Warning
Commas and Restrictive Elements Don’t Mix
When an appositive noun or noun phrase contains an essential element without which a sentence’s
meaning would materially alter, do not frame it with commas.
Incorrect - My friend, Bill, owes me fifty dollars.
Correct - My friend Bill owes me fifty dollars.
RUN-ON SENTENCES: RUN-ON SENTENCES ARE GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT.
There are two types of run-on sentences: fused sentences and comma splices.
1. A fused sentence occurs when independent clauses run together with no marks of punctuation or
coordinating conjunctions to separate them.
Fused sentence: My professor read my paper she said it was excellent.
2. A comma splice occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined only by a comma.
Comma splice: My cat meowed angrily, I knew she wanted food
Remember
Two independent clauses should be connected using semicolon or period and coordinating
conjunctions and cannot be connected by a comma.
Revise run-on sentences in one of four ways:
• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or, nor, for). When you join two
independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, place a comma before the
coordinating conjunction.
Run-on: My teacher read my paper, she said it was excellent.
Correction: My teacher read my paper, and she said it was excellent.
• Use a semicolon (or, in some cases, a colon or a dash). You can use a semicolon alone or
with a transitional expression (e.g., however, at any rate, in contrast, as a result, etc.).
Run-on: My cat meowed angrily, I knew she wanted food.
Correction: My cat meowed angrily; I knew she wanted food.
Correction with a transitional expression:
My cat meowed angrily; therefore, I knew she wanted food.
• Separate the independent clauses into sentences. This is a good technique when one of the
independent clauses is very long.
• Restructure the sentence by subordinating one of the clauses. You can subordinate a clause if one of the independent clauses seems less important than the other.
Run-on: I told my roommate I would be late, she still locked me out.
Correction: Although I told my roommate I would be late, she still locked me out.
COMMON ERRORS:
1. Illogical comparison
When you compare two things that can’t really be compared, then it’s a mistake.
• Incorrect: The people in my office are smarter than other offices.
• Correct: The people in my office are smarter than those of other offices.
• Incorrect: Synthetic oils burn more efficiently than organic oils.
• Correct: Synthetic oils burn more efficiently than organic oils do.
2. Spoonfuls of Spoonsful?
The correct plural forms of spoonful and handful are spoonfuls and handfuls respectively and not
spoonsful and handsful.
• Incorrect: I like spoonsful of sugar in my coffee.
• Correct: I like spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee.
3. Just More Appropriate
• Okay: Of the many decisions facing the energy commission as it meets to decide on
new directions for the new century, the question of the future of nuclear energy is for certain
the more perplexing.
• Appropriate: Of the many decisions facing the energy commission as it meets to decide on
new directions for the new century, the question of the future of nuclear energy is certainly
the most perplexing.
4. Ethics
‘Ethics’ is usually used as plural; ‘Ethic’ is the singular usage.
5. Use of ‘May’
‘May’ is usually appropriate to use for sentences asking for or granting permission.
• Correct: May I go out for a walk?
• Correct: Yes, you may.
6. Use of ‘Ought’
‘Ought’ is generally comfortable with words that concern themselves with what is right or correct, or
even, what should be.
• Correct: I think you ought to tell the major what you did.
7. Use of ‘Should’
The application of ‘should’ is a little ambiguous, but the word can be used mostly in the following 3
cases
• To express certainty.
Correct: You should definitely play the next part.
• To ask for permission from a person on the same level as you are.
Correct: Should I consult a faculty before I write this?
• To signify something that you’re expected to do.
Correct: I should take care of my habit no matter the consequences.
8. Each vs Every
Using either ‘each’ or ‘every’ means we are talking about a set of particular items belonging to a group.
Now, using ‘each’ emphasizes on each of these items as individuals, but using ‘every’ emphasizes on
the objects, but not in the same individualistic sense.
9. Devote to
• Incorrect: Schliemann determined at the age of seven to find the site of ancient Troy and
devoted his subsequent career to do it.
• Correct: Schliemann determined at the age of seven to find the site of ancient Troy and
devoted his subsequent career to finding it.
10. As much as vs Much as
As much as indicates equality whereas, much as indicates “though”.
• Correct: Much as I’d like to invite you, it isn’t in my best interest to do so.
• Incorrect: As much as I’d like to invite you, it isn’t in my best interest to do so.
