Common Writing Mistakes

Writing is something everyone does, some more often than others. Writing well is something few seem to do, at least from the examples I see in letters, newspapers, and social media. In my role as a freelance writer and editor, I see and correct writing mistakes regularly. Some common writing mistakes are repeated in multiple venues by writers of every ilk. So, occasionally, I'll post some writing helps with easy-to-understand explanations and memorable formulas to help writers remember how to use troubled words correctly. Below are some of the most common writing mistakes.

Your writing often forms the first impression, and you only get one chance to make it.

Click to Tweet

 Affect and Effect

How do you know which word to use in what part of a sentence? I see them used incorrectly in many projects I edit for clients, and in lots of papers in the middle school where I work as a writing coach. Here's the short answer: In most cases of writing, use 'affect' as a verb and 'effect' as a noun.

When Should You Use 'Affect'?

Affect means "to influence," as in, "The paint affected my allergies," or "The rain affected my daughter's new hairdo." Affect can also mean "to act in a way that you don't feel," as in, "He affected an unwelcome air of superiority."

When Should You Use 'Effect'?

Effect has many subtle meanings as a noun, but the obvious meaning of "a result" seems to be the best definition. For example, "The effect was devastating," or "The sound effects were amazing," or "The rain had no effect on my daughter's hairdo."

Here are more examples of the common uses of affect and effect:

Effect as a noun

• Becky marveled at the effect fishing had on my mood.
• I wondered whether the heat was having an effect on the fish.

Affect as a verb

• Becky wishes that beans didn't affect my stomach so much.
• The principal's grumpiness affected everyone else's mood today.

Lay vs. Lie

Everyone knows that to "lie" is to tell an untruth. When we eliminate that meaning and just focus on how 'lay' and 'lie' are used to indicate reclining or placing items, things become a bit more complicated.

The important distinction is that 'lay' requires a direct object and 'lie' does not. This is in the present tense, when you speak of doing something now.

• "Lie down on the bed." (no direct object)
• "Lay the plate down on the table." (plate is the direct object)

I remember the difference, and teach students to do so, by thinking of an old phrase that is out of style in current vernacular: "Lay it on me." You're laying something (it, the direct object) on me.

The past tense of 'lay' and 'lie' are a bit more difficult.

The past tense of lie is lay:

• Last night, Andrew lay down on the hard floor.
• Our silly dog lay all night on the cold kitchen floor.

The past tense of lay is laid:

• I laid the finished project on your desk last night.
• Becky angrily laid her purse down and stormed away.

The past participle of lie is lain:

• Anthony has lain on an air mattress the entire vacation.
• Jan has lain in the sun for three hours.

The past participle of lay is laid:

• I have laid the finished project on your desk.
• Becky has angrily laid her purse down and stormed away.

That, Which, and Who

That, which, and who are all relative pronouns within a clause or sentence. This simply means they are used relative to (or in relation to) a person or thing previously mentioned. The basic distinction between them is when referring to people or things. 'Who' is only used to refer to people.

• "The doctor is an upstanding citizen who volunteers at a clinic on his days off."
• "Those are the kids who play on my block."

The only caveat to this rule is when referring to groups, teams, companies, and the like, which are normally viewed as things, and not individual persons.

• "There are many nonprofit organizations that need tax advice."
• "My son belongs to a sports team that frequents this restaurant."

When using that and which, the rules are a bit vague. Both have been used interchangeably to refer to things over many decades.

• "My wife wore a dress that suited her tastes."
• "My wife wore a dress which suited her tastes."
• "I bought a new car that gave nothing but trouble all year."
• "I bought a new car which gave nothing but trouble all year."

The best rule of use seems to be to only use 'which' when referring to a particular, emphasized item, and 'that' when referring to general objects with no special emphasis.

• "I drew a card that was blank."
• "I drew a card, which turned out to be blank."

The difference between the two sentences is that the first one simply declares the fact of drawing a card; only as an aside is it included that it was blank. The second sentence places greater emphasis on the particular card drawn, because of the fact it turned out to be blank.

Why is it important to write well?

It seems like a silly question, but our writings precede us. When applying for a job we must submit a resume’ and sometimes a cover letter. Or how about when sending e-mails to people we don’t know well or haven't met, such as work partners, customers, or when responding on behalf of your company or institute? Your writing often forms the first impression, and you only get one chance to make it. When writing, we send a message about ourselves.

For more easy-to-understand writing tips order my book How to Write Well. Available in print or digital format, this book distills over ten years of writing experience into a simple primer you will refer to again and again. Improve your writing skills in just 30 minutes! Order yours today!

This article first appeared on michaeldstover.com on September 17, 2017.