Haynes Quick Grammar Reference Guide

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT

Quick Reference Guide to Common Grammatical Errors & Correct Use of Grammar.

This is a brief reference guide intended to assist students and other speakers and writers to avoid
common grammatical errors.

Norris M. Haynes, Ph.D.

4/25/2016

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Haynes Quick Grammar Reference Guide

Using the word “Each”

Subject and Verb Agreement

The word “Each” as subject

Each is singular. A common error made is to follow the word each with a plural verb when it is in a
sentence with the word “them” or is a sentence with a plural word such as “students”. The subject of a
sentence determines what the verb must be. When the word “each” is the subject even when followed
by the word them or a plural word such as “students” the verb must be singular. Here are some
examples:

Incorrect: Each of them were.

Correct: Each of them was

Incorrect: Each one of them are

Correct: Each one of them is

Incorrect Each of them have

Correct: Each of them has.

Incorrect: Each of the students were

Correct Each of the students was or Each student was

Incorrect: Each one of us have a good chance to succeed

Correct: Each one of us has a good chance to succeed

Using the word “Each” with the word “Their”

The word each is a singular word. In its expanded form it means, “each one”. Therefore “each” and
“their” do not go together.

Incorrect: Each candidate has their interview next week.

Correct; Each candidate has his or her interview next week or Each candidate has an interview next
week

Incorrect: I asked each of them to put their book(s) away

Correct: I asked each of them to put his and her book(s) away.

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Using the word “Many”

Subject and Verb Agreement

The word “Many”

Recently there is a trend in writing and in public speaking to use a singular verb with the word many.,
especially after the word “there”. This is incorrect. The word many is a plural word and requires a plural
verb

Incorrect: There’s many ways to spin that story.

Correct: There are many ways to spin that story.

Incorrect: There is many who believe that.

Correct: There are many who believe that

Incorrect: There is too many to count

Correct: There are too many to count

Using “Neither” and “Either”

Subject Verb Agreement

The words “neither” and “either” are singular words and are often used with the wrong plural verbs.
Neither by extension becomes neither one and similarly either by extension becomes either one.

Incorrect: Neither of us are able to attend the function this evening.

Correct: Neither of us is able to attend the function this evening.

Incorrect: Either of them are a good choice.

Correct: Either of them is a good choice

Using “None”

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Subject Verb Agreement

The word “none” is a singular word but is often used with a plural verb. When extended, none
becomes “no one” or “not one”.

Incorrect: None of them are able to solve the problem.

Correct: None of them is able to solve the problem.

Incorrect: None of us were able to predict the outcome.

Correct: None of us was able to predict the outcome.

Using The words “Fewer” and “Less”

When to use the word fewer or the word less is challenging to some writers and speakers. The word
“fewer” is used when referring to items that are numbered. The word “less” is used with non-countable
quantities.

Incorrect: I have less apples than you.

Correct: I have fewer apples than you

Incorrect: There were less people there today

Correct: There were fewer people there today

Incorrect: The control group has less girls than boys

Correct: The control group has fewer girls than boys

Comparing Two or More than Two Things or Individuals

When comparing two things or individuals you should use the comparative form of the adjective. When
comparing more than two things or individuals you should use the superlative form of the adjective.

So for example good is used to describe one person. He is a good boy. The comparative form of good is
“better and this is used to describe the second boy in relationship to the first. He is better than his
brother. The superlative form of the word good is “best” and can be used to describe the third brother
in relationship to the two others, the good brother and the better brother. He is the best of the three
brothers.

Incorrect: He is the best of the two friends

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Correct: He is the better of the two friends

Incorrect: Of the two of them, I like the red one best

Correct: of the two of them I like the red one better

Incorrect: She is the taller of the three sisters

Correct: She is the tallest of the three sisters

Incorrect: He is the smartest of the two boys

Correct: He is the smarter of the two boys

Using “Me” and “I”

A common mistake that speakers and writers make is to use the prounoun “I” when they should use the
pronoun “me” especially after prpositions such as: “between”, “for” , “with”, “about”, “next to”

Incorrect: Between you and I, this is not the right thing to do.

Correct: Between you and me, this is not the right thing to do.

Incorrect: This is between you and I

Correct: This is between you and me

Incorrect: This one is for you and I

Correct: This one is for you and me

Incorrect: Is it Ok for him to travel with you and I?

Correct: Is it Ok for him to travel with you and me?

Incorrect: This is not about him. It is about you and I

Correct: This is not about him. It is about you and me

Using Pronouns with the Forms of the Verb “To Be”

A common error in speaking and writing English is the incorrect use of certain pronouns with various
forms of the verb “t be”.

Incorrect: It is me who must now do all the work.

Correct: It is “I” who must now do all this work.

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Incorrect: It was him and not her that stood up to the bully.

Correct: It was he and not she that stood up to the bully.

Incorrect: It will be them who will write the plan and not us.

Correct: It will be they who will write the plan and not we.

Incorrect: It is us who must make change happen and not them.

Correct: It is we who must make change happen and not they.

