grammar errors | Robot Don

In the age of digitalization and communicating through abbreviated messages, sound knowledge of punctuation is almost a superpower. Start from learning when to use a comma, the most frequently used mark. Rules can be tricky, and some exceptions can be difficult to remember. To make it all easier, you can come up with associations or notable examples from the best essay writing checker RobotDon. We decided to be the ones who help you with this.

What is a comma and why do we use it?

Let’s start from the basics. A comma is a punctuation mark that looks like a hook, which is used in writing to separate words, phrases, and clauses within a sentence. Its purpose is to designate intonation on paper. Comma punctuation helps to specify and deliver the meaning of a written message.

Why writers use these punctuation marks? Proper comma usage shapes a text, makes it clear, better structured, emotional. Sometimes writers break common rules and use punctuation in their own way, mostly in order to emphasize a particular part, to slow down or speed up particular events, to express tension, etc. Thus, it becomes another tool of expression.

When to use a comma in a sentence: 13 simple rules

#1. Use it to indicate a short pause in a sentence. Its placement is required between all objects/creatures mentioned in the sentence. It also divides parts of a sentence that deliver different messages.

Incorrect: Between a movie and a book I’ll choose a book.

Correct: Between a movie and a book, I’ll choose a book.

Tip: Read aloud what you’ve written to check whether there is a pause. Then read it closely again to make sure it looks logical.

#2. Use it after words however, therefore, moreover, furthermore. These and other introductory words should always be separated from the rest of the sentence, just like appositives that stand at the beginning.

Incorrect: Moreover you get the 7-day trial period.

Correct: Moreover, you get the 7-day trial period.

Tip: Always separate linking words from the rest of the sentence.

#3. Don’t put commas between two nouns in compound subjects or predicates, unless one of them is parenthetical. If words form a compound subject, they don’t come as listings. Even if one part is a long verb phrase, it shouldn’t be separated.

Incorrect: I bought a pair of jeans and a green jacket.

Correct: I bought a pair of jeans and a green jacket.

Tip: Check if these words have the same weight. If yes, they shouldn’t be separated.

#4. Use commas between multiple adjectives. Adjectives that relate to the same noun or modify the same object. However, there are nuances regarding when to put a comma between multiple adjectives. According to the Oxford Style Manual approach to grammar, adjectives are categorized as classifying and qualitative. Commas are required only between adjectives of the same category.

Incorrect: 1) He entered the room with bright colorful wallpapers. 2) It was a new, red car.

Correct: 1) He entered the room with bright, colorful wallpapers. 2) It was a new red car.

Tip: Use commas between adjectives that characterize common aspects or classes: color, feeling, material, etc., describe a feature from the same perspective.

#5. Divide two independent clauses with commas, if you want to join them in one sentence. There are dependent clauses that cannot stand on their own, even in case they contain subject and predicate. If these clauses start a sentence, they are separated.

Incorrect: It was a rainy evening we stayed at home.

Correct: It was a rainy evening, we stayed at home.

Tip: Check if both clauses make sense separately. If yes, put a comma there.

#6. Use commas within a comparison. Place it before “compared to,” “like how,” “just as,” and similar link phrases require this punctuation mark before them. Don’t use it before “than” in comparisons.

Incorrect: It was an easy task compared to our previous essay.

Correct: It was an easy task, compared to our previous essay.

Tip: Read what you’ve written to check if you make a pause before the conjunction. You don’t stop only before “than.”

#7. Separate a question from a statement by placing a comma between them. A question tag is featured not only in tail questions. Some words and phrases at the end of the statement turn it into question and encourage readers to answer.

Incorrect: You like this English movie right?

Correct: You like this English movie, right?

Tip: Commas mark the end of the statement instead of a dot.

#8. Highlight additional or non-essential information about a noun. It can be an explanation or specification of information, an offset negation, a shift that occurs in the sentence or thought process, a parenthetical element, etc. All these things are separated from the rest of the sentence according to comma rules.

Incorrect: My pets, especially chinchillas require a lot of care.

Correct: My pets, especially chinchillas, require a lot of care.

Tip: Everything that can be left out without changing the meaning is marked by commas from both sides.

#9. Put a comma to introduce or interrupt direct quotations that are shorter than three lines. This mark is always used when attributing short quotes, though its place depends on quote type. The comma goes outside quotation marks when attribution precedes the quote and goes inside quotation marks if it follows the quote.

Incorrect: He said “This is where we’ll go.” / “This is where we’ll go” he said.

Correct: He said, “This is where we’ll go.” / “This is where we’ll go,” he said.

Tip: Check if it looks nice and neat.

#10. Add this punctuation mark in direct addresses and dates. It separates each element in an address (street, city, state, zip code) and full date (weekday, month and day, year). Using commas is necessary after city-state combination and any date combination within a sentence.

Incorrect: 1) Deliver the package to 48 Madison Street New York NY. 2) It happened on sunny Tuesday May 25 2008.

Correct: 1) Deliver the package to 48 Madison Street, New York, NY. 2) It happened on sunny Tuesday, May 25, 2008.

Tip: Each part is a separate piece of information, micro-message that has its boundaries.

#11. Always place a comma before “but” in independent clauses. However, if “but” connects an independent clause with a dependent one, it is not necessary.

Incorrect: He was running fast but the bus left two minutes before the scheduled time.

Correct: He was running fast, but the bus left two minutes before the scheduled time.

Tip: If both parts make sense separately, divide them with a proper mark.

#12. Put a comma before “and” in case it links two independent clauses. Remember that two clauses of a compound sentence are always divided, no matter whether conjunctions are used or not.

Incorrect: It is my new apartment and I like it a lot.

Correct: It is my new apartment, and I like it a lot.

Tip: If both clauses sense separately, put a comma between them.

