Question: What are some common grammar and punctuation errors I should look for when revising my manuscript?

 

Answer:

Before publishing a manuscript, there are several stages of editing and revisions an author must go through to produce the best book possible. These include utilizing critique partners, self-editing, beta readers, and a professional book editor.

Self-editing is probably one of the most overlooked steps in the publishing process. It can be daunting to review your own work, but by taking the time to self-edit, you can ensure your book’s content is appropriate for your target audience and genre, while also saving you time and money in the long run. The more polished and error-free your manuscript, the less you will have to invest in professional editing or publishing updates. And, if your published book is riddled with errors, readers will notice and they may stop reading or even leave a negative review.

Before starting any revisions, we recommend taking a break from your manuscript so that you can look at it objectively. Whether a week or several weeks, make sure it’s long enough to feel like you’ve separated yourself from the book and can look at it with fresh eyes. You are closer to your manuscript than anyone, so you cannot self-edit effectively unless you get out of the weeds for a bit and can look at your book as a reader, not the writer.

When to review your manuscript for grammar and punctuation errors

For the revision process to be as efficient as possible, we recommend reviewing your manuscript for big picture content issues first. It doesn’t make sense to fix smaller grammatical errors before making the major changes to structure, prose, or plot, as big chunks of text may get added, deleted, or updated along the way. Once you are satisfied with your big picture revisions, it’s time to fix the obvious grammatical errors including spelling and punctuation. A few tips before you jump in:

Save every iteration of your book manuscript in case you want to reference a previous version for something that you’ve changed or removed.

Use grammar and spelling software such as Microsoft Word, Grammarly, or Hemmingway Editor to help capture some of the errors. Don’t solely rely on them, though, because they won’t catch everything.

Read your work aloud. This action slows your editing process and reviews every word so you can catch simple mistakes.

Determine whether editing a printed copy or electronic copy will work best for you.

Eight common grammar and punctuation errors to look for in your manuscript:

1. Misspelled words that mean something else

Some words in the English language look or sound alike (or both), but have different meanings or contexts. These words, also known as “homophones”, are easily confused with one another, and are often the culprit of many misspellings in a manuscript. It can be difficult to determine which one is correct if you’re unsure of the difference between the two. Here are some of the most common ones to look for:

YOUR VS. YOU’RE:
Your – belonging to you; Example: This is your book.
You’re – contraction of you + are; Example: You’re the author of this book.

TWO VS. TO VS. TOO:
Two – the number 2; Example: I read two books today.
To – in the direction of, as far as, to the extent of; Example: I’m going to the bookstore.
Too – in addition, as well, besides, also; Example: I’m going to the bookstore too.

ITS VS. IT’S:
Its – of, belonging to, made by; Example: A book is nothing without its pages.
It’s – contraction of it + is; Example: He will only read a book if it’s about zombies.

THAN VS. THEN:
Than – used to make comparisons; Example: This book is better than that one.
Then – to indicate time or a sequence; Example: First, he wrote the book, then he started editing.

WHO’S VS. WHOSE:
Who’s – contraction of who + is; Example: Who’s going to read this book when I’m done?
Whose – belonging to someone; Example: Angie, whose book was selling like crazy, couldn’t stop smiling.

WHO VS. WHOM:
Who – the one performing an action; Example: Who wrote that book?
Whom – the one receiving the action; Example: Whom are you inviting to the book launch party?
Pro Tip – If you can replace the pronoun with "he" or "she," use "who." If you can replace it with "him" or "her," use "whom."

THERE VS. THEIR VS. THEY’RE:
There – in, at, or to that place or position; Example: There is the bookstore you were asking about.
Their – belonging to them; Example: The bookstore is their favorite place to study.
They’re – contraction of they + are; Example: They’re going to the bookstore today.

WHERE VS. WERE VS. WE’RE:
Where – in or at a place; Example: Where can I find a book on birds?
Were – past tense of “are”; Example: We were at that book signing yesterday.
We’re – contraction of we + are; Example: We’re ready to start editing now.

COMPLIMENT VS. COMPLEMENT:
Compliment – praise or admiration; Example: She received a compliment on her new book.
Complement – makes something better; Example: The workbook complements the book series.

