16 Common Grammar Mistakes That Make You Sound Less Polished
Grammar might not be everyone’s favorite subject, but it plays a big role in communication. Whether you’re writing an email, chatting with friends, or speaking professionally, grammar mistakes can sometimes make you sound less polished.
English has plenty of confusing rules, and it’s easy to slip up. But with a bit of awareness, you can avoid the most common mistakes and sound more confident in any conversation.
Mixing Up “Your” and “You’re”
These two words may look similar, but they mean completely different things. “Your” is possessive, as in “Your phone is ringing,” while “You’re” is a contraction for “you are,” as in “You’re doing great.” A simple way to check is to read the sentence out loud and replace “you’re” with “you are.” If it still makes sense, you’re using it correctly!
Saying “I Seen” Instead of “I Saw”
A common mistake is saying “I seen that movie” instead of “I saw that movie.” The correct phrase is either “I saw that movie” or “I have seen that movie.” “Seen” always needs a helping verb like “have” to be correct. Sticking with “I saw” will make your speech sound more polished.
Using “Alot” Instead of “A Lot”
“Alot” isn’t a word, even though many people use it. The correct phrase is “a lot,” which means a large amount of something. It’s an easy mistake to make, especially when typing quickly. To sound polished in writing, keep a space between “a” and “lot.”
Confusing “To,” “Too,” and “Two”
These three words sound the same but have different meanings. “To” is a preposition, as in “I’m going to the store,” while “too” means “also” or “excessively,” as in “I want to go too!” “Two” is simply the number 2. Mixing them up can confuse your reader and make your writing look sloppy.
Saying “Should of” Instead of “Should Have”
Many people say “should of” because it sounds like “should’ve,” but it’s incorrect. The correct phrase is “should have,” as in “You should have called me.” The same rule applies to “could have” and “would have.” Keeping this in mind will make your speech and writing sound more polished.
Misusing “Affect” and “Effect”
“Affect” is a verb that means to influence, while “effect” is a noun that refers to a result. For example, “The weather affects my mood” means the weather changes my feelings, while “The new law had a big effect” means the law created a result. If you’re unsure, try replacing it with “result”—if it makes sense, use “effect.” Paying attention to this small difference can make a big impact.
Saying “Less” Instead of “Fewer”
Use “less” for things you can’t count, like “less stress” or “less water.” Use “fewer” for things you can count, like “fewer books” or “fewer meetings.” The rule might seem small, but it’s one that people notice. Even grocery stores often get it wrong with signs that say “10 items or less” instead of “10 items or fewer”!
Using “Who” When You Need “Whom”
“Who” is for subjects, while “whom” is for objects. A simple trick is to replace it with “he” or “him”—if “he” sounds right, use “who,” and if “him” sounds right, use “whom.” For example, “Who is calling?” (He is calling) and “To whom should I give this?” (Give this to him). It might sound formal, but using “whom” correctly can make you sound more polished.
Saying “Me and My Friend” Instead of “My Friend and I”
It’s “My friend and I” when you’re the sentence’s subject, as in “My friend and I went to lunch.” But when you’re the object, use “my friend and me,” as in “He invited my friend and me to the party.” A quick trick is to remove “my friend” and see if the sentence still makes sense. Saying “Me went to lunch” sounds wrong, but “He invited me” is correct.
Using “Than” and “Then” Incorrectly
“Than” is used for comparisons, while “then” refers to time or order. For example, “She is taller than me” compares two people, while “We ate dinner, then had dessert” shows sequence. If you’re comparing, use “than.” If something happens in order, use “then.”
Saying “Between You and I” Instead of “Between You and Me”
Even though “I” sounds fancy, “Between you and me” is actually correct. “Between” is a preposition, which means it needs an object like “me” rather than a subject like “I.” A good test is to remove “you and”—you wouldn’t say “between I,” right? Keeping this in mind makes your speech sound more natural.
Overusing “Literally”
People often say “literally” when they actually mean “figuratively.” If you say, “I literally died laughing,” it should mean you actually died, which isn’t the case. Unless something truly happens, leaving “literally” out is better. Using it correctly will make your speech sound more accurate and less dramatic.
Saying “Anyways” Instead of “Anyway”
“Anyway” is the correct word, while “anyways” is just slang. In casual speech, people often say “anyways,” but it doesn’t belong in professional writing. Dropping the “s” makes you sound more polished. If you want to sound more put together, stick with “anyway.”
Misplacing “Only” in a Sentence
Where you place “only” changes the meaning of a sentence. “I only eat chocolate on weekends” means you don’t eat anything else. “I eat only chocolate on weekends” means chocolate is all you eat on weekends. A small change in word order can make a big difference.
Ending Sentences with a Preposition
“Where are you at?” is unnecessary because the “at” doesn’t add anything to the sentence. Instead, say, “Where are you?” While this rule is often broken in casual speech, avoiding it makes you sound more polished. Keeping your sentences clean and concise always leaves a better impression.
Mastering Grammar, One Fix at a Time
You don’t need to be a grammar expert to sound polished and confident—just avoiding these common mistakes can make a big difference. Whether speaking in a meeting, writing a text, or updating your resume, minor adjustments help you become more professional. Even if you slip up occasionally, don’t stress—it happens to everyone! The key is being aware of these tricky grammar rules to use them to your advantage.
Related: 15 Clever Hacks To Reduce That Never-Ending Grocery Bill
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