#13. Don’t forget about Oxford comma. It is used in listings before “and” that adds the last component in a sequence.

Incorrect: Clothes, toys, books and candy wrappers were scattered all over the room.

Correct: Clothes, toys, books, and candy wrappers were scattered all over the room.

Tip: Just divide all items on the list.

The most common comma mistakes in students’ essays

School, college, and university students tend to make similar errors in their essays. Punctuation is tricky sometimes. If you don’t know how to use commas in some specific cases and try to check a sentence using one of those you’ve learned, it is easy to make grammar mistakes or try our comma checker tool. We picked the rules for the most common cases observed in students essays.

Don’t put a comma before “because,” except the cases when a clause that contains it contradicts an explained clause.
Comma before “please” is required only in case it starts a dependent clause. Don’t use it after “please,” unless you want to express irritation.
When two or more separate adjectives appear before a noun, commas are appropriate in case they coordinate with one another.
If you can change the order of adjectives or place “and” between them without changing the sense, no need to put a comma there.
The sets of correlative conjunctions (either … or, neither … nor, both … and, not only … but, etc.) are not separated by commas.
A comma before “too” is needed in case it stands in the middle of the sentence; before “such as” is required in case it is a part of nonrestrictive clause (can be taken out without changing the meaning).

Speaking English fluently isn’t the same as knowing perfect grammar. Even if you are a native speaker, you can make grammatical errors!

Grammar is the key to master any language. But there are some errors that can turn your life upside down. We all learn grammar as children, but we do not really focus on it. If you have practicing language at the university level, that is when the actual grammar will kick in, and you will be like “We never learned such things.”

English grammar can be really tricky, especially for students. Even when you think you know all the rules perfectly, you don`t stop asking yourself whether I`m using the right “that” or “which” and where to put a comma. Now you are in safe! These quick and helpful rules are easy to remember. 5 simple and understandable examples will lead you through the most common grammatical errors.

grammar mistakes

Why Grammar is Important

Grammar is generally the first thing to be tested, and the content comes second in any writing. This becomes, especially difficult for those people who love to write and would love to make a career as an online writer, author, a reporter, or anywhere in the academic writing field. Whenever you are doing assignments, you must have seen rules like “no plagiarism” and “no grammatical errors have to be tolerated.”

All your papers are actually tested using sophisticated software where errors can show up. This could lower the mark for students when they actually worked really hard for the project. This does not mean that you are inefficient. Languages are always like this, always full of exceptions and irregularities. Most of the time, you do not know where the mistake is. Therefore, we have got the most common grammar mistakes.

The Most Popular Mistakes to Avoid in the Future

The below mistakes have been found based on internet research. They have been agreed upon by English language majors. As per famous English language enthusiasts, grammar mistakes show that you do not respect the reader and that you are lazy. Additionally, a minor grammatical mistake can change the meaning totally. Now, let us countdown the worst mistakes which are also the most common errors in the English language:

1. Incorrect verb according to the subject

The subject of the sentence (the main person or thing that is doing the actual work) must be appropriately agreed with the verb. Mostly, there are problems with has, have or was, were. Then there are some subjects which always require the verb in either singular or plural form. For example:

Incorrect: There were a few people who have bicycles.

There is plural in the subject, therefore, the verb must also be the same (have for plural and has for singular):

Correct: There are few people who have bicycles.

2. Misplaced comma

This is one grammatical error which people with Ph.D. might also make. Proper comma usage has never been given so much prominence, but in reality, it does affect the sentence deeply. Also, as kids, we learned punctuations and always try to prevent yourself from punctuation errors, but this one seemed to be the easiest one. You need to put the comma afterwords also like, therefore, and additionally. Sometimes, people make up a big sentence and put commas in between. This makes the sentence hard to understand. Be careful of this guy! Example:

Incorrect: He, on the other hand, didn’t even go to meet her.

There should be a comma before “on” and after “hand”:

Correct: He, on the other hand, didn’t even go to meet her.

Another example:

Incorrect: He said that he would come to the restaurant, later on, he just canceled by saying that he was busy and finally I understood that he did not want to meet me.

You can see that this sentence is too long and difficult to understand. Plus, there should be a comma after “on.”

3. The/a or no article

This is the mistake, people may commit often. You need to remember some basic rules about countable nouns that require either “the” or “a” and uncountable nouns where plural things do not require any articles. Also, the usage of “a” and “the” depends on whether it is your first time when you mention the object or second, and many other factors. Example:

Incorrect: Could you give me paper?
Correct: Could you give me a paper?

4. Between and among

“Among” should be used when you have a choice from several things and “between” when you must choose between 2 things. Example:

Incorrect: I found it difficult to choose between many styles of dresses.
Correct: I found it difficult to choose among many styles of dresses.

5. Confusing homophones

Homophones are similar sounding words but they absolutely different meanings. Sometimes, these confused words can make your hard work go waste. It might be confusing to choose which one to put. It is advisable to know the meanings and use them. If you do not know the meaning, do not use it or it is better to use a different word or try to explain with a different phrase. Example:

Incorrect: I excepted the offer at my job.
Correct: I accepted the offer at my job.

What can help me stay on good terms with grammar?

Those are the mistakes that students make most of the time while writing their assignments, for example use redundant phrases. It might not be a big deal now, but later on, the mistakes will become the biggest hindrance in your career.

You must be asking how to prevent bad grammar? Some simple ways to avoid bad grammar is to start realizing the mistake every time there is a mistake. Another simple way is to use some application or Google extension that can help you with correcting the mistakes while you write, or use our essay checker and free essay plagiarism checker.

Also, you can try doing some random grammar exercises. They actually prove to be the eye-opener for many people.

Tag: grammar errors

When to Use a Comma: Basic Rules For Students