PRESENCE VS. PRESENTS:
Presence – state of being in the vicinity; Example: Her presence at the book signing is important.
Presents – gifts or offerings; or to introduce something; Examples: I received many presents for my birthday, including books. / The final chapter of the book presents an exciting twist.

AFFECT VS. EFFECT:
Affect – to influence; Example: The author’s powerful prose affected me deeply.
Effect – a result or outcome; Example: The scene showed the cause and effect of the character’s actions.

ACCEPT VS EXCEPT:
Accept – to receive willingly; Example: The author was thrilled to accept the book deal from the publisher.
Except – to exclude; Example: We sold all of the books at the event except for a few damaged copies.

STATIONARY VS. STATIONERY:
Stationary – not moving; Example: He sat stationary while reading the book.
Stationery – writing paper; Example: She bought stationery to write thank-you letters to her readers.

PEEK VS. PEAK VS. PIQUE:
Peek – a quick look; Example: I took a peek at the back cover to see if I wanted to purchase the book.
Peak – the highest point; The peak of tension between characters occurred in chapter ten.
Pique – to arouse interest; Example: The quirky book title piqued my curiosity.

LOOSE VS. LOSE:
Loose – not tightly fastened; Example: The book’s binding is loose.
Lose – to be deprived of something; Example: If you get distracted, you will lose your place in the book.

2. Misspelled words due to silent letters, double letters, and unusual vowel combinations

There are many words that are frequently misspelled due to various letter factors. Here are some of the more common:

Words with Silent Letters:

•  The silent “b”: debt, subtle, climb, womb, doubt
•  The silent “c”: conscious, muscle, scene, ascend, abscess
•  The silent “d”: edge, bridge, handkerchief, Wednesday, badge
•  The silent “g”: champagne, foreign, cologne, light, gnome
•  The silent “n”: solemn, column, hymn, condemn, autumn
•  The silent “p”: pseudo, receipt, psalm, psychology, psoriasis
•  The silent “t”: castle, listen, ballet, apostle, chalet
•  The silent “w”: answer, sword, wrath, wrought, awry

Words with Double Letters:

•  Exaggerate: The "gg" is often missed.
•  Recommend: The double "m" is often missed.
•  Success: The double "s" is often missed.
•  Accommodate: The double “c” or double “m” are often missed
•  Embarrass: The double “r” or double “s” are often missed

Words with Unusual Vowel Combinations:

•  Believe: The "ei" vs. "ie" combination can be tricky.
•  Deceive: Similar to "believe" with the "ei" or "ie" rule.
•  Liaison: The second “i” is often missed.
•  Buoy: The “uo” combination is often misspelled as “ou”
•  Entrepreneur: The “eu” combination is often misspelled as “ue”

3. Misplaced or dangling modifiers

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add description to sentences. Typically, a modifier will be in front of or behind the word it logically describes. If there is a separation, sentences will become awkward or confusing for the reader. Misplaced modifiers are where the modifier is positioned too far from the word or word it modifies. Dangling modifiers occur when the intended subject of the modifier is missing from the sentence, and instead another subject appears in its place.

Misplaced modifier example:
Incorrect: “The student read the book with a bored expression." (this sounds like the book has a bored expression, not the student)
Correct: “The student with a bored expression read the book.”

Dangling modifier example:
Incorrect: “Walking through the bookstore, the book caught my eye.” (this sounds like the book is walking through the bookstore)
Correct: “As I walked through the bookstore, the book caught my eye.”

4. Active vs. passive voice

Active and passive voice are the two types of grammatical voices that refer to the relationship between a verb and the subject of a sentence. With active voice, the subject (person or thing) of a sentence is performing the action. With passive voice, an object or thing is being acted upon. It’s important to understand the difference between the two voices because active voice is generally stronger and more engaging when writing prose.

Active voice:                                                                                          Passive voice:
Sarah read the book.                                                                             The book was read by Sarah.
Jacob washed the car.                                                                          The car was washed by Jacob.
The musician played the song on the piano.                                    The song was played on the piano by the musician.

