It was a calm Thursday evening when David walked into our tutoring center with his 8th-grade daughter, Lila. She held a graded essay filled with corrections and question marks. “She works so hard,” David said quietly, “but her writing grade keeps falling.”
That concern is common among parents. Children often understand their ideas but lose marks because of small, repeated grammar slips. These are the silent points that disappear each term — the same common grammar mistakes every teacher marks again and again.
That night, I promised David something simple: we would uncover the five common grammar mistakes that were lowering Lila’s writing score and show both of them easy ways to fix them.
At STEM Prep Tutoring, we see this often. Our one-on-one sessions in reading tutoring, math tutoring, and science help students build confidence across subjects — and writing skills strengthen everything from reading comprehension to math word problems.
“If you fix these common grammar mistakes, her grade will rise.”
Over the years, we’ve seen students like Lila make big progress. They just need guidance, practice, and patience. Within a few weeks of targeted work, their essays read smoother, teachers notice the difference, and grades rise naturally.
1. Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
Example: Running down the hall, the vase shattered.
Lila laughed when she read that line. “The vase was running?” she asked. Exactly — the modifier was in the wrong place. Once she changed it to “After Lila ran down the hall, the vase shattered,” everything clicked.
This common grammar mistake can make good ideas sound confusing. When students fix it, their writing becomes clear and easy to read.
2. Homophone Confusion
Their, they’re, there. Its, it’s. To, too, two. These tiny words cause big trouble.
David admitted he also mixed them up sometimes. So our reading and writing tutor created a quick chart of examples from Understood.org to help both father and daughter remember them. Each time Lila wrote, she checked her chart. Slowly, those mix-ups disappeared.
Small changes like this bring fast results. Lila’s essays began to sound more natural, and her teacher even commented on the improvement.
3. Comma Splices and Run-Ons
Comma splices are one of the most common grammar mistakes. Lila often wrote sentences like: “She practiced her speech, she still felt nervous.”
We practiced three simple ways to fix this:
- Add a conjunction: She practiced her speech, and she still felt nervous.
- Use a semicolon: She practiced her speech; she still felt nervous.
- Split the ideas: She practiced her speech. She still felt nervous.
These changes made her writing easier to follow, and her confidence grew.
4. Subject–Verb Agreement
Example: The list of books are on the desk.
Lila wanted her sentences to sound complex, but sometimes the grammar slipped. Her ELA tutor from STEM Prep Tutoring taught her to find the real subject before choosing a verb.
We read examples from Edutopia about building grammar awareness in classrooms. It helped Lila see that grammar is less about rules and more about meaning. Soon, she was spotting and fixing these errors without help.
5. Apostrophe Overload
Students love adding apostrophes where they don’t belong. Lila once wrote: “The cat’s are playing on it’s roof.”
Together, we reviewed a quick guide from the Purdue OWL Grammar Resources. We created a fun habit called “apostrophe detective.” Before turning in any essay, Lila scanned every apostrophe and asked: Am I showing possession or contraction?
By the third week, she had stopped making this common grammar mistake entirely.
A Mid-Story Invitation
If your child is struggling with similar issues, don’t worry. Every student can overcome these common grammar mistakes with clear guidance and practice.
Visit STEM Prep Tutoring to learn more about how our one-on-one reading tutor, comprehension tutor, and online math tutor programs can help. We also offer tutoring in mathematics, tutoring chemistry, and support from a physics tutor — all customized to your child’s needs.
What David Learned About Common Grammar Mistakes
As Lila improved, David realized grammar errors weren’t a lack of intelligence — they were habits. Once he understood the patterns, he could help her at home. Together, we built a five-minute grammar check that any parent can try:
- Read each sentence aloud.
- Find confusing words or misplaced phrases.
- Look for comma splices or missing punctuation.
- Check verbs against subjects.
- Review apostrophes.
This simple system transformed Lila’s study time. Instead of long corrections, she and her father now reviewed together for just ten minutes twice a week.
A Happy Ending — and an Invitation for You
By the end of the semester, Lila’s grade climbed from a B to an A. She smiled proudly when her teacher said, “Your essays read smoothly now.”
David told me he finally felt confident helping her. “I understand her process now,” he said.
If you want the same progress for your child, reach out through our Contact Page or visit our Blog for more stories like this.
At STEM Prep Tutoring, we combine reading tutoring, math tutoring, and writing support to build skills that last. Let’s fix those common grammar mistakes together and help your child write with clarity and confidence.
