1. Many scientists, such as Einstein, have beards.
   Many scientists such as Einstein, have beards.
2. Many scientists, such as Einstein have beards.
   Many scientists such as, Einstein, have beards.

To separate nonessential words from the rest of the sentence, use commas around those words. If used correctly, the sentence should still make complete sense if you take those words out.

1. Some people; like bacon other people prefer sausage.
   Some people like bacon other people; like sausage.
2. Some people like bacon; other people prefer sausage.
   Some people like; bacon other people prefer; sausage.

A semicolon is used to join two separate clauses that are closely related in topic into one sentence. This is helpful to prevent having a bunch of short, choppy sentences in your writing.

1. I didn't mean to infer that you didn't like her.
   I didn't mean to imply that you didn't like her.
2. I didn't mean that you didn't like her, imply.
   I didn't mean that you didn't like her, infer.

"To imply" is something that the speaker does, while "to infer" is something the listener does about something the speaker said. They are often used interchangeable, but they should not be, and are entirely different words with different meanings.

1. They're
   Their
2. There
   Tear

"Their" is possessive, meaning that whatever follows that word is owned by someone. "Their" is always followed by a noun.

1. I must get home at 12.
   If the clock strikes 12, then I must go home.
2. Twelve o'clock is when I must be home.
   I'm expected home at 12.

"Danger" words are called such because they introduce a thought that requires a follow-up clause, and many people forget them. Three most common danger words are "if," "when," and "because."

1. There was an issue with my credit card but I called the credit card company but no one was able to fix it.
   There was an issue with my credit card. I called the credit card company but no one was able to fix it.
2. I called the credit card company because there was an issue with my credit card; no one was able to fix it.
   No one at the credit card company was able to fix the issue with my credit card.

A run-on sentence is a sentence that contains multiple independent clauses that are not separate by any punctuation, or incorrect punctuation. They should not be used, even sparingly.

1. Will you be shopping, or to run?
   At the party, there will be eating and to play games.
2. He enjoys to play guitar and singing.
   I like reading books and drinking tea.

Parallel structure refers to words keeping the same tense and the way the words match each other. If you use a verb ending in -ing, all other verbs in that same sentence must also end in -ing, for example.

1. I still watch all of the cooking channels. Even after what happened.
   I still watch all of the cooking channels, even after what happened.
2. Even after what happened, I still watch all of the cooking channels.
   I still watch, even after what happened, all of the cooking channels.

A sentence fragment is one that doesn't have a subject, a verb, or both. It lacks an independent clause and therefore, is not a complete sentence.

1. While walking on the beach, she spotted a man's shiny sunglasses.
   While walking on the beach, she spotted a shiny man's sunglasses.
2. While walking on the beach, she spotted a man's sunglasses, shiny.
   While walking on the beach, a shiny man's sunglasses were spotted.

A modifier is a describing word, so think of what is being described. In the example above, the sunglasses are shiny, not the man.

1. My mom lost my sister in the mall once, but when she found her, she was so happy.
   When my mom lost my sister in the mall, she was so happy when she found her.
2. My mom was so happy when she found my sister in the mall.
   My sister got lost separated from my mom but in the mall but she was so happy that she found her.

This common mistake is called a vague pronoun. Is the "she" referring to the mom or the sister? It should be clear in the sentence who the pronoun is referring to. If you can't make it clear, be more specific with the subject.

1. My biscuits were fluffier, tastier and healthier.
   My biscuits were fluffy, tasty, healthy.
2. My biscuits were fluffy, tasty healthier
   My biscuits were fluffier, tastier and healthier than yours

In a comparison situation, a lot of people forget the part of the sentence that states what they're comparing. If you choose to structure your sentence this way, make sure it is a complete comparison.

1. To keep up with competition, Apple stepped up their design game.
   To keep up with competition, Apple knew they needed to step up their design game.
2. To keep up with competition, Apple had to step up its design game.
   Apple stepped up their design game in order to keep up with competition.

When using a company or an entity in a sentence, you should never use plural terms when referring to it later in the sentence. Since we don't identify genders to companies, it is easy to see where that desire to use "they" comes from, but it should be avoided as it is not grammatically correct.

1. Jim is the guy that has green eyes.
   Jim is the guy which has green eyes/
2. Jim is the guy who has green eyes.
   Jim is the guy whom has green eyes.

When writing about a person, you always use "who" and not "that." "That" has become acceptable in everyday conversations, but it's a slippery slope. You wouldn't want to end up using it professionally because you got so used to saying it casually.

1. She was overweight and had crooked teeth.
   The movie wasn't that great, but at least the popcorn was edible.
2. I didn't want no popcorn with that horrible movie.
   Even the brightest rainbow couldn't turn this day around.

This is a classic example of bad grammar. Just like math, two negatives equal a positive, so if you didn't want no popcorn, you do, in fact, want popcorn.

1. Wine
   All the girls
2. Girls
   There

The subject of a sentence tells you who the rest of the sentence is about. Include any modifiers to the subject as well, as there is a difference between "girls" and "all the girls."

1. Over there
   Drinking wine
2. Are
   Wine

The predicate is the action to the subject. So if "all the girls" is the subject, to figure out the predicate, look at the sentence to see what action the girls are performing.

1. When does the President leave office?
   When does the president leave office?
2. When does President leave office
   When does president Trump leave office?