You can manually detect passive voice in your content by identifying the action doers in sentences. Those doers are usually at or near the end of sentences in the passive voice with the verbs preceding them. For the active voice, the doers are at or near the beginning of sentences. To change passive voice to active, you must place a doer near the start of a sentence with the verb immediately after it.

5. Run-on and incomplete sentences

Writing a complete sentence should be simple, right? Well, not always.

Run-ons and incomplete sentences are extremely common, especially as writing gets more complex. Run-on sentences occur when you combine two complete sentences together without using a conjunction or proper punctuation. Incomplete or fragmented sentences occur when you are missing a subject or a verb.

Run-on sentence example: Jenny enjoyed the sci-fi book her dad gave her for her birthday although she usually prefers fantasy.
Possible correction: Jenny enjoyed the sci-fi book her dad gave her for her birthday. Although, she usually prefers fantasy.
Possible correction: Although she usually prefers fantasy, Jenny enjoyed the sci-fi book her dad gave her for her birthday.

Incomplete sentence example: Reading all night to finish the book.
Possible correction: I was reading all night to finish the book.
Possible correction: We were reading all night to finish the book.

6. Slippery words

In grammar, "slippery words" refer to words or phrases that are difficult to define or apply due to their flexibility, broad meaning, or varied interpretations. They are often used in ambiguous or vague ways, making it challenging to determine their exact intended meaning. Examples of slippery words in grammar include:

Hope: Can be used to describe a feeling, an expectation, or a goal, making it difficult to define precisely in certain contexts.

Normal: Often used to describe what is considered typical or average, but what is considered normal can vary greatly between individuals, groups, or cultures, making it a slippery concept.

Significant: Can be used to describe something that is important or meaningful, but the level of importance or significance can vary greatly depending on the context.

Reasonable: Often used to describe something that is logical or fair, but what is considered reasonable can depend on individual beliefs, values, and perspectives.

Freedom: Can be used to describe a lack of constraint or control, but the concept of freedom can have many different meanings and implications, depending on the context.

Well: Can be an adverb, adjective, noun, or interjection, with varying meanings.

Like: Can be a preposition, verb, or conjunction, each with different implications.

Fair: Can mean just, equitable, light-colored, or a gathering of people. The context is crucial for understanding the intended meaning.

Truth: What is considered true can vary based on individual perspectives, cultural contexts, or even the specific situation.

Progress: What constitutes progress can be subjective and depend on one's goals or values.

Culture: Culture is a broad term encompassing various aspects of human society, making it a slippery concept to define precisely.

Pretty: Can mean attractive or somewhat/to a certain extent.

Nice: Can express approval or be used to describe something as pleasant or agreeable.

7. Incorrect punctuation

Punctuation is what helps you define your voice and communicate your sentence in the clearest, most accurate way possible. Good punctuation will bring emphasis to the right word or words and create rhythm in your writing. For example:

It was his best book, written with the greatest care.
It was his best book; he wrote it with the greatest care.
It was his best book: he wrote it with the greatest care.
It was his best book—no, his only book—written with the greatest care.

All of these sentences are correct depending on the context and tone you are intending. It all depends on what you are trying to say and where you want the emphasis.

Here are six common types of punctuation marks and how they differ:

The comma:
Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, but it can be difficult to figure out where commas are actually necessary and where they aren’t.

When to use commas:

When combining dependent sentences, or parts of a sentence that can’t stand on their own:
Example: After I read the book, I returned it to the library.

Before so, but, and, or, and because when followed by an independent sentence:
Example: The book was short, but I thought it was great!

When using an interrupting or parenthetical element:
Example: Sci-fi books, especially ones about aliens, are my favorite.

When using an introduction phrase, such as directly addressing someone by name:
Example: Charlie, do you know where the bookstore is?

When grouping three or more items in a list, you use commas to separate them. The comma before "and" or "or" at the end of the list is called the Oxford comma. The Chicago Manual of Style recommends using this comma in book manuscripts:
With Oxford comma: She enjoyed reading, writing, and baking.
Without Oxford comma: She enjoyed reading, writing and baking.

When NOT to use commas:

When combining two independent sentences:
Wrong: The book was good, I want to read it again.
Correct: The book was good. I want to read it again.
Correct: The book was good, so I want to read it again.
Correct: The book was good; I want to read it again.

