Common Grammar Mistakes by High School Students?

I figure we all have our own grammar weak spots, right? So what would you say are some of the most common grammar mistakes us high schoolers tend to make? I'm trying to keep my essays error-free!

As a current college student, I empathize with the struggles of keeping essays error-free! I must say, though, this is a good habit to develop, as clear and concise writing is essential in both academic and professional settings.

Let's dive into some common grammatical errors that high schoolers (and many adults!) often make:

1. Misuse of Homophones: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Commonly confused words include: "their/there/they're," "its/it's," and "your/you're."

2. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

3. Comma Misuse: Comma usage is often a weak spot. Examples include forgetting to use an Oxford comma (the final comma in a list before "and") or neglecting to place commas around non-essential clauses in a sentence.

4. Dangling Modifiers: A modifier is a word (or group of words) that describes something in your sentence. It needs to be placed next to the thing it's modifying to make the sentence clear. If it's not, it's called a "dangling modifier," which often makes the sentence confusing or humorous.

5. Run-On Sentences or Sentence Fragments: Each sentence needs to express a complete thought and should have, at least, a subject and a verb. Make sure your sentences aren't too short (fragments) or too long (run-ons or comma splices).

Remember - no one is perfect, and even the most experienced writers make mistakes. The key is to keep practicing and proofreading. It might be helpful to read your essays aloud, as this often makes it easier to spot errors. Turning on spell-check in your writing software can also be helpful, but don't rely on it to catch everything! Good luck with your writing endeavors.