Common Mistakes to Avoid in Writing

This section explains the common mistakes to avoid when writing. When writing for school or any formal context, it’s important to be clear, precise, and use the appropriate tone. Avoid writing in a casual or conversational style that you might use when speaking to friends. Here are some common mistakes people make and how to fix them.

"They was" vs. "They were"

One of the most common mistakes is using "was" when the subject is plural. The correct form is "were."

Common mistake:

•             They was good friends.

Put it right:

•             They were good friends.

Explanation:

In English, "was" is used with singular subjects (e.g. I was, he was, she was), while "were" is used with plural subjects (e.g. we were, they were).

"Should of" vs. "Should have"

Another common mistake is using "of" instead of "have" after modal verbs like "should", "could", "would", or "might."

Common mistake:

•             Should of/could of/would of/might of

Put it right:

•             Should have/could have/would have/might have

Explanation:

The phrase "should of" is incorrect because it confuses the sound of "should have" with the word "of". The correct form is always "should have", "could have", and so on.

Example:

•             I should have studied more for the exam.

•             She might have gone to the shop if she had more time.

"Gonna" and "Woulda" vs. "Going to" and "Would've"

Words like "gonna", "woulda", and "coulda" are informal, slang-like expressions. In formal writing, you should replace these with their full forms: "going to", "would have", and "could have".

Common mistake:

•             Gonna/woulda/coulda

Put it right:

•             Going to/would've/could've

Explanation:

While these informal contractions are commonly used in speech, they are inappropriate for written work, particularly in formal essays, reports, or examinations.

Example:

•             I’m going to the cinema later. (instead of I’m gonna go to the cinema later)

•             He would’ve enjoyed the concert if he hadn’t been so busy. (instead of He woulda enjoyed the concert)

Quotation Marks for Direct Speech

Another common mistake is writing direct speech without using proper punctuation and quotation marks.

Common mistake:

•             And I said to him no way José!

Put it right:

•             I said to him, “No way, José!”

Explanation:

When writing direct speech, it is essential to use quotation marks around the words that are being spoken. Also, a comma should separate the reporting clause from the speech itself, and punctuation (such as exclamation marks or question marks) should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Overuse of Informal Language and Contractions

In casual speech, we often use contractions and informal phrases that are not appropriate in formal writing. It’s important to avoid these in your written work and stick to more formal language.

Common mistake:

•             I knew it were gonna be sunny that day. The clouds might of been on holiday themselves as it was so hot. And the beach is so crowded. So I buy alot of ice cream and sit down on the pebbles.

Put it right:

•             I knew it was going to be sunny that day. The clouds might have been on holiday themselves, as it was so hot. The beach was very crowded. I bought a lot of ice cream and sat down on the pebbles.

Explanation:

•             "Gonna" is informal; replace it with "going to".

•             "Might of" is incorrect; it should be "might have".

•             "And" at the start of a sentence can often be avoided in formal writing.

•             "A lot" should be written as two separate words, not "alot".

Key Points to Remember:

•             Be mindful of your tone and word choices.

•             Always use proper grammar and punctuation.

•             Use formal language and avoid slang in academic writing.

Question: How does the text need to change in this example to make the grammar and spelling appropriate for a written piece?

Original text:

•             We was having a great time at the park. We didnt think we would get such good weather. So we decided to stay longer and we ate alot of ice cream. It was a brilliant day.

Corrected version:

•             We were having a great time at the park. We didn’t think we would get such good weather, so we decided to stay longer and ate a lot of ice cream. It was a brilliant day.

Explanation:

•             "We was" should be changed to "We were".

•             "Didnt" needs an apostrophe: "didn't".

•             "Would get" is fine, but watch out for contractions in formal writing.

•             "A lot" should be written as two separate words.

•             Remove unnecessary repetition of "we" to improve sentence flow.

By paying attention to these common mistakes and making the necessary corrections, your writing will become clearer and more formal, making it more appropriate for academic or professional contexts. Always proofread your work before submitting it to ensure accuracy.