5 Common Sentence Errors in English Grammar You Should Avoid

Language is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate our ideas, share our stories, and connect with others on a profound level. When we communicate, we are sometimes unaware of the grammatical errors we commit.

There are various errors in English grammar that we cannot notice when we interact with others. So long as we convey our message comprehensibly, we do not realize that we have committed flaws in our language, particularly in our sentence construction.

In speaking and listening, we cannot easily recognize errors in our sentences; but in reading and writing, we can point out specific sentence errors in English grammar by simply looking at the text.

The Importance of a Correct Sentence Structure

Proper grammar and sentence construction are vital for effective communication. When we make errors in our sentences, it can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Correct sentence structure is of the utmost importance in ensuring effective communication, professionalism, and clarity of thought. Whether you are writing an email, a blog post, or a report for work, using proper grammar and sentence construction can greatly enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your message.

Are you struggling with sentence errors in English grammar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many individuals find it challenging to navigate the complexities of English grammar, which can lead to frequent mistakes.

Have you just realized this as you read through the first two paragraphs?

If yes, then continue reading as we will shed light together on the five common sentence errors in English grammar that many people wish they knew to avoid.

Common Sentence Errors in English Grammar

■ Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures accordance in our sentences. This is a very common and most prevalent sentence error in English grammar. This happens when the subject and the verb do not match or agree with each other.

A sentence requires the subject (the doer of the action) and the verb (the action itself) to agree in number (singular or plural).

Here are some examples:

The examples of sentence errors for Subject-Verb Agreement provided are just a few of the many SVA errors in sentences. Mastering subject-verb agreement prevents awkward and confusing sentences, allowing your writing to flow smoothly and coherently.

■ Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are incorrectly joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

Here are some examples:

❎ Maria was invited to the conference she will make a speech.
✅ Maria was invited to the conference. She will make a speech.
✅ Maria was invited to the conference, and she will make a speech.

Note that the first sentence error is not right because there are two independent clauses that need to be separated to make the sentence meaningful. It must be written correctly with punctuation or a conjunction.

■ Sentence Fragments

This sentence error in English grammar makes the sentence incorrect because it is incomplete. Sentence fragments are incomplete thoughts masquerading as sentences. They lack either a subject or a verb or fail to convey a complete idea. When detected, they must be restructured to form coherent sentences like the examples below:

❎ The private ceremony. Presumed to be the best wedding ever.
✅ The private ceremony is presumed to be the best wedding ever.

❎ During the summer vacation. Swimming in the sea.
✅ During her summer vacation, she enjoyed swimming in the sea.

■ Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers

Modifiers add descriptive details to a sentence, providing clarity and depth. Misplacing them or leaving them dangling can lead to confusion or unintended meanings.

Misplaced modifiers occur when a word, phrase, or clause is positioned in a way that creates confusion about what it is modifying. Dangling modifiers, on the other hand, happen when the word or phrase that the modifier is intended to modify is missing from the sentence altogether. Consider the following examples:

To fix this sentence error in English grammar, analyze the meaning of the sentence to check if the sentence has a misplaced or dangling modifier.

■ Parallelism

Many of us are not aware that some contents in our sentences are not of the same or equal structure. Parallelism is the repetition of words or phrases in sentences to make them balanced, coherent, and consistent. Look at the examples below:

You have just learned the 5 common sentence errors in English grammar. This time, you are surely ready to practice your writing skills by answering our sample exercise below. Just click the Practice Exercise button and let’s see how much you have progressed.

By familiarizing yourself with these five common sentence errors, you can equip yourself with the tools to elevate your communication. At the same time, by diligently applying these grammar rules, you can effectively convey your ideas, captivate your audience, and confidently navigate the complexities of the English language.