• Correct: I’d like for Trump to win just as much as you do.
• Incorrect: I’d like for Trump to win much as you do.
11. Commonly misused words
Clichés means formulas (plural). Cliché means formula (singular).
12. Advice vs Advise
‘Advice’ is a noun and ‘Advise’ is a verb.
• Incorrect: I don’t know much about cricket, so don’t rely on my advise on this.
• Correct: I don’t know much about cricket, so don’t rely on my advice on this.
• Incorrect: I would rather that you let me advice you on this.
• Correct: I would rather that you let me advise you on this.
13. Less vs Few
We use ‘less’ when we associate the word with an uncountable noun; for countable nouns we use
‘few’.
• Incorrect: The company fired no less than 50 employees this week.
• Correct: The company hired no fewer than 50 employees this week.
14. Among vs Between
We use ‘between’ only when we need to choose from two options. For more than two options we use
‘among’.
• Incorrect: Among the two of my friends, I like Heimdall better.
• Correct: Between the two of my friends, I like Heimdall better.
15. Whether vs If
We use ‘whether’ only when two options are discussed and use ‘if’ when more than two options are
discussed.
• Incorrect: I am contemplating whether I should buy a laptop, a suit, or a PS4.
• Correct: I am contemplating if I should buy a laptop, a suit, or a PS4.
16. Compared to vs Compared with
When we show a comparison between unlike things, we use ‘compare to’. When a comparison is
between like things, we use ‘compared with’.
• Incorrect: He compared her with a summer’s day.
• Correct: He compared her to summer’s day.
• Incorrect: The police compared the forged signature to the original.
• Correct: The police compared the forged signature with the original.
17. Each
The traditional rule still holds true i.e. "the subject of a sentence beginning with each is grammatically
singular". But there is another rule, which says that when each follows a plural subject, the verb and
subsequent pronouns remain in the plural form.
• Incorrect: The apartments each has their own private entrances.
• Correct: The apartments each have their own private entrances.
18. That vs Which
‘That’ is used in restrictive clauses and ‘which’ is used in non-restrictive clauses.
19. Quick tip
• Incorrect: A Mercedes is more expensive than usual for a car.
• Correct: A Mercedes is more expensive than is usual for a car.
20. Who else but he/him?
• Incorrect: Whom were you expecting? Who else but he.
• Correct: Who were you expecting? Who else but him.
Simply because of the following reason; if the question is ‘Who was coming?’ ‘He was coming’ would
be the answer. Not ‘him was coming’. Your husband doesn't believe that you are older than (me, I)
The correct option would be ‘I’. Your husband doesn’t believe that you are older than I (am).
21. That vs Because
‘That’ is a conjunction of consequence while ‘Because’ is a conjunction of reason. That is why when
you say, “The reason I did this is because it benefited me.”, the sentence is ungrammatical. This is
also a redundancy error or sorts. The correct sentence would be, “The reason I did this is that it
benefited me.”
22. Quick tips
1. Incorrect: Students give the exam.
Correct: Students take the exam.
2. Incorrect: Teachers take the exam.
Correct: Teachers give the exam.
3. Incorrect: I am going to become bald.
Correct: I am going to go bald.
4. Incorrect: I am in no way associated to this person.
Correct: I am in no way associated with this person.
23. Universal truth
A universal truth always takes a verb in the present tense.
• Incorrect: Galileo said that the Earth revolved around the sun.
• Correct: Galileo said that the Earth revolves around the sun.
24. Not __ but__ vs Rather than
“Not __ but __” represents actual fact and “rather than” represents preference.
• Incorrect: Pucci is a dog rather than a cat.
• Correct: Pucci is not a dog but a cat. (Represents actual fact)
• Correct: I want a dog rather than a cat. (Represents preference)
25. Childish vs Childlike
‘Childish’ implies silly behavior while ‘childlike’ implies innocence.
• Incorrect: I don’t like his childlike behavior.
• Correct: I don’t like his childish behavior.
26. Double possessiveness
Sentences in which double possessiveness has been used, sometimes appear to be grammatically
incorrect. But it is important that you know that the usage of double possessiveness is widely
accepted.
• Correct: He is a friend of my uncle’s.
27. Due to
Due to can be used only as a replacement of caused by and certainly not because.
• Incorrect: The game was postponed due to rain.
• Correct: The game was postponed because of rain.
• Correct: The game’s postponement was due to (caused by) rain.
