Watch Out for These Common Writing Mistakes

Imagine this: you’re reading through what you think is a print-ready proof of your manuscript, ready for it to be printed, bound, and shipped out, only to find countless spelling and grammar errors. Suddenly, what you thought was ready to be printed and sold needs another round of edits (maybe a few). Doesn’t sound fun, does it? We don’t think so. That’s why we believe taking steps to eradicate these common writing mistakes from your work is crucial. Our latest blog series has been all about strengthening your writing and improving your craft. Taking steps, such as attending writing workshops and retreats, and following writing prompts and other exercises, to improve the quality of your work is great, but it’s all for naught if it’s riddled with the same mistakes over and over again.

Here are some common writing mistakes that hinder your work. Do yourself and your craft a favor, and cut these errors.

You’re/Your

Out of all the common writing mistakes, this may be the one editors see the most. A lot of people mix up “you’re” and “your.” Just because the words sound the same, doesn’t mean the two are interchangeable (this is known as a homophone). They mean entirely different things.

• You’re = you are, as in, “You’re going to the party, right?” (“You are going to the party, right?”)
• Your = possessive form of you, as in, “I am going to your party.”

There/They’re/Their

People who struggle with “you’re” and “your” will probably struggle with “there,” “they’re,” and “their” for similar reasons. Let’s take a look at what each word means.

• There = most commonly, in/at/on a place, as in, “Have you been to the new restaurant? I want to go there.”

• They’re = they are, as in, “They’re going to that new restaurant.”

• Their = possessive form of “they,” as in, “It’s their favorite restaurant.”

It’s vs. Its

When you add an apostrophe at the end of a name, for example, “That’s Brian’s bag,” it becomes possessive. This isn’t the case with “it’s,” however, and this often causes some writers to stumble.

• It’s = it is, as in, “It’s a nice day today!”
• Its = possessive form, as in, “I can’t use my bag because its strap is broken.”

Comma Rules

Commas account for a lot of errors in manuscripts. There are a lot of comma rules that may be difficult to remember, especially if it’s been awhile since you’ve been in school. Here are some very basic comma rules.

Commas separate items in a list

Commas are used to separate items in a list for clarity. For example, “I went to the store to buy chicken, eggs, and potatoes.” The last comma, before potatoes, is often up for debate. Known as the Oxford comma, some people don’t find it necessary; others do.

Use a comma before a conjunction to combine two independent clauses 

An independent clause has both a subject and a verb and can therefore be its own sentence. To combine them, you must use a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) and a comma. For example, “The store was closed, so I went home.” The two independent clauses – “The store was closed” and, “I went home” – could stand alone. 

Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause

If an independent clause is one that can stand alone as a complete sentence, we’re sure you can infer what a dependent clause is. Since a dependent clause cannot stand alone, it relies on a independent clause to make it a complete sentence. If a dependent clause begins a sentence, there needs to be a comma after it and before the independent clause. For example, “While I was in Michigan, I visited my great-grandmother.” The clause “While I was in Michigan” is not a complete sentence. If a dependent clause comes at the end of a sentence, it does not need a comma. For example, “I visited by great-grandmother while I was in Michigan.”

Use commas to separate quotes

Commas are used to set off quotations. If the attribution comes before the actual quote, use the comma before the quote. For example: She said, “I want to go home.” The “she said” is the quote attribution. It tells us who is saying this. The comma goes after the attribution and before the quote. If the attribution comes after the quote, though, we use the comma after the quote and before the attribution. For example: “I want to go home,” she said. 

This list is not exhaustive. For more comma rules, we recommend picking up a copy of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style.

Edit Before You Self-Publish

Don’t let common writing mistakes negate all the hard work you’ve put into your manuscript. When you send us your files, your work should be neat, clean, and error-free. This guarantees a beautiful final product that you’ll be proud to place on your shelf, sell online, or give to loved ones. Common writing mistakes can be difficult to eradicate altogether (you’re only human!), but with a little practice and guidance, you can learn how to spot them. If you struggle with these common writing mistakes and don’t have an eye for editing, consider hiring a freelance editor. What matters is most is your book, so do all you can to make sure it shines.