The ultimate grammar cheat sheet for writers (Infographic)
Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards.
English is the world’s international language, but that doesn’t mean it’s the world’s easiest language. It’s full of grammar oddities, confusing vocabulary and hard-to-master conventions.
There are roughly three times as many people speaking English as a second language as there are native speakers, and the ability to speak and write English has become an essential skill for anyone serious about an international career. Those whose English is flawless will impress easily, and those who make errors risk coming across as careless.
It pays to master English grammar, even if you’re a native English speaker. All it takes is a little attention to detail, and the ability to remember how to get around a few of the language’s quirks.
If you want to improve your English, focus on:
- Banishing grammar mistakes
Make sure you know when to use a comma, what an apostrophe’s for and how to make your writing simple and clear.
- Swotting up on confusing words
English includes plenty of words that have similar spellings, but different meanings, such as affect and effect. It’s difficult to know which to use in any given sentence, so spend some time learning some common problem words.
- Widening your vocabulary
It’s easy to keep on using the same few words you’re comfortable with, but you’ll communicate far better if you take advantage of the rich variety of the English language.
- Proofreading
Everyone makes mistakes, no matter how fluent they are. The only way to make sure you don’t is to proofread your work (and then proofread it again).
Check out our infographic below for more detailed tips on how to improve your English.
When you have a story to tell, the last thing you want is grammar errors standing between you and your reader.
The Expert Editor’s ultimate grammar cheat sheet covers the most common mistakes writers encounter — from dangling modifiers to vague pronoun references.
Grammar errors
Bad grammar makes you look unprofessional. Avoid the most common grammar mistakes by staying vigilant about these errors:
When a word or phrase modifies a word, but it is not clear which particular word is being modified, or whether there is such a word being modified at all, then you have a dangling modifier on your hands. Because the modifier does not have a specified target, it is “dangling”.
Comma splices are easy to fix. When you have two independent clauses and you find a comma in between them, simply select a semi-colon or a period instead. Done.
Sentence fragments are a bunch of words huddled together to impersonate a sentence, but a sentence they do not make. A sentence requires at least one independent clause. An independent clause is a clause which contains both a subject and a verb, and is independent in that it can function on its own.
Get rid of unnecessary commas because they can interrupt the flow of your sentence if they are simply littered about mindlessly.
Make sure that you are clear on which subject your pronoun is referring to. When a pronoun can refer to more than one subject, or the subject is only implied, then you have yourself a vague pronoun reference. If there is a chance that you can be misunderstood, revise the sentence.
Apostrophes are there for contractions. “It’s” is the contracted equivalent of “it is”, while “its” is a possessive pronoun.
Confusing words often misused
Alot is not a word. Do not put “alot” when you mean “a lot”, which is two words.
Allot is a word that means “to apportion something to someone as a share or task”.
Less vs. Fewer
“Fewer” is used for objects that can be clearly quantified, such as apples and buttons.
“Less” is used for objects that cannot be quantified, such as less rice.
Much vs. Many
Use “much” when referring to collective or singular nouns. Use “many” when referring to plural nouns.
Thanks to the Oxford Dictionary, here are some more confusing words and their respective definitions. Enjoy!
adverse: unfavourable, harmful
averse: strongly disliking; opposed
all together: all in one place, all at once
altogether: completely; on the whole
appraise: to assess
apprise: to inform someone
born: having started life
borne: carried
censure: to criticize strongly
censor: to ban parts of a book or film; a person who does this
complacent: smug and self-satisfied
complaisant: willing to please
disinterested: impartial
uninterested: not interested
flaunt: to display ostentatiously
flout: to disregard a rule
loath: reluctant, unwilling
loathe: to hate
practice: the use of an idea or method; the work or business of a doctor, dentist, etc.
practise: to do something repeatedly to gain skill; to do something regularly
prescribe: to authorize use of medicine; to order authoritatively
proscribe: to officially forbid something
principal: most important; the head of a school
principle: a fundamental rule or belief
wreath: a ring-shaped arrangement of flowers, etc.
wreathe: to surround or encircle
When describing the top 5 emotions — happy, sad, angry, confused, surprised — do not simply state the emotion. Show what the character is going through by describing their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Or reach for a more precise word: instead of “happy”, try “elated”; instead of “surprised”, try “awestruck”.
Proofreading tips
Proofreading is the examination of a text to find and correct spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and inconsistencies in style. Online grammar checkers like Grammarly are good at catching spelling errors, but they cannot reliably detect incorrect word usage or style issues.
It helps to gain some distance from the text before you begin — even setting it aside for 15 minutes can sharpen your eye, and a day or more will sharpen it further.
Reading a printed copy rather than a screen makes it easier to spot errors. Reading aloud tests the flow of the words in a way that silent reading cannot. When the stakes are high, a qualified proofreader brings a fresh perspective that is hard to replicate on your own.