8 Mistakes that Cripple Writers

Professional writing is a skill that includes knowing more than just how to spell and properly punctuate a sentence. In addition to spelling and punctuation, some of the most important skills I learned (thanks to Mrs. Fitzgerald, my fifth grade teacher, and Chuck Stolhand and Pam Mack, former English instructors at Kankakee Community College) was knowing how to correct the following grammatical errors:

1. Writing in Passive Voice (Use Active Voice)

Knowing the difference between active voice and passive voice is imperative if you want professional writers to view your work with high regard and if you want readers to understand your words. In active voice, the verb follows the subject. In passive voice, the subject follows the verb. Understanding the difference will help you with your writing.

Here are a few examples of active voice vs. passive voice:

Passive voice: A good time was had by all.
Active voice: Everybody had a good time.

Passive voice: The game was won by the Bears.
Active voice: The Bears won the game.

Passive voice: The sandwich was eaten by Mary.
Active voice: Mary ate the sandwich.

Sentences flow more smoothly when written in active voice. The reader follows the sentence logically rather than having to backtrack to place the action in its proper direction.

For more on the evils of using passive voice, visit Hamilton College and read their Seven Deadly Sins of Writing.

2. Misplaced Modifiers (Place Modifiers Close to Words They Modify)

Some of the most confusing sentences are marked by misplaced modifiers. An adjective that modifies a noun, for instance, should be placed in close proximity to the noun it modifies.

For example, if you write, "Aunt Jessie was driving in the snow with her dog who was celebrating her twenty-first birthday," the way the sentence reads, the reader understands that the dog is celebrating her twenty-first birthday.

If you meant that Aunt Jessie was the one celebrating her birthday, the sentence should read, "Aunt Jessie, who was celebrating her twenty-first birthday, was driving in the snow with her dog." The modifier, "who was celebrating her twenty-first birthday," should appear next to the word or words it modifies, "Aunt Jessie."

When a modifier is placed far away from the word or words it modifies, the reader doesn't understand the writer's intentions. The point in writing is to create clear, easy-to-understand sentences. Misplaced modifiers confuse the reader.

3. Poor Subject-Verb Agreement (Subject and Verb Must Agree In Number)

Beginning as early as grammar school, teachers instruct their students on the importance of subject-verb agreement. Subject-verb agreement means simply that the verb must designate the number suggested by the subject.

"Kathy go to the store" is an example of improper subject-verb agreement usage as is "they goes to the store." Kathy is a singular subject and requires a singular verb, goes. "They" is a plural subject and requires a plural verb, "go."

The confusion may be because an "s" appears at the end of the singular verb. When nouns add an "s," nouns suddenly become plural, but the same rule does not apply to verbs.

Examples include the following:

He goes. (He is a singular subject - requires a singular verb, goes.)
She goes. (She is a singular subject - requires a singular verb, goes.)
They go. (They is a plural subject - requires a plural verb, go.)

As a former English tutor, I can attest to the fact that this problem surfaces many, many times. It may be one of the most difficult grammar concepts to grasp for students struggling to learn the rules of grammar.

To better understand the importance of subject-verb agreement, click Butte College to learn more.

4. Improper Verb Tense - Don't Confuse Your Readers - Use Proper Verb Tense

Another difficult problem a writer tackles is verb tense. Staying focused on the proper verb tense is important, because the reader becomes confused by tense jumping. Unless you're writing a "Back to the Future" episode, stay with one tense.

Example: "Alexander writes poetry when he was young" makes no sense. The sentence should read, "Alexander wrote poetry when he was young (past tense)," or "Young Alexander writes poetry (present tense)."

The Capital Community College Foundation assists writers in the understanding of verb tense and other grammar issues. Click their name to learn more about how to use proper verb tense.

5. Improper Pronoun Usage - Cumbersome Problem - Learn How To Use Pronouns Properly

One of the most cumbersome problems writers face is proper pronoun usage, because what is proper doesn't always sound right. Any time you refer to a "he" or a "she," you must continue with the singular form of the pronoun and remember to use proper subject-verb agreement. You must also have a reference point for the pronoun.