28. So as
‘So’ and ‘as’ cannot be used together.
• Incorrect: He exercises every day so as to build his stamina.
• Correct: He exercises every day in an effort to build his stamina.
29. Like vs As
‘Like’ is used to compare people/noun/things. Whereas, ‘as’ is used to compare clauses.
Incorrect: Romeo and Juliet, as Humpty Dumpty, were extremely stupid.
• Correct: Romeo and Juliet, like Humpty Dumpty, were extremely stupid.
• Incorrect: Just like jogging is a great exercise, swimming is a great one too.
• Correct: Just as jogging is a great exercise, swimming is a great one too.
30. Each other vs One another
When there are two people involved, we use ‘each other’. When there are more than two people
involved, we use ‘one another’
• Incorrect: Ross and Rachel loved on another.
• Correct: Ross and Rachel loved each other.
• Incorrect: The three brothers do not like each other at all.
• Correct: The three brothers do not like one another at all.
31. ‘As long as’ vs ‘So long as’
‘As long as’ deals with physical comparisons such as time, length, etc. ‘So long as’ deals with
conditions.
• Incorrect: As long as you maintain you cool; your relationship should be fine.
• Correct: So long as you maintain you cool; your relationship should be fine.
• Correct: The baseball bat was as long as the club.
32. Will vs Would
‘Will’ is used to express future/certainty. ‘Would’ is used for wish/possibility.
• Incorrect: I would definitely vouch for you in the future if you do me a favor now.
• Correct: I will definitely vouch for you in the future if you do me a favor now.
33. Conditionals
If a sentence begins with a conditional clause, then the next/ending clause has to be a certainty. If
the second/last/ending clause is anything but a certainty, there is a redundancy error in the sentence.
• Incorrect: If the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, water can freeze.
• Correct: If the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, water will freeze.
34. Concerned for vs Concerned with
‘Concerned for’ means worried/anxious. ‘Concerned with means’ involved with.
• Incorrect: He is concerned for the election committee.
• Correct: He is concerned with the election committee.
35. Sentence Fragments
Every sentence must contain at least one complete independent clause. If there is no independent
clause at all, or if what’s supposed to be the independent clause is incomplete, you’ve got a sentence
fragment.
• Incorrect: While many people, who have worked hard for many years, have not managed to
save any money, although they are trying to be more frugal now.
• Correct: Most people, who have worked hard for many years, have not managed to save any
money, although they are trying to be more frugal now.
36. Quick tips
1. Incorrect: The greatest change in my life was when I immigrated to the US.
Correct: The greatest change in my life occurred when I immigrated to the US.
2. Incorrect: This pen is a bargain because it is only ten cents.
Correct: This pen is a bargain because it costs only ten cents.
37. May vs Might
‘May’ has a more concrete meaning, so this word is commonly used in statements about facts. ‘Might’
is a little less tangible and tends to be used in expressions of things that don’t yet exist.
• Correct: I might take your advice if the circumstances force me to.
• Correct: I may take your advice if the situation demands it.
38. Quick tips
1. Credit with – To give or assign responsibility.
• Correct: Thomas Edison is credited with the invention of the light bulb.
Credit to – To give money.
• Correct: The bank credited $1 million to my father’s account.
Credit for – Money received in exchange of something.
• Correct: The customer received a $20 credit for the massive interruption.
2. ‘Data’ is the plural form of ‘Datum’. ‘Crises’ is the plural form of ‘Crisis’.
Incorrect: All the data from the hard drive was lost.
Correct: All the data from the hard drive were lost.
3. Incorrect: Hopefully, the crisis ends.
Correct: I hope that the crisis ends.
4. Incorrect: During two hours, I felt sleepy.
Correct: During the last two hours, I have felt sleepy.
5. Incorrect: Both of them did not go to school.
Correct: Neither of them went to school.
6. Incorrect: Josh has not come also.
Correct: Josh has not come either.
39. Negative sentences and conjunctions
If a negative word is used in a sentence, the conjunction should be ‘or’ and not ‘and’.
• Incorrect: He did not speak loudly and clearly.
• Correct: He did not speak loudly or clearly.
40. Quick tips
Incorrect: To cut one’s hair.
Correct: Have one’s haircut.
Incorrect: Today morning, today afternoon, this night, yesterday afternoon.
Correct: This morning, This afternoon, tonight, last afternoon.
