Simple Grammatical Fixes that Will Make Your Writing Shine

Good writing requires more than a great idea. Before any idea can be effectively communicated, basic grammar rules must be followed. Too often, great ideas are lost in a sea of misspellings and bad punctuation. How can any writer expect to be taken seriously if basic grammar is ignored?

Mastering good grammar can be daunting, however. The rules we are taught in school (as well as the exceptions to those rules) probably number in the hundreds. Few people can master all of them. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have narrowed down 10 simple rules that will easily improve your writing, with minimal effort on your part. Not everyone finds the joy in good grammar I do, but everyone can employ these basic techniques. I promise no lectures on dangling participles or misplaced prepositions. My goal is to communicate and repair some of the most common and simple mistakes I observe in everyday writing. And to be honest, some of these are just pet peeves of mine!

10 Common Grammatical Errors and How to Fix Them

1. Use spell check! Not everyone is a good speller, and even those who are sometimes make mistakes. I am constantly amazed by the misspellings I observe in published writings. Correct spelling is one of the most basic and easily remedied challenges writers face. Poor spelling implies a lack of care and attention. I automatically assume the writer is less authoritative when I see misspelled words. With spell check available at every turn, there is truly no excuse for misspellings.

2. The word "toward" never has an "s" at the end. Let's all move toward eradicating the use of "towards."

3. The proper use of there, their, and they're is still a challenge for many writers. A simple guideline is this:

• There: Refers to a physical or abstract place. Try replacing it with "here." If it still makes sense, you are probably using it correctly. Example: "I want to go there for dinner."
• Their: Shows possession, usually followed by a noun. Try replacing it with "our." If it still makes sense, you are probably using it correctly. Example: "I want to go to their house for dinner."
• They're: A contraction for "they are." If you can replace "they're" with "they are" and it still makes sense, you are using it correctly. Example: "They're the best musicians in the business."

4. "That" is probably one of the most overused words in the English language. More often than not, "that" can be removed from a sentence without affecting its meaning. Consider the following sentence: "I hope that you are happy at your new job." If you remove the word "that," the meaning doesn't change and the sentence becomes more concise. Multiply this by the dozens of time it is used unnecessarily, and it becomes apparent removing "that" can really tighten up your writing.

5. Speaking of "that," another common mistake is misusing "that" instead of "who." If you are talking about a person, you need to refer to him or her as "who," not "that." For example, I often see this: "I have a friend that is always late." Since you are referring to a person, the correct sentence would be: "I have a friend who is always late." Remember, "who" is for people, "that" is for things.

6. Run-on sentences are another common mistake. Typically, a sentence should have one idea or thought. A lot of writers put multiple thoughts in one sentence, making the sentence far too long. Two or more complete thoughts separated only by a comma is called a comma splice. Separate these thoughts using a period or a semi-colon. This will help the reader better understand what you're saying and make your writing more interesting. To this end, vary your sentence length as well. This tactic makes for better flow and easier reading.

7. I rarely see the word "literally" used correctly. Literally is a word that should imply accuracy but too often implies exaggeration. "There were literally hundreds of people at the show" would be correct. More often, writers exaggerate by saying, "There were literally millions of people at the show." Millions? Really?

8. Remembering to keep nouns and pronouns both singular or plural is something I have to work on all the time. It's not uncommon to see a writer refer to a singular person as "they" or "their." For example: "A writer should always proofread their work" shows a singular noun and a plural pronoun. A simple fix for this sentence could be: "A writer should always proofread his or her work," or "Writers should always proofread their work." In these two cases, the singular or plural noun matches the singular or plural pronoun.

9. The proper use of "Its" and "it's" is also challenging to many writers. A simple rule to remember is this: "It's" is only used as a contraction for "it is." Oftentimes, writers want to make the possessive form of "its" into "it's." This is incorrect. The only time you should use "it's" is as a contraction. If you can replace "it's" with the words "it is," then you are using it correctly.

10. Pay attention to your "voice." Each writer has his or her own writing style or "voice." Don't try to mimic or imitate someone else's voice. Write using your own style. Sometimes a person who reads a lot may find himself (usually unintentionally) trying to write like someone else, such as an admired author. This effort usually results in stilted, awkward writing. Work to develop your own style or voice. You will find it more natural and easy to write this way.

Writing with good grammar can be like a puzzle. All the pieces have to fit together properly to make your writing work. Try to remember the rules and suggestions above to help complete your puzzle. This list is definitely not comprehensive, but hopefully it includes some tips and hints to help make your writing shine.