These are the grammar, usage, and style errors seen most commonly in written materials.

The most common grammar, usage, and style errors in print today.

Below are errors that probably 95 percent of the English-speaking population makes every single day, without even knowing it. The good news is that, once you know what to look for, these errors are easy to avoid in your daily writing.

Description	Wrong	Right	Comment
Incorrectly hyphenating two words that jointly modify another word	one year period; the lady is high-class; aptly-named dog	one-year period; the lady is high class; aptly named dog	These are known as “compound modifiers.” Use a hyphen when preceding a noun, but not following, and, to further confuse the issue, never after an adverb ending in -ly.
Hyphenating prefixes	semi-colon; pre-approved; re-phrase; co-worker; selfmotivated	semicolon; preapproved; rephrase; coworker; self-motivated	In general, hyphenate only when you would get a double “a” or “i,” e.g., “ultra-active, anti-inflammatory,” or if the original word is capitalized, e.g., “anti-Semitic.” An exception is “self-,” which is always hyphenated when used as a prefix.
Using inch/foot marks and quotes/apostrophes interchangeably	10” x 2’ "Don't!"	10" x 2' “Don’t!”	Computers are the culprit here, but you can generally use the correct character if you can figure out the command and/or character map. Most software (e.g., QuarkXpress, Word, Illustrator) lets you default to one or the other, but doesn’t know when to use which. A few programs (e.g., WordPerfect, as one of its few redeeming qualities) are smart enough to automatically insert the proper form.
Using two spaces after periods and colons	...the door. The result: trouble.	...the door. The result: trouble.	Old typewriter convention generally appropriate only for monospaced type (e.g., Courier).
Using a possessive apostrophe for nonpossessive words	1800’s; CPU’s; these photo’s	1800s; CPUs; these photos	The first two examples are a fairly recent development, and still the source of some debate. The third is just plain weirdness.
Misusing “its/it’s”	it’s own way; its fitting and proper	its own way; it’s fitting and proper	The first example is the major exception to the above rule for possessives. The second example is the contraction for “it is.”
Transposing “that” and “which”	...career which interests you.; ...a note, that is overdue, to explain...	...career that interests you.; a note, which is overdue, to explain...	Essential, limiting information uses “that” and no commas; nonessential, descriptive information uses “which,” with commas, and functions as if “by the way” were inserted after it.
Using an ampersand instead of “and”	sticks & stones may	sticks and stones may	The ampersand is popularly, although not necessarily correctly, used in logos and headlines for its design element, but should never be used in text.
Incorrect or inconsistent use of serial commas	red, white and blue	red, white, and blue	A subject still under debate by those who debate such things, but at least be consistent. Most style guides prescribe the comma before the “and.”
Overusing “upon”	based upon facts	based on facts	Not incorrect, but overly formal for most communications.
Jumping from singular to plural	A customer often is concerned about how it will affect their cash flow.	A customer often is concerned about how it will affect his or her cash flow.	The singular “customer” replicates into a plural reference to “their” in a just few short words. Unfortunately a bit wordier, “his or her” is correct, both grammatically and politically.
Lazily misusing hyphens and spaces when an en or em dash is needed	1961-1965; He could--or should--have known; He could - or should - have known.	1961–1965; He could—or should—have known.	The en dash (Alt-0150 Windows, Opt-hyphen Mac) is noticeably wider than a hyphen and is most frequently used between continuous numbers such as years or pages. The em dash (Alt-0151 Windows, Sh-Opt-hyphen Mac) is twice as wide as the en dash, and is most frequently used to punctuate an abrupt change in thought for emphasis. Most style guides do not use spaces on either side of the dashes.
Redundancies	Reason why; close proximity	One or the other, not both.	Check out this amusing list.
Using the passive voice	The use of the passive voice is generally to be avoided.	In general, don’t use the passive voice.	English prefers the more direct and forceful active voice over the passive except in situations where it is intended to soften rather than to amplify the message, such as a rejection letter. (Did you notice the demonstration, right in this paragraph?)
Transposing and mispunctuating e.g. and i.e.	...a small gift, i.e. a plant or flower; He did not respond: eg: he declined.	...a small gift (e.g., a plant or flower); He did not respond, i.e., he declined.	Both come from Latin: e.g., exemplia gratia, means “for example;” i.e., id est, means “that is to say,” and references words synonymous with the preceding statement. Both are always punctuated as shown, sometimes in parentheses.
Misusing reflexive pronouns	He went with Bob and yourself; Pat, Mike, and myself will attend.	He went with Bob and you; Pat, Mike, and I will attend.	Reflexive pronouns such as yourself, myself, ourselves, etc. are used for emphasis, i.e., to reflect back to the subject or object, not replace the subject or object.
Not italicizing periods	Give it to me.	Give it to me.	Just kidding.
Nonwords and nonphrases	orientate; irregardless; in regards to	orient; regardless or irrespective; in regard to or regarding	Wish I were just kidding. It should be conceded that “orientate” is, according to Webster, a valid word, but it is interpreted to be less preferential to “orient,” and also means “referring to the Orient, or the east.” A visitor has also pointed out that British English favors (or should I say “favours?”) the use of “orientate.” But, heck, this is an American company, so I’ll stick to my guns and still cringe when I hear it in the USA.

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