Incorrect: Search a lost thing.
Correct: Search for a lost thing.
Incorrect: Wish a thing.
Correct: Wish for a thing.
Incorrect: Dispose a thing.
Correct: Dispose of a thing.
41. Comprised of
‘Comprise of’ can only be used in passive sentences.
• Incorrect: The team then, comprised of 20 members.
• Correct: The team then, comprised 20 members.
42. Quick tip
• Incorrect: Mobile subscribers base has recorded a rapid growth last year.
• Correct: Mobile subscriber base has recorded a rapid growth last year.
43. Murder vs Assassinate
‘Murder’ is to kill a person. ‘Assassinate’ is to kill a person for money or political reasons.
• Incorrect: He was paid a million dollars to murder the president.
• Correct: He was paid a million dollars to assassinate the president.
44. Salary vs Wage
‘Salary’ is a fixed sum of money that you earn every month. ‘Wage’ is a sum of money that you earn
per hour.
• Incorrect: He has a wage of BDT 80,000 per month.
• Correct: He has a salary of BDT 80,000 per month.
45. Injury vs Wound
‘Injury’ is damage to the body. ‘Wound’ is damage to the body as a result of clash/conflict.
• Incorrect: He was wounded in the car crash.
• Correct: He was injured in the car crash.
46. Ambiguity
• Incorrect: They serve meals on many of the buses that run from Santiago to Antofagasta.
• Correct: Meals are served on many of the buses that run from Santiago to Antofagasta.
47. One and You
When we give advice to others or make general statements, we often use the pronouns one and you.
If you use ‘you’ to refer to someone at the beginning of a sentence, later on in the sentence you have
to use ‘you’ to refer to the same person again. Bur, if you use ‘one’ to refer to someone at the beginning
of a sentence, later on in the sentence you can use one/ he/ she to refer to that person again.
• Incorrect: One shouldn’t eat a high-fat diet and avoid exercise, and then be surprised when
you gain weight.
• Correct: One shouldn’t eat a high-fat diet and avoid exercise, and then be surprised when
one gains weight.
• Correct: You shouldn’t eat a high-fat diet and avoid exercise, and then be surprised when
you gain weight.
48. Active / Passive
Don’t put one clause of a sentence in the active voice and one in the passive if there’s any way to avoid
it.
• Incorrect: Richard Strauss wrote Salome, and then Elektra was composed by him.
• Correct: Richard Strauss wrote Salome, and then composed Elektra.
49. Wordiness
It is inappropriate to use more words in forming a sentence than is necessary.
• Incorrect: The supply of musical instruments that are antique is limited, so they become
more valuable each year.
• Correct: The supply of antique musical instruments is limited, so they become more valuable
each year.
50. Quick tips
• Incorrect: Easy said than done.
• Correct: Easier said than done.
• Incorrect: I was not convinced in the argument that he had made.
• Correct: I was not convinced of the argument that he had made.
• Incorrect: Show one’s true color.
• Correct: Show one’s true colors.
• Incorrect: Can be rest assured
• Correct: Can rest assured.
51. Agree to vs Agree with
Agree to a proposal but agree with a person. That is, agree to is used with inanimate things and agree
with is used with animate ones.
• Incorrect: I agree with the proposition that the airline manager has made.
• Correct: I agree to the proposition that the airline manager has made.
52. Usual vs Is usual
When something is compared to a subgroup to which it belongs, is usual should be used. When
something is compared to itself, usual is fine.
• Incorrect: A Lamborghini is more expensive than usual for a car.
• Correct: A Lamborghini is more expensive than is usual for a car.
53. Who vs Whom
‘Who’ is used in place of ‘whom’ when it is immediately preceded by a verb.
• Incorrect: He is the person whom drove the dogs out of the barn.
• Correct: He is the person who drove the dogs out of the barn.
54. Equal vs Equivalent
They have similar, but not identical meanings. Equal means the same thing, but equivalent means that one can frequently be substituted for the other.
‘Equal’ should be used only in its strict sense. Whereas, we use ‘equivalent’ in cases where two things
are not entirely identical, but almost equal.
• Incorrect: 4+3 is equivalent to 5+2.
• Correct: 4+3 is equal to 5+2.
• Incorrect: Studying advanced physics is equal to banging your head against the wall.
• Correct: Studying advanced physics is the equivalent of banging your head against the wall.