Some subtle writing mistakes
Finding general tips on writing is easy enough. A quick search leads to the usual ones: Use the active voice. Make sure your subject and verb agree. Lead with your main point. (If you’d like a refresher, check out the handy page put together by Australia’s Monash University.)
Such lists are helpful, especially for beginners who want to master the fundamentals of clear communication. But if you've got the basics down and want to refine your skill by eliminating common, but not so obvious, writing weaknesses, then here is a list of some subtle mistakes.
Using the wrong preposition
Example: “Everyone nowadays knows the benefits to eating well and exercising.”
Prepositions are especially hard to grasp for people whose first language isn’t English, but even native speakers can trip up when trying to attach the right one to a noun or verb. In the example above, the preposition should be “of” (“...the benefits of eating well...”). A few helpful online resources for this are:
- Verb + Preposition Dictionary: far from thorough, but promising.
- Cambridge Dictionaries Online: select “Phrasal Verbs” from the drop-down menu.
- The Free Dictionary: compiled from the Cambridge Dictionary of International Idioms.
Attributing action to something that cannot take action
Example: “When the auditorium was being redesigned, it placed the podium in the middle of the audience.”
As with the other mistakes in this list, your readers will probably know what you mean despite the error. But, grammatically speaking, the sentence is wrong—and sounds funny. The example should read something like, “When the auditorium was being redesigned, the architect placed the podium in the middle of the audience.”
“Like” vs. “such as”
Example: “Sell or trade your used items on a classifieds website, like Craigslist, Ebay, or Freecycle.”
“Like” means “similar to.” “Such as” is used for items that are examples of the concept you are illustrating. In this example, Craigslist, Ebay, and Freecycle are actual classifieds websites, not merely similar to them.
“And,” “or,” or “and/or”
Example: “Get your taxes done early this year, whether they are done by you and/or a professional.”
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Each of them has a specific meaning, and “and/or” is rarely needed. In the example above, “or” is required. At the risk of overkill, here’s a table outlining the differences:
| Word | Usage |
|---|---|
| “And” | When any of the items apply, even in combination. |
| “Or” | When only one of the items applies, to the exclusion of the others. |
| “And/or” | When one or more of the items could apply, depending on the circumstances. |
“It is...” and “there are...”
Example: “There are many reasons why you shouldn’t plug a toaster into a bathroom socket.”
Almost everyone uses them, but phrases like “it is” and “there are” are syntactic filler and don’t actually mean anything. Avoiding them is sometimes difficult without having to rethink the entire sentence, but your writing will be the better for it.
“Who” vs. “which”
Example: “The CEO gave her orders to the team, who went straight to work.”
Use “which” to refer to an object or entity, even if that entity consists of people. So, in the example, the team may be made up of people, but the team as a whole is an entity, so the sentence should read “...which went straight to work.” Use “who” to refer to people, even if a person is referred to only by title. For example, “The message reached the Attorney-General, who took immediate action.”
These mistakes aren’t the most easily detected, either by writers or readers. But even if readers don’t consciously pick up on them, they’ll usually smell something fishy.