If, for example, you refer to somebody in the possessive sense, as in "Katy's daughter," without ever previously referring to Katy, any reference to Katy as "her" is grammatically incorrect. The pronoun, "her," would point to Katy's daughter. The pronoun does not point to Katy, because pronouns refer to nouns, not to possessive forms of nouns.

Also, when writing about more than one person, writing "they" instead of constantly referring to "he and she" or "him and her" makes the process easier for both the writer and the reader. However, switching back and forth between "he" and "she" to "they" is equally confusing, because it requires the writer to constantly switch verbs. Mistakes can happen easily during the rewrite process if you, as the writer, change your subject but forget to change your verb.

Pronoun reference is important in keeping the reader aware of what the writer is trying to convey. Say you write, "John went to the museum while Carrie stayed home to care for Sandra's children." If you then add, "He later drove to a restaurant where they met," are you referring to John and Carrie, to John, Carrie, and Sandra's children, or to John and Sandra's children? You must write with the reader in mind. YOU know what you mean to write, but is what THEY are reading easily understood?

Also pay attention to continuity with your pronouns. If you begin your article or story using first person, don't suddenly switch to second or third person.

This article, for instance is written in second person. I am talking directly to you, the reader. If I suddenly switch my tone and take out all references to you, you, as a reader will become confused.

Take the paragraph above that begins, "Also pay attention..." If I wrote the paragraph in the third person, in the midst of an article written in second person, the flow of the article would be interrupted by your attempt to make sense of this article.

Example of that paragraph written in third person: "They should pay attention to continuity with pronouns. If they begin their articles or stories using first person, they shouldn't suddenly switch to second or third person."

If you had read that paragraph instead of the one I wrote, you might have been asking "Who are THEY? The readers?" Confused readers will discontinue reading.

6. Adverbs Utilized Instead of Action Verbs - Action Verbs Have Far More Impact Than Do Adverbs

In addition to proper pronoun usage and verb tense, use action verbs instead of adverbs to "pretty up" your sentences. Action verbs add a sense of professionalism that reads better than a reliance upon adverbs. For a list of action verbs, go to Cvisual.

(Also, try not to use adjectives - nouns that are specific read better than adjectives used to describe them.)

Bad example: The lovely fragrance of the pretty purple flowers sitting on the beautiful bush tempted me to pick a bunch.
Good example: The fragrance of the hydrangea bush tempted me to collect a bouquet.

7. Poor Transitioning From One Paragraph To The Next - Learn Some Transitional Words and Phrases

If you've ever read an article or story that seemed stilted and choppy, you probably encountered a problem with transitions. Transitions create uninterrupted flow, pull your paragraphs together neatly and draw a bridge between your paragraphs, making the leap from one to the other smooth and effortless.

Transitional phrases and words create continuity so that the article reads as one piece instead of as a bunch of paragraphs randomly thrown together. A great resource for transitional phrases and words can be found at The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

8. Forgetting to Proofread and Tighten Copy - Important Lessons on Creating Clean Copy

Check your spelling and punctuation. Read your words aloud.

To write concisely, you must tighten tighten tighten your sentences and paragraphs. As you proofread, check for the following offenders and take out every "there is," "there are," and "it is" you can find. Pulling out those words forces you to write tighter, cleaner copy.

Example of how not to write: There are 50 states in The United States of America.

Same sentence tightened: The United States of America includes 50 states.

Example of how not to write: It is easy to understand why parents are concerned for their child's welfare.

Same sentence tightened: Parents' concern for their child's welfare is easy to understand.

In Closing

After you have proofread your article, turn it in. Sometimes, even after you've read and reread your material, you will find mistakes. Learn how to forgive yourself and move on.

For more writing tips, please read My 21 BEST Writing Tips for the Xomba Writing Contest.