Common Grammar Mistakes That Cost You Marks
I. Introduction: Why Grammar Matters
- Grammar is the structure behind clear expression.
- Even 1–2 grammar errors per paragraph can reduce marks.
- Examiners expect accuracy, variety, and grammatical control.
II. Run-on Sentences & Comma Splices
Rule: A run-on sentence incorrectly joins two independent clauses without proper punctuation or connectors.
Incorrect:
The economy is weak, the government must take action.
Correct:
The economy is weak; therefore, the government must take action.
The economy is weak. The government must take action.
The economy is weak, and the government must take action.
Tip: Use semicolons, periods, or FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
III. Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule: Verbs must agree with their subjects in number.
Incorrect:
The government have failed.
Each of the students are present.
Correct:
The government has failed.
Each of the students is present.
Watch out for:
- Collective nouns (team, audience, government)
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each = singular)
- Inverted subjects (e.g., “There is a cat and two dogs” = incorrect)
IV. Tense Consistency
Rule: Keep tenses consistent unless a timeline change is required.
Incorrect:
Pakistan is struggling with governance since decades.
She was knowing him for years.
Correct:
Pakistan has been struggling with governance issues for decades.
She has known him for years.
Tip: Use present perfect (has/have + past participle) with "since" and "for".
V. Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers
Rule: Modifiers must be placed near the words they describe.
Incorrect:
Running down the road, the bag was dropped.
Correct:
Running down the road, I dropped the bag.
VI. Wrong Word Choice / Homophones
Rule: Homophones sound similar but have different meanings. Misuse causes confusion.
Their / There / They’re-Their = possession; There = place; They're = they are
Affect / Effect-Affect = verb; Effect = noun
Then / Than-Then = time; Than = comparison
Principle / Principal- Principle = rule; Principal = head
Incorrect:
The principle of the college gave a speech.
The weather will effect our plans.
Correct:
The principal of the college gave a speech.
The weather will affect our plans.
VII. Parallel Structure / Faulty Parallelism
Rule: Use the same grammatical form when listing or comparing items.
Incorrect:
She likes reading, to swim, and jogging.
Correct:
She likes reading, swimming, and jogging.
Tip: Match nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, etc.
VIII. Sentence Fragments
Rule: A sentence must contain a subject and a complete verb, and express a complete thought.
Incorrect:
Although I was tired.
After the meeting.
Correct:
Although I was tired, I kept working.
After the meeting, we went home.
IX. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Rule: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
Incorrect:
Everyone must bring their book.
Correct:
Everyone must bring his or her book.
All students must bring their books.
X. Preposition Errors
Rule: Use the correct preposition with specific verbs and idioms.
Incorrect:
She is married with a doctor.
He is angry on me.
Correct:
She is married to a doctor.
He is angry with me.
XI. Article Misuse (A / An / The)
Rule:
Use “a” before words starting with a consonant sound.
Use “an” before vowel sounds.
Use “the” for specific nouns.
Incorrect:
She has an unique gift.
I went to a university.
Correct:
She has a unique gift. ("yoo" is a consonant sound)
I went to a university.
Common Collocations:
Go to school (not the school)
Play the piano (not play piano)
XII. Double Negatives
Rule: Avoid using two negative words in the same sentence.
Incorrect:
I don’t need no help.
Correct:
I don’t need any help.
XIII. Ambiguous Pronouns
Rule: A pronoun must clearly refer to one specific noun.
Incorrect:
The teacher spoke to the student, but he didn’t understand.
Correct:
The teacher spoke to the student, but the student didn’t understand.
XIV. Conjunction Confusion
Rule: Do not use two conjunctions that serve the same purpose.
Incorrect:
Although he was tired but he worked.
Correct:
Although he was tired, he worked.
He was tired, but he worked.
XV. Common Misuses in Formal Writing
Gonna / Wanna-Going to / Want to
A lot of / Lots of-Many / Much
He don’t know-He doesn’t know
I seen it-I saw it
Tips for Students
- Read editorials and high-quality essays to internalize correct grammar.
- Practice identifying and fixing common errors.
- Ask why a correction is made—not just what the right answer is.
- Edit in stages: first content, then grammar.
- Always proofread before submission.
