10 Common Writing Mistakes (Grammar – ESL/EFL)

I enjoy my job. I like the people I work with. (two sentences)

I enjoy my job, and I like the people I work with. (combined with a conjunction)

This is a run-on sentence. Both of the clauses “I enjoy my job” and “I like the people I work with” are independent clauses (IC) because they are complete thoughts. You cannot combine two independent clauses (IC + IC) with only a comma. Instead, you should put a period between them or use a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS — for, and, nor, buy, or, yet, so). See our lesson here this punctuation problem.

The second clause is a fragment. “Because it has work opportunities” is not a complete idea (it's not an independent sentence). The word because is a subordinating conjunction. This means it begins a dependent (subordinate) clause that needs to connect with a main (independent) clause.

When the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence, you don't need a comma before it starts.

This is a popular city because it has work opportunities. (no comma)

[ main clause ]                                    [ dependent clause ]

When the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, you need a comma at its end.

Because it has work opportunities, this is a popular city. (comma used)

[dependent clause]                            [main clause ]

This is a Subject-Verb-Agreement (SVA) error. The subject Everyone doesn't agree (match) the verb. Everyone is a singular subject (like he/she/it), so it agrees with the verb has. (Hint: Every is always followed by a singular noun; everyone means every one person in a group.)

Everyone has problems sometimes.

Here are some other SVA errors:

• People lives live longer nowadays.
• No one know knows the answer.
• Italy have has delicious food. 

See our lesson on subject-verb-agreement here

This is a sentence without a subject. When you begin a sentence with a preposition (In/At/From etc), you are creating a prepositional phrase that is not the subject of the sentence. After a preposition phrase that begins a sentence, you should add a comma, and then a subject.

In Brazil, beaches are beautiful. (new subject)

Other examples:

• At the end of the day, we went home.
• From the first time I met her, I knew I liked her.

The above sentence can be easily corrected by removing the preposition.

Brazil has beautiful beaches. (No preposition)

This sentence is not parallel. You have “I am + adjective, noun, adjective.” This is not good balance. Instead, use adjective + adjective + adjective

I am motivated, hard-working, and professional. 

Again, this is not parallel. It is not a mistake, but it is bad writing style. The sentence has My city has + noun, noun, a full clause. Instead, try to stay balanced. Use noun + noun + noun:

My city has many restaurants, festivals, and beaches to enjoy.

Another example:

I was responsible for assisting customers, management managing staff, and hiring new workers. (verb + verb + verb all in same form)

Happiness and life are abstract nouns. Abstract nouns are not countable. They are often ideas. Examples: freedom, love, honesty, peace, surprise, disgust, wealth, poverty, truth

The definite article the is not used with abstract nouns when writing generally.

• The happiness is important in the life. (general)
• My father taught me the meaning of the love. (general)
• It felt like the magic. (general)

We can use the definite article `the' before abstract nouns if they are used to describe something specific.

• The peace between North and South Korea is at risk.
• The love between a parent and his child is a beautiful thing.
• He felt like the magic you feel when you fall in love.

For more help with articles (a/an/the), see our detailed explanation.

it's = it is (a contraction). Here, you need a possessive adjective, so you should use its.

That organization should change its name. (possessive)

Another example:

• It's good that the company changed the design of its website. (subject + verb, possessive adjective)

This is texting, not writing. When we write, we always capitalize “I” and write words in their full form.

I think that's wrong because it doesn't make sense. 

If a preposition (to/of/in/at/by) is followed by a verb, then the verb should be in ~ing form.

• I look forward to hearing back from you.
• I'm afraid of speaking in front of my father.
• We are interested in going there.

The phrase according to should be used with a third party (e.g. a magazine, book, website, or person other than yourself). We don't use `According to me'. Instead, use In my opinion or a similar phrase. See our lesson here.

In my opinion, the movie was good.