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5 common grammar mistakes that most adults still make

5 common grammar mistakes that most adults still makePhoto from unsplash

Originally Posted On: 5 common grammar mistakes that most adults still make (grammarhow.com)

 

Most adults are under the impression that they can write a paragraph without making a grammatical error, which might not be entirely accurate. Unfortunately, many well-educated adults still make small grammatical mistakes without even knowing. If you feel like you don’t, then chances are you most likely make those mistakes. The English language can be complicated. If someone has not spent most of their life perfecting their writing and vocabulary, they will most likely make grammatical errors even as an adult. Let’s discuss some of the most common grammar mistakes adults make and how to fix them.

1. Your Vs. You’re

The most common grammatical error is the misuse of “your” and “you’re.” Unfortunately, this error is so common that many people similarly pronounce them, which leads to misuse. The main difference between “you” and “you’re” is that one is used as a second person possessive adjective, whereas the other is a short form of “you are.”

Now, to make things simple for you, think of “your “when describing a second person’s item or attributes. For example, “Your house is amazing” or “your vocabulary is excellent.” The word “your” is always followed by a gerund or by a noun. Always remember that “your” is a second person possessive adjective. If you can remember that, then it will be effortless for you not to make mistakes.

To understand “you’re” properly, we must use the complete form. “You’re” is a shorter version of “you are,” so if you would you “you are” in a sentence, then you can replace it “you’re.” Here are some examples, “You’re an amazing person” or “You’re trying your best.” Always remember that “you’re” is a shorter version of “you are,” as this will make it easy for you to use the right word the next time.

2. Trying To Join Or Connect Commas

Commas have been misused for a very long time, as it is very easy to use them incorrectly. Commas are there to make sentences easier to read and understand, and they are not there to join two different sentences.

Most people will misuse commas by using them instead of period. For example,” she was exhausted, she slept” is wrong, but “she was exhausted, so she slept” is correct. As you can see, one sentence is trying to connect two different sentences, whereas the other one is trying to make it easy to understand a longer sentence.

3. Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences are a typical grammar mistake adults make. Sometimes, even highly educated people make this mistake. Run-on sentences are when two sentences as mashed together without a period; this can lead to a hard-to-read sentence or a sentence that makes no sense. A run-on sentence is mostly a long sentence, but that does not mean that all long sentences are run-ons, as run-on sentences can be short as well.

Here is an example of a run-on sentence:

Jordan gave Terry a piece of cake however he has diabetes.”

As you can tell, the sentence above can be hard to read, and there needs to be a break for the sentence to be readable.

Here is an example of a proper sentence:

Jordan gave Terry a piece of cake; however, he has diabetes.”

As you can tell, the sentence above is easy to read and has proper breaks. Make sure to use periods and semicolon to make your sentence readable, as this will reduce the risk of writing run-on sentences.

4. Overuse Of Adverbs

It’s widespread for most adults to use adverbs excessively. An adverb is a modified verb; in most cases, it has “ly” at the end of the word. The overuse of adverbs can make your grammar sound immature, so it would be best to reduce the use of adverbs. In some cases, adverbs can be a great option, but people need to use them sparingly and adequately.

An example of a sentence with overuse of adverbs:

“My friend is really big and loves to workout every day.”

As you can tell, the sentence above sounds juvenile, which is not a good look, especially when writing in a more formal setting.

An example of a sentence with proper use of verbs:

“My friend is huge and loves to workout every day.”

The sentence above reads way better than the previous sentence. It is more professional and doesn’t sound juvenile. Try and make an effort not to use adverbs as it can make your writing sound less professional. In some cases, adverbs can be a great option to use, but make sure to use them when it’s the right time and stay away from using them on a regular basis.

5. Its Vs. It’s

Out of all common grammar mistakes, this one is the most prevalent amongst adults. Similar to you vs. you’re, this grammar mistake can sneak up on when writing. Even professional writers misuse it’s and its, so you are not alone when it comes to this one.

The main difference between “its and it’s” is that one is a possessive pronoun, whereas the other one is a shorter version of “it is.”

When it comes to “its,” you should use it to describe something possessive.

An example of a proper sentence with “its”:

“The car has its issues, just like the motorcycle.”

As you can tell, “its” is used to pinpoint something possessive about an item.

An example of a proper sentence with “it’s”:

“It’s been ten years since we spoke last time.”

“It’s” can work as a replacement for “it is” or “it has,” so if there is any sentence that uses “it is” or “it has,” then “it’s” would be appropriate to use.

Conclusion

We all make mistakes, and the best thing to do would be to learn from them and grow. Common grammar mistakes aren’t the end of the world, but fixing them can help you write better sentences and help you in your professional career. So make sure to try and rectify any grammatical errors you might make to become a better writer.

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