The only time the word "president" is capitalized is when it precedes the president's name, or is being used in place of the person's actual name, such as Mr. President.. Other than that, it should always be lower case.

1. Eventually
   Never
2. Diligently
   Bubbly

The common misconception is that all adverbs end in -ly and all words ending in -ly are adverbs. That is false. When looking for the adverb, look for the words that describe how, where, or when something happens.

1. I sent a postcard from my vacation.
   The postcard arrived.
2. All the postcards have been sent, and my vacation ended.
   My postcard never arrived.

Verbs can either be transitive or intransitive. The former needs a direct object, while the latter cannot have one. "Sent" is the transitive verb, while "a postcard" is the direct object.

1. Mia, puck, ice
   Ice
2. Puck
   Across

A noun is either a person, a place, or a thing. In the example above, there are three words that fit that description. The word "across" is a preposition.

1. There were three cactuses in her yard.
   There were three cacte in her yard.
2. There were three cacti in her yard.
   There were three cactus' in her yard.

There are a lot of plural words that don't just add an "s" at the end, and "cactus" is one of them. The plural is actually "cacti" although others have become acceptable in casual speech.

1. Amy ate turkey. She got really full.
   Amy ate turkey, and she got really full.
2. The turkey made Amy really full.
   Eating turkey makes you full.

A compound sentence uses words like "and," "or," or "but" to connect two independent clauses. This is used to prevent short, choppy sentences in writing.

1. The recipe called for a pnt of milk.
   The recipe called for a pt of milk.
2. The recipe called for a pint of milk.
   The recipe called for a pi of milk.

Abbreviations can be tricky because there is seemingly no rhyme or reason to how things are abbreviated. The word "pint" for example, is abbreviated using the first and last letter, but the word "gallon" uses the first three letters.

1. Always, because it's hyperbolic language.
   Its, because it should be "it's."
2. It should read "speaking to you."
   There are no errors.

"Its" is used when referring to an object, whereas "it's" is used to bring together the words "it" and "is." If you're ever in doubt, try saying the sentence with the words "it" and "is" instead of the "its" and if it makes sense, put in the apostrophe.

1. The outside bar is open, and it is first come, first serve.
   The outside bar is open, and it is first come, first served.
2. The outside bar is first come, first served.
   We run the outside bar on a first come, first served basis.

Without the "d" at the end of "serve" it makes it seem like the person first to arrive at the outside bar will be serving everyone else. Since that is not the intention of the phrase, the "d" is very important, but often gets overlooked, especially when the phrase is delivered verbally.

1. It goes in between the last letter of the word and an "s."
   It goes at the end.
2. It goes between a consonant and an "s."
   It depends on the word.

To indicate that something belongs to someone, you would put the apostrophe before the "s," as in "It's the girl's cake." There are other ways to use an apostrophe, but that is the correct way to show possession.

1. There are fewer people here than when we started.
   There are less people here than when we started.
2. The sign says 10 items or less.
   There are less grains of sand at this beach.

"Fewer" refers to something you can actually count, whereas "less" refers to a commodity like water or sand; something you can't really count. It can be tricky, so if you aren't sure, look it up.

1. It should read "accept" not "accepted"
   It should read "invitation" not "invite"
2. It should read "Her invite has been accepted."
   It is an incomplete sentence.

The word "invite" is a verb, so therefore, cannot be accepted as a thing, it can only be done as an action. The "invitation" is the noun that you are accepting.

1. I went for a walk and then drank some water.
   I went for a walk then drank some water.
2. I went for a walk, than drank some water.
   I went for a walk and than drank some water.

The word "then" is used when listing timely events. The other version, "than," is used when comparing two or more things.

1. I am going to lie down.
   I am going to lay down.
2. I am going to lie this blanket on the couch.
   Lay on the couch with me.

The form "lie" doesn't need an object, so it can be used as an action. "Lay" must have an object following it, but it is also the past-tense of "lie" so it can be used as an action only if a time in the past is also used in the sentence.

1. I am not a good singer, nor a good dancer.
   I am neither a good singer, nor a good dance.
2. I am neither a good singer, or a good dancer.
   I am nor a good singer or a good dancer.

"Nor" is only used in before the second in a series of alternatives and only when "neither" introduces the first. "Or" is used when "not" is used to introduce the first, and "or" is used before the second alternative.

1. Sentences should never end on a preposition.
   Sentences shouldn't start with "which."
2. The sentence should start with "Of which."
   The end of the sentence should say "in" not "on."

A preposition is a positioning word, and should never be used at the end of a sentence. The correct version of the sentence above is "On which side of the bed are you sleeping."

1. Since I graduated, I've worked and started a family.
   I'm out of the office since you last called.
2. I've left that job since we last spoke.
   We've been doing it this way since now.

"Since" refers to time, while "because" refers to causation. When you are using "since" it must be used with the correct verb tense since it does refer to time.

1. He went to work "awhile" not "for a while."
   "Went" should be "goes."
2. It is an incomplete sentence
   It is a run-on sentence.

"A while" and "awhile" are not interchangeable. "Awhile" is an adverb meaning "for a while" and "a while" is a noun.

1. I'm trying to raise capitol for my business.
   I like the use of capital letters on the Capitol building.
2. I love visiting the capital building.
   I've been told I talk in all capitol letters.

"Capital" refers to uppercase letters, money, or the seat of the government. "Capitol" refers to the building where the government sits, and nothing else.