1. be sure that the subject and verb of every condition or sentence agreethat are, that a singular subject matter possess a singular verb, and a plural topic a plural verb. When more phrase come-between subject and verb, you might mistake the noun closest with the verbbefore or afterfor the verb’s real subject.
Wrong: a main element of my entire life targets being to go to law class. Right: A central section of living needs happens to be to attend laws school.
Incorrect: the earnings received by cosmetic industry is not high enough. Correct: the earnings generated because of the aesthetic markets aren’t satisfactory.
2. feel specially cautious that the matter and verb consent if your subject matter consists of several parts signed up with by and or or; once subject matter are a phrase like committee or jury, which could bring either one or a plural verb based on whether it be managed as a device or as a group of people; or when your topic was a word like mathematics or measles, which looks plural it is single in definition.
Faulty: my buddy and his awesome friend commutes every single day from Louisville. Best: My brother along with his friend travel every day from Louisville.
Awry: The panel was having all duty by themselves. Right: The committee happened to be getting every obligation by themselves. (remember that the utilization of the phrase themselves indicates that committee is being managed as a group of people, never as a unit.)
Completely wrong: Measles have grown to be less frequent in the us. Right: Measles has become less frequent in the United States.
To proofread for subject-verb arrangement, circle the topic and verb in each sentence and be sure they consent.
Pronouns
1. A pronoun 
(like we, they, your, your, this lady, this, themselves, anybody, exactly who, which) can be used to replace another wordits antecedentso the antecedent need not getting repeated.Check each pronoun to ensure that it will abide by the antecedent in sex and numbers. Keep in mind that words like each, either, neither, plus one include single; when they’re utilized as antecedents, they simply take single pronouns. Antecedents contains several parts joined by or or nor bring pronouns that buy into the closest antecedent. Collective-noun antecedents (readers, teams) may be singular or plural based on whether or not they make reference to just one product or several people.
Incorrect: each of the puppies thrived in their new home. Appropriate: Every one of the pups thrived in its brand new home.
Completely wrong: Neither Jane nor Susan considered they were managed relatively. Appropriate: Neither Jane nor Susan thought that she have been treated fairly.
Wrong: the group regularly changed their spots to get diverse skills. Right: The team regularly altered their unique jobs for diverse knowledge.
To proofread for agreement of pronouns and antecedents, circle each pronoun, determine their antecedent, and make certain which they consent in sex and number.
2. As mentioned above, more long pronouns (like each, either, neither, or one) were singular; consequently, they get singular verbs. A family member pronoun, like exactly who, which, or that, requires a verb that will follow the pronoun’s antecedent.
Wrong: all the products in these styles organize making use of the people. Best: each one of the items in these models coordinates together with the others.
Wrong: they are among the many staff members exactly who operates overtime frequently. Best: he’s one of many staff members who work overtime frequently. (contained in this sample, the antecedent of who is workers, and therefore the verb is plural.)
3. a vague pronoun guide occurs when readers are not sure of a pronoun’s antecedent. If a pronoun could make reference to more than one antecedent, or if the antecedent was suggested although not clearly reported, revise the sentence to help make the antecedent obvious.
Incorrect: Before Mary attacked Mrs. Turpin, she got a judgmental girl. Appropriate: Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, the second ended up being a judgmental woman. (in the 1st phrase, she could reference either Mary or Mrs. Turpin.)
Awry: They genuinely believe that an egg is really as important as a person becoming, it cannot be proved. Correct: They think that an egg is really as essential as a person getting, but such an assertion can’t be demonstrated. (in the 1st phrase, the antecedent from it try unknown.)
Some Other Grammatical Errors
Sentence Fragments
1. The sentence fragment is a partial sentence punctuated as a sentence. To make it a whole sentence, join they into the biggest clause or rewrite it.
Completely wrong: the woman is a good pal. One whom I trust and admire. Best: she actually is a great friend, an individual whom we trust and admire.
Faulty: into the working area, we discovered the value of control. Also just how to capture close records. Right: During The working area, we learned the worth of self-discipline. We furthermore read just how to simply take close notes.
Wrong: the outdated aluminum motorboat seated on their trailer. Appropriate: The old aluminum motorboat got sitting on its trailer.
To proofread for sentence fragments, scan all sentences for a topic, a verb, as well as the very least one clause that does not start with a subordinating phrase like as, although, if, when, that, since, or just who.
Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
1. Misplaced or dangling modifiers include phrase, phrases, or clauses not demonstrably connected to the keyword they alter. Push a misplaced modifier closer to the phrase they represent, or change a sentence to offer a dangling modifier a word to change.
Wrong: they may notice eagles swooping and diving with binoculars. Right: With binoculars, they were able to look at eagles swooping and diving.
Wrong: Nixon told reporters which he wanted to get out of government after he shed the 1962 gubernatorial competition. Appropriate: After the guy lost the 1962 gubernatorial race, Nixon told reporters he wanted to get out of government.
Wrong: a rabbit’s teeth are never employed for security even if cornered. Right: even if cornered, a rabbit never uses the teeth for safety.
Incorrect: As a young boy, their grandma advised stories of the woman age as a country schoolteacher. Best: As a young man, the guy heard his grandmother determine tales of the girl ages as a nation schoolteacher.
To proofread for missing or dangling modifiers, circle all modifiers and draw a line to the keyword they explain; be sure they cannot incorrectly adjust some other word.
Generated by Writing Tutorial Providers, Indiana Institution, Bloomington, IN