Lesson 1: Common Errors Review

Definition

Usage refers to choosing the correct grammar structures and word forms in a sentence to express ideas clearly and properly.

Explanation

Writers should avoid errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun clarity, and modifier placement. Usage must match both the audience and purpose of the writing. Watch out for:

• Incorrect verb forms (e.g., has went instead of has gone)
• Unclear pronoun references
• Misused homophones like your vs. you’re

Example

✅ Correct: She and I have finished our work.
❌ Incorrect: Me and her has finished our work.

Definition

Are pronoun references clear?

Explanation

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent—the noun it replaces. This means they must match in number and gender. A singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun, while a plural antecedent needs a plural pronoun. Be extra careful with indefinite pronouns like everyone or anyone, which are treated as singular, and with collective nouns like team or club.

Examples

• Every student should bring (his or her, their) own lunch to the field trip.
• The new company will hold (its, their) first all-hands meeting next month.
• Neither Mark nor his friends believed (they, he) had seen a ghost.
• Sal and Juan treated (themselves, himself) to ice cream after the game.

Definition

Mechanics refers to the rules of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling that help make writing clear and correct.

Explanation

Writers must check for capital letters at the start of sentences, proper punctuation at the end, and correct spelling throughout. Special attention should also be paid to:

• Proper nouns being capitalized
• Commas and apostrophes being used accurately
• Direct quotations and titles being properly punctuated and capitalized

Example

✅ Correct: "Did Maria say, 'Let's go to the park?'
❌ Incorrect: "did maria say lets go to the Park"

Definition

In each of the following sentences, circle the antecedent of the pronoun or pronouns in parentheses. Then, underline the choice in parentheses that agrees with the antecedent.

Explanation

Think of pronouns and their antecedents as a team! The pronoun (like she, it, or they) must match the antecedent—the noun it replaces—in number. A singular noun gets a singular pronoun; a plural noun gets a plural one. Remember that indefinite pronouns like each or anyone are singular, while collective nouns like team can be singular or plural.

Examples

• Each of the drivers must check (his or her, their) vehicle before the race.
• The orchestra will perform (its, their) final concert of the season tonight.
• After the show, the cast took (their, its) bows individually.
• My brother and his friend are starting (their, his) own podcast.
• Neither the cat nor the dog had finished (its, their) food.