Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1 January 2026

Ah, grammar—the necessary evil of writing! Some love it, some loathe it, but no matter which side you’re on, you can’t escape it. Whether you're crafting an email, writing an essay, or just posting on social media, bad grammar can make you look, well, not-so-smart.

But don't worry! We've got your back. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common grammar mistakes and, more importantly, how to dodge them like a pro. Buckle up, because we’re about to fix those pesky errors once and for all!

1. Your vs. You’re – Stop Confusing Them!

Let’s be real—this is one of the biggest grammar slip-ups out there. If you’ve ever typed "Your awesome!" instead of "You're awesome!", we need to talk.

- Your is possessive: "Is this your pen?"
- You're is a contraction of "you are": "You're amazing at grammar!"

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you can replace the word with "you are", use you're. If not, go with your. Simple, right?

2. There, Their, and They’re – Triple Trouble

English can be a cruel language, especially with words that sound the same but mean totally different things. Meet the notorious trio:

- There refers to a place: "She left her book over there."
- Their shows possession: "That’s their house."
- They’re is a contraction of "they are": "They’re going to the movies."

🔥 Quick Fix:

Try replacing the word with "they are". If it makes sense, use they’re. If not, determine if you need a location (there) or possession (their).

3. Its vs. It’s – The Apostrophe Trap

This one’s sneaky! Since apostrophes usually indicate possession (John’s car), many assume it’s means belonging to it. Nope!

- Its is possessive: "The dog wagged its tail."
- It’s is a contraction of "it is": "It’s raining today."

🔥 Quick Fix:

Anytime you're tempted to use it's, replace it with "it is". If the sentence still works, you’re golden. If not, go with its.

4. Affect vs. Effect – The Confusing Cousins

This duo confuses even the best writers. So, let’s clear things up:

- Affect is usually a verb: "The weather affects my mood."
- Effect is usually a noun: "The effect of the new rule was immediate."

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you’re describing an action (to affect something), go with affect. If you’re talking about a result (the effect of something), use effect.

5. Then vs. Than – Time vs. Comparison

Yes, they look similar, but they aren’t interchangeable!

- Then is about time: "We went shopping, then grabbed coffee."
- Than is for comparisons: "Chocolate is better than vanilla."

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you’re talking about sequences in time, use then. If you're comparing two things, go with than.

6. Me vs. I – Say It Right!

Would you say, "She gave the gift to I"? Nope! Then why do so many people say "She gave the gift to Sarah and I"?

- Me is the object: "She gave the gift to me."
- I is the subject: "I gave her a gift."

🔥 Quick Fix:

Remove the other person's name and see if the sentence still makes sense. If "me" sounds right, use it. If "I" sounds better, go with that.

7. Who vs. Whom – The Brain Twister

This one’s intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s the trick:

- Who is the subject (he/she/they): "Who is calling?"
- Whom is the object (him/her/them): "To whom should I send the email?"

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you can replace it with he/she/they, use who. If him/her/them fits better, go with whom.

8. Lose vs. Loose – They’re Not the Same!

These two aren’t even close in meaning, yet people still mix them up.

- Lose means to misplace or be defeated: "I don’t want to lose my keys."
- Loose means not tight: "Her shoelaces are loose."

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you’re talking about something escaping or being misplaced, use lose. If it’s about something being too baggy or slack, use loose.

9. Fewer vs. Less – Quantity Matters

Ever seen a sign that says “10 items or less”? Well, it should be “10 items or fewer”.

- Fewer is for things you can count: "She has fewer books than him."
- Less is for uncountable things: "He has less patience than his sister."

🔥 Quick Fix:

If you can count it, use fewer. If it’s something abstract or uncountable, go with less.

10. Could Have vs. Could Of – Stop Right Now!

Saying "could of" instead of "could have" is a grammar crime. Yes, "could’ve" (the contraction of could have) sounds like "could of" when spoken, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct.

- ✅ "I could have won the race."
- ❌ "I could of won the race." (Nope, just no!)

🔥 Quick Fix:

Always use could have, should have, and would have. Never use could of, should of, or would of. Ever.

Final Thoughts

Grammar can be tricky, but it’s not impossible to master. By keeping these common mistakes in mind and using our quick fixes, you’ll be a grammar ninja in no time.

Next time you’re about to make one of these blunders, take a deep breath, do a quick mental grammar check, and write like a pro!

And hey, if you still mess up? No worries—we all do. Just keep learning, keep improving, and keep owning your words.