Grammatical error

Grammatical error is a term used in prescriptive grammar to describe an instance of faulty, unconventional, or controversial usage, such as a ​misplaced modifier or an inappropriate verb tense. Also called a usage error. Compare grammatical error with correctness.

Examples:

• I went to the store I got milk and cookies. Both "I went to the store" and "I got milk and cookies" are independent clauses. To avoid a run-on sentence, either link the two with a semicolon - "I went to the store; I got milk and cookies" - or break them into two separate sentences.

• We drove all day in the van, we drove 206 miles to get to our cabin. This is a textbook comma splice. "We drove all day in the van" and "We drove 206 miles to get to our cabin" could be standalone sentences and should not be joined with a simple comma.

  
  

   Pronoun Errors

  Pronoun errors occur when pronouns do not agree in number with the nouns to which they refer. If the noun is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the noun is plural, however, the pronoun must be plural as well. For example:

  • Incorrect: Everybody must bring their own lunch.
  • Correct: Everybody must bring his or her own lunch.

Lack of Subject/Verb Agreement

When speaking or writing in the present tense, a sentence must have subjects and verbs that agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. For example:

• Incorrect: These recipes is good for beginning chefs.
• Correct: These recipes are good for beginning chefs.