When working with such a complicated language as English, there are bound to be mistakes made by even the most experienced writers. And that's okay to make errors. However, what readers do not expect is constant mistakes. Not only does this destroy your credibility as a writer, but it also reduces the quality of your work.
5 Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid
When it comes to a graduation paper, many students find it challenging to write a compelling hook. However, crafting a strong thesis statement as the opening sentence of an argumentative essay or academic paper can be immensely helpful. It not only assists the writer but also allows readers to immediately grasp the paper's purpose. Mastering the art of creating a thesis statement, with the assistance of resources like a graduate school essay writing service such as essayservice.com, can be a game-changer in your academic career. This skill is crucial for both students and educators as it serves as the cornerstone of effective academic writing. Resources like Custom Writing offer valuable support by providing expert guidance and practical tips, empowering individuals to enhance their thesis-writing skills and excel academically.
Also, academic writing has its fair share of rules that have to be followed. If you are writing without properly proofreading your paper, there's a chance you’ll make mistakes that have to do with grammar and spelling. However, working with a reliable essay writer service can help you write a flawless paper.
Now let’s review the most common mistakes that students make:
1. Misspelled Words
Wrong spellings can be a result of misreading the word or incorrect mistake detection of a spell checker. Misspelled words may pose a real challenge, so make sure you read through your paper to make corrections yourself.
2. Wrong Punctuation
Knowing how to use correct punctuation is another significant aspect. Whenever you are using commas, exclamation marks, question marks, and periods, use them correctly. Inappropriate punctuation can change the meaning of your entire sentence.
3. Incorrect Word Usage
If you use a wrong word in your writing, you can confuse or even lose your reader. This is a common problem with words like affect/effect and principal/principle. These words have different meanings, and using them in the wrong way can be confusing. Other commonly misused words include they're/there, its/it's, your/you're. If you are unsure of usage, look up the word in the dictionary.
4. Incorrect Sentence Structure
How you structure your sentences can also affect the overall message of your paper. To minimize errors, avoid long sentences. They make your article difficult to read. Make sure not to end up with incomplete sentence fragments.
A fragment is what you get when you remove a phrase, clause, or word from the main sentence of your paper. Fragments can make your article difficult to read and understand.
5. Errors in Capitalization
Use proper capitalization throughout your paper. If you're not sure how to do that, always look up the capitalization rules to ensure you're not making a mistake. Here are a few rules you can keep in mind:
- Capitalize all nouns and pronouns in titles of books, movies, etc.: The Catcher in the Rye.
- Remember to capitalize proper nouns that name specific people, places, or things: George Washington, Mt. Everest, City of New York.
- Remember to use proper capitalization when referring to business names: Wells Fargo Bank.
- The personal pronoun "I" always appears in uppercase.
- Abbreviations always go capitalized: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), ASAP (as soon as possible).
Making Your Paper Error-Free
Your mistakes can significantly affect the quality of your work. You don't want to miss a few marks on a paper because of grammatical or other errors. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your document is error-free before turning it in for assessment.
1. Proofread Your Work
You must proofread your paper before submitting it. Only after carefully reading through the content can you find out if there are any errors or not. Your professor will forgive one or two minor mistakes, but after that, they will deduct points off your grade regardless.
2. Use Online Spell Checking Tools
If you are still unsure of your errors, use an online spell checker and grammar checker tool, such as Grammarly. The app's premium version is excellent for scanning through a document to find a wide range of mistakes you might have made. From spelling mistakes to a verb-subject agreement and identifying passive voice, you can have an easier time proofreading your paper and guaranteeing proper spelling.
3. Use Professional Editing Services
Of course, if you don't feel confident enough in your writing, you can always use a professional editor and pay for their services. Students who struggle with the fundamentals of good writing and grammar will most likely need this service at some point. If you try checking your paper but keep handing in poorly edited work, maybe it is time for you to get some help.
4. Read Your Work Out Loud
After spending hours writing and proofreading your paper, it is easy to miss certain mistakes and not detect them. Reading your work out loud might be just what you need to spot any errors that you missed initially. No matter how tired you are, reading your paper aloud will help you to notice many issues.
5. Remember the Writing Rules
There are numerous rules you need to know to keep avoiding grammar errors. Make sure you memorize these rules by practicing them every day until they become second nature. For instance, knowing when to use a comma or semicolon and adding them automatically can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
6. Expand Your Vocabulary
When your knowledge of English words becomes extensive, you are far less likely to make mistakes in your papers. You can expand your knowledge by reading widely and noting down the new words you come across. This way, you can ensure you will never struggle with words whose meaning you don't know.
7. Have Someone Else Read Your Work
If you feel that there are some things you could be missing out on, ask someone to read through your writing and share their thoughts on what they think. It could be your classmate, sibling, or friend. They are more likely to notice any errors that might escape your eyes.
Whether you're writing an essay for school or a research paper for work, any kind of mistakes can be embarrassing and hurt your score. Follow these simple tips the next time you sit down to write something important and watch how much more confidently you can present your thoughts in a written form.