Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Grammar can be tricky, and even the best students make mistakes! However, understanding common grammar errors and knowing how to fix them can significantly improve your writing. At Fundamentals First Tutoring Centre in Edmonton, our expert tutors help students strengthen their grammar skills, making their writing clearer and more professional.
In this blog, we’ll highlight seven common grammar mistakes and provide simple fixes to help you avoid them.
1. Their, There, and They’re
💥 Mistake:
- Their going to the mall later. ❌
- We left the books over their. ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- Their → Possessive (Belonging to someone): Their house is big.
- There → Refers to a place: The book is over there.
- They’re → Short for “they are”: They’re going to the mall later.
📌 Tip: If you can replace the word with “they are”, use they’re!
2. Your vs. You’re
💥 Mistake:
- Your the best student in class! ❌
- Can I borrow you’re pencil? ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- Your → Shows possession: Your book is on the table.
- You’re → Short for “you are”: You’re doing a great job!
📌 Tip: If “you are” doesn’t make sense, use your!
3. It’s vs. Its
💥 Mistake:
- The dog wagged it’s tail. ❌
- Its a beautiful day outside. ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- It’s → Short for “it is” or “it has”: It’s raining outside.
- Its → Shows possession: The dog wagged its tail.
📌 Tip: If you can replace it with “it is”, use it’s!
4. Run-on Sentences
💥 Mistake:
- I went to the store I bought some milk I came home. ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- Break it into separate sentences: I went to the store. I bought some milk. I came home.
- Use conjunctions: I went to the store, and I bought some milk before coming home.
📌 Tip: If a sentence feels too long, try reading it out loud. If you run out of breath, it’s probably a run-on!
5. Misusing Apostrophes
💥 Mistake:
- The cat’s are playing outside. ❌ (No apostrophe needed for plural!)
- I have two brother’s. ❌ (Should be “brothers”)
✅ How to Fix It:
- Use an apostrophe for possession: The cat’s toy is missing.
- No apostrophe for plurals: I have two brothers.
- Use an apostrophe for contractions: She’s (she is) my best friend.
📌 Tip: If you’re just making a word plural, don’t use an apostrophe!
6. Using “Me” Instead of “I” (or Vice Versa)
💥 Mistake:
- Me and my friend went to the park. ❌
- Can you give my friend and I a ride? ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- Use “I” as the subject: My friend and I went to the park.
- Use “me” as the object: Can you give my friend and me a ride?
📌 Tip: Remove the other person and see if it still makes sense:
- ❌ Me went to the park. → Sounds wrong!
- ✅ I went to the park. → Correct!
7. Who vs. Whom
💥 Mistake:
- Whom is calling? ❌
- To who should I give this letter? ❌
✅ How to Fix It:
- Who → Subject of the sentence: Who is calling?
- Whom → Object of the sentence: To whom should I give this letter?
📌 Tip: If you can replace it with “he/she”, use who. If you can replace it with “him/her”, use whom!
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the most common grammar mistakes students make. By practicing and being aware of these errors, you can improve your writing significantly.
At Fundamentals First Tutoring Centre in Edmonton, our expert tutors help students develop strong grammar and writing skills, giving them the confidence to succeed in school and beyond. Whether you need help with essays, grammar, or English comprehension, we’ve got you covered!
📚 Need tutoring help? Contact us today to get started!
