacher graded the essays”).
- Passive voice emphasizes the action or the object (e.g., “The essays were graded by the teacher”).
- Use passive constructions only when the actor is unknown, irrelevant, or deliberately omitted.
Check out the examples:
Type | Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
Unnecessary passive | The meeting was attended by many people. | Many people attended the meeting. | The active form is shorter and clearer. |
Missing subject | It was decided that the project will stop. | The board decided to stop the project. | Identify who made the decision. |
29. Word Order Mistakes
In many languages, word order is flexible, but English follows strict sentence structure rules. Non-native speakers often make mistakes when translating directly or applying patterns from their native language.
Here are the main rules:
- In English, the standard word order is Subject–Verb–Object (SVO).
- Adverbs of frequency (e.g., always, never, often) typically come before the main verb but after the verb “to be.”
- Indirect objects (e.g., “his mother”) usually come after the direct object or require a preposition.
Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
Adverb Placement | She arrives always late to work. | She always arrives late to work. |
Noun Placement | He bought for his mother a gift. | He bought a gift for his mother. |
Fix Your Grammar Faster with StudyAgent
Struggling with grammar is a very natural and common thing. Even advanced learners make common grammar mistakes in writing. That’s where the AI grammar checker by StudyAgent steps in. How?
This AI-powered assistant will help you catch errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and even writing style as you go, so you can focus more on what you want to say and less on how to say it.
With smart suggestions and an intuitive editor, it’s easy to edit your writing without extra effort. That’s why AI copilots exist to help you write with confidence, clarity, and fewer mistakes every time.
Three Days to Better Grammar
Improving grammar doesn’t have to be a never-ending process. By dedicating just a few focused sessions, you can identify and fix your typical English grammar mistakes once and for all. Follow this three-day plan to make your writing clearer and more confident.
Day 1 – Identify Your Mistakes
- Write freely about any topic that interests you, no filters or editing.
- Use an AI writing assistant or grammar checker to review your text and spot recurring errors.
- Create a list of your most repetitive mistakes, grouped by category (tenses, prepositions, punctuation, etc.).
Day 2 – Learn and Practice the Rules
- Review grammar guides or online lessons explaining why those errors occur.
- Collect real examples showing both correct and incorrect usage.
- Use active recall: test yourself by explaining the rule or correcting sentences from memory.
Day 3 – Test and Refine with AI
- Ask AI to create short grammar quizzes based on your weak areas.
- Write a short essay including tricky structures you often misuse.
- Use StudyAgent’s grammar checker to analyze your writing, highlight errors, and see whether you’ve improved.
Sum Up
Grammar mistakes can happen at any level, regardless of your English proficiency. Studies show that the most common errors include inconsistent verb tenses, subject–verb disagreement, and incorrect article usage.
What can you do to avoid making mistakes? The key is consistency and awareness. Once you realize why the mistakes are happening, you can easily correct them. To be more efficient, you can rely on AI technologies such as StudyAgent.
Frequently asked questions
Common issues include subject-verb agreement errors, incorrect use of singular possessive nouns, and confusion between homophones like “its” and “it’s.” Also, very often people make mistakes in using articles or confuse the word order. The most common mistakes are related to punctuation errors and overusing apostrophes.
Here are the examples of 10 errors students make when writing:
- Failing to form agreements between independent clauses;
- Writing run-on sentences;
- Using sentence fragments;
- Misusing apostrophe;
- Misplacing modifiers;
- Making incorrect verb tense or active and passive voice agreements;
- Using redundancies;
- Confusing homophones;
- Misforming compound words;
- Mismatching pronouns.
To avoid common writing mistakes and grammatically incorrect sentences, start by reviewing the basics. For example, the incorrect word choices, singular possessive noun usage, and punctuation. Many common English mistakes also stem from rushed editing. A grammar checker can help catch what you miss and train your eye for what grammar mistakes include.
Improving grammar takes consistent practice and the right tools. Start by reading regularly, writing daily, and reviewing your work to identify and correct mistakes. Use grammar resources and AI assistants like StudyAgent, which highlight errors and explain why they’re incorrect. With real-time suggestions, it helps you learn actively and avoid repeating mistakes, making it easier to write correctly and confidently.
Yes. StudyAgent includes a built-in grammar checker that helps identify common issues like punctuation, word choice, and awkward phrasing. It’s a simple way to catch grammar mistakes and improve clarity without overthinking every sentence.
Sources:
- Pratiwi, F. M. (2022). Grammatical Errors Made by Students in Speaking English at the Tenth Grade of SMA Islam Nusantara Beji in Academic Year 2021/2022 Undergraduate thesis, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim] [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351332257_Grammatical_Errors_Made_by_Students_in_Speaking_English
- Mao, J., & Yao, K. (2024). An analysis of grammatical errors in students’ English compositions. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Education Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries, 183–189. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382762575_An_Analysis_of_Grammatical_Errors_in_Students'_English_Compositions
- iTEP International. (2024, May 23). Conquering common grammar mistakes by English learners. iTEP. https://www.itepexam.com/conquering-common-grammar-mistakes-by-english-learners/
