according to katie rojas. #12: hyphenated words use only when combining two words to make an...
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Top Twelve Most Common Grammatical Errors
According to Katie Rojas
#12: Hyphenated WordsUse only when combining two words to
make an adjective or when using multiple words to express one idea:Correct: Taylor’s happy-go-lucky personality
kept her upbeat even when disaster occurred.Correct : Even though my brother tried to beat
me at chess, the game was one-sided in my favor.
#11: The Oxford CommaNot including the comma preceding the
final item in a series.Incorrect: Kittens, pandas and monkeys are my
favorite animals.Correct: Kittens, pandas, and monkeys are my
favorite animals.*Not a true grammatical rule.
However, MLA and APA documentation styles require the usage of the oxford comma, meaning that most (if not all) academic writing should include that comma.
#10: Using Colons ProperlyDo not use a colon immediately after
“are”:Incorrect: The items that I need to bring to the
party are: paper plates, knives, and cupcakes. Correct: I brought the following items to the
party: paper plates, knives, and cupcakes.
#9: Incorrectly Formatting Titles
Quotation MarksUsually short
written works (or parts of a whole)Articles (from
Newspaper or Database)
Short stories or poems
Book chapters or specific web site pages
Essays
Italics/UnderliningUsually long,
complete worksBooksMoviesPlaysNewspapersDatabases
#8: Misplaced ModifiersDo not modify the wrong subject and
cause confusion:Incorrect: The girl, arranging the tablecloth
neatly, covered the surface.Correct: The girl neatly arranged the
tablecloth and made it cover the entire surface.
#7: SemicolonsUse only to separate two independent
clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences:Incorrect: She turned the light on; causing a
bright light.Correct: She turned the light on; the beam lit
up the dark attic.Incorrect: He wanted to play many sports;
soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball.Correct: He wanted to play many sports; he
especially desired to play soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball.
#6: Periods with Quotation Marks and ParenthesesPeriods and Quotation Marks:
Periods always go inside.Incorrect: Stephanie said, “Life is good”.Correct: Stephanie said, “Life is good.”
Periods and Parentheses (when citing):Periods go outside.Incorrect: “Research is crucial for mankind.”
(Wade, 2012, p. 56)Correct: “Research is crucial for mankind”
(Wade, 2012, p. 56).
#5: Indicating PossessionForgetting to use an apostrophe:
Incorrect: The monkeys bananas.Correct: The monkey’s bananas.
OR – The monkeys’ bananas. Usage depends on the number of monkeys.
#4: Parallel StructureNot being consistent with parts of speech all
throughout a sentenceIncorrect: Stacy walked the dog, fed the cat,
and milks the cow.Correct: Stacy walked the dog, fed the cat, and
milked the cow.Incorrect: Ben had three goals that day: to
exercise at the gym, to win the lottery, and ace his test.
Correct: Ben had three goals that day: to exercise at the gym, to win the lottery, and to ace his test.
#3: Subject-Verb AgreementUsing the incorrect tense of a verb with the
subject:Incorrect: Ninety dollars were too much to pay for
the air conditioner.Correct: Ninety dollars was too much to pay for
the air conditioner.Incorrect: The procedure involving three stages
require the patient to receive medical counseling from the doctor beforehand.
Correct: The procedure involving three stages requires the patient to receive medical counseling from the doctor beforehand.
#2: Noun/Pronoun AgreementUsing a pronoun that does not agree with
the noun in number:Incorrect: Everyone took their notebooks out
and studied for the test.Correct: Everyone took out his or her notebook
out and studied for the test.Incorrect: The crowd screamed as the musician
walked out on stage and turned toward them.Correct: The fans in the crowd screamed as the
musician walked out on stage and turned toward them.
#1: Comma UsageComma Splice/Run-on Sentences:
Incorrect: I went to the store, I bought milk. Correct: I went to the store; I bought milk.
Not using a comma following the dependent clause in a complex sentence:Incorrect: When she wrote a chapter of her book she felt a sense
of accomplishment.Correct: When she wrote a chapter of her book, she felt a sense of
accomplishment.Using a comma before necessary clauses:
Incorrect: Maria received a discount on her purchase at Barnes and Noble, which was expected because she works for the bookstore.
Correct: Maria received a discount on her purchase at Barnes and Noble which was expected because she works for the bookstore