Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Reading / Writing

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Writing can sometimes feel like a tricky puzzle.

Whether you’re writing an essay, a blog post, or a quick email, it’s easy to make mistakes that can confuse your readers. The good news?

With a little awareness, you can fix these common errors and make your writing clearer and more professional.

In this post, I’ll share some of the most frequent writing mistakes and share tips on how to avoid them.

1. Using Run-on Sentences

What is it?

A run-on sentence happens when two or more independent clauses (complete ideas) are joined together without the proper punctuation or a conjunction. This makes the sentence hard to read and understand.

Example of a Run-on Sentence:

  • I went to the store I bought some milk.

How to Avoid It:

The simplest way to fix a run-on sentence is to break it into two shorter sentences. You can also use a comma and a conjunction (like and, but, or so) to connect the ideas properly.

Corrected Sentences:

  • I went to the store. I bought some milk.
  • I went to the store, and I bought some milk.

2. Misusing Apostrophes

What is it?

Apostrophes are often misused, especially when showing possession or forming contractions. People sometimes add apostrophes where they shouldn’t or forget to add them when they should.

Common Mistakes:

  • The cat’s are cute. (Should be The cats are cute.)
  • I can’t believe it’s raining. (This is correct, but its vs it’s is where confusion arises.)

How to Avoid It:

  • Use apostrophes to show possession (e.g., John’s book, the dog’s leash) but never use them for plurals (e.g., cats not cat’s).
  • Use it’s for it is or it has (e.g., It’s raining or It’s been a long day).
  • Use its to show possession (e.g., The dog chased its tail).

3. Confusing Homophones

What is it?

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Common examples include there, their, and they’re or your and you’re.

Examples:

  • Their going to the movies. (Should be They’re going to the movies.)
  • Your the best at cooking. (Should be You’re the best at cooking.)

How to Avoid It:

Before you write, pause and think about which word fits the meaning of the sentence. If you’re unsure, look up the words to confirm their meanings. Some writing tools can help you spot homophone errors too.

4. Using Too Many Adverbs

What is it?

Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They can be useful, but using too many can make your writing feel weak or unclear.

Example of Overusing Adverbs:

  • She ran very quickly to the store and bought some very expensive clothes.

How to Avoid It:

Instead of using adverbs, try to choose stronger verbs or adjectives. For example, instead of saying very quickly, you can say she sprinted.

Improved Sentence:

  • She sprinted to the store and bought some expensive clothes.

5. Overcomplicating Sentences

What is it?

Sometimes, in an effort to sound more professional or impressive, writers create overly complex sentences. This can confuse your readers and make your ideas harder to follow.

Example of an Overcomplicated Sentence:

  • In the event that you are in need of any further information, kindly do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.

How to Avoid It:

Aim to write clear and straightforward sentences. Use simple words and phrases that get your point across. Keep your sentences short and focused.

Improved Sentence:

  • If you need more information, please contact me.

6. Lack of Parallel Structure

What is it?

Parallel structure means keeping things balanced in a sentence, especially when you’re listing items or actions. When you don’t use parallel structure, your sentence can become awkward and harder to read.

Example Without Parallel Structure:

  • She likes dancing, to sing, and reading.

How to Avoid It:

Make sure all the items or actions in your list are in the same form. In the example above, change the sentence so each action is in the same form.

Improved Sentence:

  • She likes dancing, singing, and reading.

7. Misplacing Commas

What is it?

Commas are often misused, either by placing them in the wrong spots or leaving them out entirely. Commas can change the meaning of a sentence, so it’s important to use them correctly.

Example of Comma Misuse:

  • Let’s eat grandma! (This sounds like you’re suggesting eating grandma!)
  • Let’s eat, grandma! (This is the correct way to invite grandma to eat.)

How to Avoid It:

Use commas to separate clauses, lists, and after introductory words or phrases. Here are some quick guidelines:

  • Place commas after introductory words or phrases (e.g., However, I forgot to call).
  • Use commas to separate items in a list (e.g., I like apples, bananas, and grapes).
  • Use commas before conjunctions when joining two independent clauses (e.g., I was tired, but I went to work anyway).

8. Wrong Use of Combinations of Words

What is it?

Sometimes we use two or more words together in a phrase, and they can be confusing if not used properly. For example, some words like should of or could of are commonly misused when they should be should have or could have.

Common Mistakes:

  • I should of known better. (Should be I should have known better.)
  • She could of finished it. (Should be She could have finished it.)

How to Avoid It:

Always double-check combinations like could of, should of, or would of. These should always be written as could have, should have, or would have.

9. Using Inconsistent Tenses

What is it?

Tense inconsistency occurs when you switch tenses (past, present, future) within a sentence or paragraph without any reason. This makes your writing unclear and hard to follow.

Example of Inconsistent Tenses:

  • I went to the store, and I am buying some milk.

How to Avoid It:

Stick to one tense when describing a particular event or action. If you start in the past tense, stay in the past tense unless there’s a reason to switch.

Improved Sentence:

  • I went to the store, and I bought some milk.

10. Using Too Much Passive Voice

What is it?

The passive voice happens when the subject of the sentence receives the action instead of performing it. While it’s okay to use occasionally, overusing it can make your writing sound weak or vague.

Example of Passive Voice:

  • The book was read by Mary.

How to Avoid It:

Try using active voice where the subject performs the action. Active voice makes sentences clearer and more direct.

Improved Sentence:

  • Mary read the book.

11. Not Proofreading Your Work

What is it?

One of the easiest mistakes to avoid is simply not proofreading your work. When you’re in a hurry or feeling confident about your writing, it’s tempting to skip this step, but proofreading can catch small errors that can otherwise confuse your readers.

How to Avoid It:

Always take the time to read through your work before hitting send or publish. You can also use tools like spell check, or ask someone else to review your writing for you. A fresh set of eyes can often catch mistakes you might miss.

12. Overusing Clichés

What is it?

Clichés are overused phrases or expressions that lose their meaning or impact because they’re too familiar. Phrases like think outside the box or at the end of the day are often used in writing but can sound lazy or unoriginal.

How to Avoid It:

Try to be more specific with your language. Instead of using clichés, express your ideas in a fresh and clear way. Use examples or create your own unique phrases to make your writing stand out.

Example:

  • Instead of saying at the end of the day, you could say ultimately or when all is said and done.

Conclusion

Writing can be tricky, but avoiding common mistakes doesn’t have to be hard.

By paying attention to details like sentence structure, punctuation, and word choice, you can improve the clarity and impact of your writing. Remember, writing is a skill that improves with practice.

So take your time, proofread, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to writing more clearly and effectively.

Happy writing!

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