Subject and Pronoun Clarity

Often writers and speakers make the mistake of using an incorrect pronoun when referring to one
individual or group in a sentence with more than one subject in sentence. This leads to confusion
regarding to which subject the pronoun refers.

Incorrect: The students and their teachers spoke of how they approached the homework assignment.

Correct: The students and their teachers spoke of how the students approached the homework
assignment.

Incorrect: Her best friend Jan and her best friend’s sister-in-law ran her first marathon together.

Correct: Her best friend Jan and her best friend’s sister-in-law ran Jan’s first marathon together.

Incorrect Use of Pronouns as Subject of a Sentence

An infrequent mistake that writers and especially speakers make is to use a pronoun as the subject of
a sentence.

Incorrect: Him and I will make sure that you get the information.

Correct: He and I will make sure that you get the information.

Incorrect: Her and her advisor agreed that she worked very hard to get ready for her defense.

Correct: She and her advisor agreed that she worked very hard to get ready for her defense.

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

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Incorrect: I understand the predicament that you are in.

Correct: I understand the predicament in which you find yourself

Incorrect: The water began to enter the boat we were travelling in.

Correct: The water began to enter the boat in which we were travelling

Incorrect: He knew the route we travelled by.

Correct: He knew the route by which we travelled.

Using ”Who” Instead of “That” When Referring to People.

Many times when referring to people, speakers and writers use the pronoun “that”. This is incorrect.
When referring to people, you should use “who” instead of “that”.

Incorrect: The teacher that has had the greatest impact on me is Mrs. Pinkle.

Correct: The teacher who has had the greatest impact on me is Mrs. Pinkle

Incorrect: The students that scored the highest on the test also had the highest grade point averages.

Correct: The students who scored the highest on the test also had the highest grade point averages

Using the Apostrphe (‘)

The apostrophe is used to denote ownership. Where the apostrophe is placed in a word is important
and often determined by whether the word is singular or plural. When the noun or subject is singular,
the apostrophe comes before the “s”. When the noun or subject is plural, the apostrophe comes after
the “s”.

Incorrect: The boys’ coat was found in his locker.

Correct: The boy’s coat was found in his locker.

Incorrect: The boy’s coats were found in their lockers.

Correct: The boys’ coats were found in their lockers.

Incorrect: All twenty student’s cell phones were turned off during the lecture.

Correct: All twenty students’ cell phones were turned off during the lecture.

Using “Who” and “Whom”

“Who” is used when the noun or person to whom it refers is the subject of the sentence. Whom is used
as it is in the preceding sentence when the person or noun to whom it refers is the object and not the
subject.

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Incorrect: The man whom came to meet me was my uncle

Correct: The man who came to meet me was my uncle

Incorrect: The candidate who I vote for must earn my vote

Correct: The candidate for whom I vote must earn my vote

Using Contractions

Contractions should not be used in formal writing, and especially in dissertations and theses, unless in
direct quotations.

Incorrect: There aren’t many places where this fruit is grows.

Correct: There are not many places where this fruit grows

Correct: The author noted: “there aren’t many places where this fruit grows”.

Incorrect: The researchers didn’t find significant differences between men and women.

Correct: The researchers did not find significant differences between men and women

Correct: in her report she stated, “the researchers didn’t find significant differences between men and
women”.

Subjunctive Use of the words “were”, “could” and “would”

The subjunctive mood expresses a wish or a speculative situation that is contrary to the fact. It is
counter factual.

Incorrect: If I was an alien I would completely change the world as we know it.

Correct: If I were an alien I would completely change the world as we know it.

Incorrect: If I can make the pain go away I will but I cannot.

Correct: If I could make the pain go away I would but I cannot.

Conditional Use of “could” and “would”

Incorrect: I can come if I had a way to get there.

Correct: I could come, if I had a way to get there.

Incorrect: If she decides to write the chapter, we will review it for publication.

Correct: If she decides to write the chapter, we would review it for publication.

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Use of Tense in Dissertation Proposals and in Dissertations

Many times students appear to be confused about what tense to use when preparing dissertation
proposals and what tense to use when writing their dissertations. This applies particularly to Chapter
Three which is the methods chapter of both the proposal and the dissertation. The proposal methods
chapter describes what will be done while the dissertation methods chapter describes what was done.

Examples:

Proposal: The sample will include students in grades 11 and 12 and their home-room teachers.

Dissertation: The sample included students in grades 11 and 12 and their home-room teachers.

Proposal: A survey will be administered to students and a focus group will be conducted with their
home-room teachers.

Dissertation: A survey was administered to students and a focus group was conducted with their
home-room teachers.

Quotations

The use of quotations helps to provide support for a point or argument. Quotations, when used
should be placed in some context and should be introduced. Quotations should not stand alone.

Incorrect: “ children, whose parents are involved in their education, tend to connect more with their
schools” (Haynes, 2016, p.1) . Therefore, it is wise for parents to become more involved in their
children’s education.

Correct: Haynes (2016) noted, “ children, whose parents are involved in their education, tend to
connect more with their schools” (p.1). Therefore, It is wise for parents to become more involved in
their children’s education.