common errors
-
15 Commonly Misused Phrases to Look Out for While Proofreading
15 Commonly Misused Phrases to Look Out for While Proofreading
Last Updated May 27, 2025
As a proofreader, you need to be on the lookout for misspelled words and phrases. To help you spot mistakes, we’ve compiled a list of commonly misused phrases that you should be aware of while proofreading. Here are fifteen phrases that often trip up writers: 1. First Come, First Serve (First Come, First Served) “First […]
-
What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?
What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?
Last Updated Apr 17, 2023
Affect and effect are examples of homophones – two words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. People frequently confuse the two words because we often use affect and effect in similar contexts. This blog post will explore the difference between affect and effect and help you know which one to use – […]
10 Egg-Cellent Examples of Eggcorns
-
Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Last Updated Mar 25, 2023
Quotation marks might seem like a minor detail, but they play a major role in helping readers understand what’s being said, cited, or shouted in a sentence. Whether you’re presenting character dialogue in a novel or referencing expert insights in an essay, quotation marks and the surrounding punctuation guide the reader through who said what. […]
-
How to Use Ellipses in Writing (With Examples)
Last Updated Mar 06, 2023
Ellipses, also known as “dot, dot, dot,” are a type of punctuation with many purposes. In this guide, we explore what ellipses are and how you can help your clients make the most of them in their writing. What Is an Ellipsis? An ellipsis is a form of punctuation consisting of three dots (or periods): […]
-
British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
Last Updated Feb 20, 2023
The verb endings “-ise” and “-ize” often get confused. Usually, the correct ending depends on which English dialect your client is using. Here’s our guide on using these spellings in British and American English and what you need to consider when proofreading. British vs. American Spelling For the most part, American English uses the spelling […]
-
What Is a Misplaced Modifier? (With Examples)
Last Updated Jan 23, 2023
Understanding common grammar errors and how to fix them is a key part of working as a proofreader. In this post, we explain what misplaced modifiers are, how to spot the most common types, and how you can correct them in any piece of writing. What Is a Misplaced Modifier? Modifiers are words, phrases, or […]
-
What Is a Dangling Modifier? (With Examples)
Last Updated Jan 16, 2023
As a proofreader, you’ll need to spot and fix grammatical errors. One of the most common of these is the dangling modifier. In this post, we’ll provide a crash course on what dangling modifiers are, how to identify them, and what to do with them when proofreading. What Is a Dangling Modifier? A modifier is […]
-
How to Use Comparatives and Superlatives (With Examples)
Last Updated Jan 09, 2023
Comparatives and superlatives can be a confusing part of grammar, particularly for ESL writers. In this guide, we talk you through the rules for forming comparative and superlative adjectives, and what to look out for when proofreading them. What Are Comparatives and Superlatives? Comparatives and superlatives are both types of adjectives. Comparative adjectives are words […]
-
One Word or Two? 10 Common Mistakes
One Word or Two? 10 Common Mistakes
Last Updated Jan 07, 2023
Are you confident about terms being one word or two? If you are, congratulations! If not, though, you’re not alone. Errors of this type are some of the most common in the English language. In this post, we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes so that you’ve got the basics covered – whether you’re […]
-
When to Use “I” and “Me” in a Sentence
When to Use “I” and “Me” in a Sentence
Last Updated Nov 19, 2022
Is it “you and me” or “you and I”? This can be a complex question, even for native English speakers. The difference lies in whether you need to use a subject pronoun or an object pronoun. In this post, we’ll dig into what these pronouns are and how to establish when “I” or “me” is […]
