20 grammar mistakes

e.g.,

is used before an item or list of items that serve as examples for the previous statement

i.e.,

is used to restate something said previously in order to clarify its meaning

Wrong: There going to they're office over their.

They are going to their office over there.

Run-on sentences

Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night however she prefers roses. Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night; however, she prefers roses.

Ambiguous ("Squinting") modifiers

Listening to loud music slowly gives me a headache. When I listen to loud music, I slowly develop a headache.

Wrong: Less than 50 people showed up for the presentation. Use "less" for things that cannot be counted...at least reasonably (e.g., "there is less sand at this beach").

Right: Fewer than 50 people showed up for the presentation. Use fewer for numbered, countable things (e.g., "100 fewer purchases. Use "less" with numbers when they are a single or total unit that measures distance, amount or time (e.g., "less than 30% of us bothered learning these rules").

Wrong: He starts work everyday at 8 a.m.

Right: He starts work every day at 8 a.m.

Wrong: I could just lay down and go to sleep. To lay is transitive, which means it does have an object, as in something or someone the verb is doing something to.

Right: I could just lie down and go to sleep. Lie is intransitive, which means it does not have an object and does not do anything to anyone or anything else.

Wrong: If we stay on this track, we cannot loose.

Right: If we stay on this track, we cannot lose.

Wrong: The company just celebrated it's eight year since it went public.

Right: The company just celebrated its eight year since it went public.

Wrong: The marketing manager told Riley and I to talk with her.

Right: The marketing manager told Riley and me to talk with her.

Wrong: The people that reach their sales target will get a reward.

Right: The people who reach their sales target will get a reward. Use that when you are talking about things, and who when you are talking about people.

Wrong: your my favorite supervisor.

Right: You are my favorite supervisor.

Misuse of lie/lay

He was laying on the couch. He was lying on the couch.

Comma splices

He was very hungry, he ate a whole pizza. He was very hungry. He ate a whole pizza. He was very hungry, so he ate a whole pizza.

Wordiness (inflated sentences)

It has come to our attention that your tax returns are overdue and we urge you to file them at your earliest convenience. Your tax returns are overdue. Please file them now.

Tautologies express the same thing twice with different words.

Jack made a water pail with his own hands for Jill. Jack made a water pail for Jill.

Ambiguous pronoun references

John had a card for Helga, but could not deliver it because he was in her way. John had a card for Helga, but could not deliver it because Tim was in Helga's way.

Using "could of" instead of "could have" Could of, would of, should of is never correct

Sam could of received an A on his essay, but he made too many grammatical mistakes. Sam could have received an A on his essay, but he made too many grammatical mistakes.

Wrong: That presentation was better then the first one.

That presentation was better than the first one. When for time; what for comparing things.

Overuse of adverbs adverbs-those words that often end in -ly-modify verbs.

The boy ran really fast to catch the runaway ball. The boy sprinted to catch the runaway ball.

Too many prepositional phrases Prepositions are those words that often come before nouns and pronouns to show direction, location, or time.

The caravan came over the top of the hill The caravan crested the hill.