5 Common Mistakes in English Writing and How to Fix Them Fast

Even if you’ve been writing in English for years, small errors can slip through and make your message less clear. Whether you’re drafting an email, a blog post, or a work report, the line between good writing and great writing often comes down to a few common missteps. The good news? Most of these common English writing mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

In this post, we’ll walk through five frequent errors that trip up both native and non-native speakers. You’ll get clear explanations, real examples, and quick fixes you can apply right away. By the end, you’ll have a simple checklist to polish your writing and sound more confident on the page.

1. Misplacing Apostrophes (Especially “Its” vs. “It’s”)

Apostrophe mistakes are everywhere—even in professional writing. The most common culprit is confusing its and it’s. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” “Its” shows possession, like “the dog wagged its tail.”

Here’s a quick rule: if you can say “it is” or “it has,” use an apostrophe. If not, leave it out. For example:

• Wrong: The company lost it’s biggest client.
• Right: The company lost its biggest client.
• Wrong: Its going to rain today.
• Right: It’s going to rain today.

Another common apostrophe error happens with plural possessives. If a word is plural and ends in “s,” the apostrophe goes after the “s.” For instance, “the managers’ meeting” (multiple managers) versus “the manager’s meeting” (one manager).

Quick Fix for Apostrophes

Before you hit send, search your text for every “its” and “it’s.” Read each one aloud, replacing it with “it is.” If the sentence makes no sense, drop the apostrophe. This simple scan catches 90 percent of these common English writing mistakes in seconds.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like “team,” “committee,” or “audience” can be tricky. In American English, these words are usually singular. So you’d say “the team is winning,” not “the team are winning.” In British English, you might hear the plural form, but for most professional writing, stick with singular verbs.

Another frequent error happens when a subject is separated from its verb by a long phrase. For example:

• Wrong: A set of guidelines were published.
• Right: A set of guidelines was published.

The subject is “set” (singular), not “guidelines.” Ignore the words between the subject and verb when checking agreement.

Quick Fix for Subject-Verb Agreement

Identify the main noun before the verb. Ask yourself: is this truly plural or singular? If you’re unsure, replace the collective noun with “it” or “they” to hear which verb fits.

3. Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices

Run-on sentences happen when two independent clauses are jammed together without proper punctuation. A comma splice is a specific type of run-on where a comma is used instead of a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

Example of a comma splice:

• Wrong: I finished the report, I sent it to my boss.
• Right: I finished the report, and I sent it to my boss.
• Right: I finished the report. I sent it to my boss.
• Right: I finished the report; I sent it to my boss.

These errors make your writing feel rushed and confusing. They’re one of the most overlooked common English writing mistakes, especially in fast typing.

Quick Fix for Run-On Sentences

Read your sentence aloud. If you naturally pause in the middle, check whether you have two complete thoughts. If yes, add a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so).

4. Confusing “Affect” and “Effect”

This pair trips up even experienced writers. The general rule: affect is a verb meaning to influence, and effect is a noun meaning a result. For example:

• Affect (verb): The weather will affect our travel plans.
• Effect (noun): The new policy had a positive effect on productivity.

There are rare exceptions (effect as a verb meaning “to bring about,” and affect as a noun in psychology), but 95 percent of the time, this simple verb-noun split works.

Quick Fix for Affect vs. Effect

Replace the word with “influence” (verb) or “result” (noun). If “influence” fits, use affect. If “result” fits, use effect. This trick eliminates guesswork.

5. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier is a word or phrase that describes something in your sentence. When it’s placed too far from the thing it describes, the meaning gets fuzzy—or funny.

Example of a dangling modifier:

• Wrong: Walking to the store, the rain started pouring.
• Right: Walking to the store, I felt the rain start pouring.

In the wrong version, it sounds like the rain is walking. The fix is simple: make sure the subject doing the action comes right after the modifying phrase.

Quick Fix for Modifiers

After you write a sentence starting with an “-ing” phrase, check who or what is performing that action. If it’s not the first noun after the comma, rewrite the sentence.

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” — Mark Twain

Bonus: A Handy Table of Common Fixes

Mistake	Example (Wrong)	Correction (Right)
Apostrophe mix-up	The dog wagged it’s tail.	The dog wagged its tail.
Subject-verb error	The list of items are on the desk.	The list of items is on the desk.
Comma splice	I love coffee, it wakes me up.	I love coffee. It wakes me up.
Affect vs. Effect	The change had a positive affect.	The change had a positive effect.
Dangling modifier	Running late, the bus left.	Running late, I missed the bus.

Putting It All Together

You don’t need to memorize every grammar rule to write well. The key is to focus on the most common English writing mistakes and build a few simple habits. Read your work aloud, check your apostrophes, and double-check subject-verb agreement before you publish or send.

These fixes are fast. They don’t require a grammar degree. And they’ll immediately make your writing clearer, more professional, and easier to read. Start with just one or two from this list, and you’ll notice a difference in your next email or blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I keep making the same grammar mistakes?

Most grammar errors are habits, not a lack of knowledge. You probably know the rule but type too fast to apply it. Try slowing down during editing mode. Use a checklist of your top three errors and scan for them specifically.

Are these mistakes acceptable in casual writing?

In texts or social media comments, some errors are fine. But in professional emails, blog posts, or reports, even one mistake can undermine your credibility. Aim for correct writing in any context where clarity matters.

How can I practice fixing these errors daily?

Set aside five minutes to edit a paragraph you’ve already written. Focus on one type of mistake per day—apostrophes on Monday, subject-verb agreement on Tuesday, and so on. Over time, the corrections will become automatic.