5 Quick Fixes for Common Grammar Mistakes

Grammar mistakes can undermine even the most compelling ideas. Whether you’re drafting a query letter or polishing a manuscript, these five quick fixes will immediately strengthen your writing.

1. Watch Your Homophones

Their, they’re, and there. Your and you’re. Its and it’s. These small mix-ups signal carelessness to editors. Read your work aloud—you’ll often catch what your eyes miss.

2. Eliminate Comma Splices

Two complete sentences joined only by a comma create a comma splice. Use a period, semicolon, or conjunction instead. “She wrote daily, her skills improved” becomes “She wrote daily, and her skills improved.”

3. Match Your Subjects and Verbs

Collective nouns trip up many writers. “The team of editors review manuscripts” should be “reviews” because team is singular. When in doubt, identify your subject and check agreement.

4. Tame Your Modifiers

Dangling modifiers confuse readers. “Walking through the park, the sunset was beautiful” suggests the sunset was walking. Clarify: “Walking through the park, I admired the beautiful sunset.”

5. Choose Active Voice

Passive voice weakens prose. “The book was written by Sarah” lacks punch. “Sarah wrote the book” is direct and engaging. Reserve passive voice for when the action matters more than the actor.

Review your current project with these five fixes in mind. Small corrections add up to polished, professional writing that editors notice for the right reasons.