Before so, but, and, or, and because when followed by a dependent sentence:
Wrong: The book was short, but great.
Correct: The book was short but great.

The semicolon:
Semicolons are used most often to join two independent sentences without using a conjunction such as “and” or “but”. They are not interchangeable with commas or periods, but instead fall somewhere in between: stronger than a comma but not quite as strong as a period.

When to use semicolons:

To connect two complete, but related, sentences:
Example: Helen has gone to the library; she needed a book for school.

To divide a list of items if the items are long or contain internal punctuation:
Example: I wanted to take her on a nice date; go to the bookstore, which, by the way, is her favorite place; and have dinner in the park.

The colon:
Although colons and semicolons appear to be similar, they are not necessarily interchangeable. A colon functions to say, “that is to say” or “here’s what I mean”, and is used when your second sentence is explaining, illustrating, paraphrasing, or expanding on the first sentence.

When to use a colon:

When introducing a list of items that are NOT incorporated into the flow of the sentence:
Example: The bookstore sells all my favorite things: books, movies, and board games.

Between two independent sentences where the second explains or expands on the first:
Example: I have very little time to read the book: my paper is due in three days.

For emphasis:
Example: Daring swordfights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise: this book had everything I wanted and more.

When NOT to use a colon:

When introducing a list of items that are incorporated into the flow of the sentence:
Wrong: The library has books on: art, architecture, and history.
Correct: The library has books on three subjects: art, architecture, and history.

Between two standalone sentences where the second does not expand on the first:
Wrong: I haven’t read the book yet: I am failing history class.
Correct: I haven’t read the book yet: all my free time is spent studying for history.

The em dash:
Em dashes are versatile punctuation marks that differ from a regular dash by both length and usage. They are used most often to set off parenthetical information within a sentence, or mark sharp turns in a thought. Often, you can use them interchangeably with parentheses; however, em dashes put more focus on the information between them.

When to use em dashes:

To set off parenthetical information:
Example: The Harry Potter series is one of the few series—no, the only series—I will ever read.

To set off clarifying information that contains commas, where using commas would become confusing:
Confusing: If you need help, the four of us, Matt, Jennifer, Sara, and I, are all good at editing.
Correct: If you need help, the four of us—Matt, Jennifer, Sara, and I—are all good at editing.

When using a list at the beginning of a sentence, to bring them together into one idea:
Example: Blogging, PR, social media—there’s so much to learn when it comes to selling a book.

To mark sharp turns in thought:
Example: Where did you leave the—oh, never mind. I found it.

Apostrophes:
Apostrophes are punctuation marks primarily used for contractions and to show possession. Contractions combine two words into one, with the apostrophe replacing the missing letters. Possessive apostrophes indicate ownership, with an added apostrophe and "s" after a noun, or just an apostrophe after a plural noun ending in "s".

Contractions:

Apostrophes replace letters when two words are combined:
Examples: it’s for it is, you’re for you are, won’t for will not
Use contractions sparingly, as they are more informal.

Possessive Apostrophes:

Singular nouns – Use an apostrophe and "s" to indicate possession:
Example: I read the author's book.

Plural nouns ending in "s" – Add an apostrophe after the "s":
Example: I read the authors’ books.

Plural nouns not ending in "s" – Use an apostrophe and "s":
Example: He writes children’s books.

Quotation marks:
Quotation marks are essential for direct quotes, titles of works, and words used as a term or way of speaking. Double quotation marks are typically used for main quotes, while single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes. Punctuation like periods and commas generally go inside the closing quotation marks.

Direct quotations – Quotation marks enclose words spoken or written by someone else:
Example: "The author has a book signing next week," she said.

Titles of short works – Generally, shorter works like articles, poems, and songs use quotation marks, while longer works such as books, movies, and periodicals are italicized:
Example: "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Used to highlight words used ironically, slang, or newly coined terms:
Example: He used the word "lit" to describe the book.

Nesting quotes – When a quote is inside another quote, single quotation marks are typically used for the inner quote:
Example: "She said, 'I robbed the bookstore'," he confessed.

Dialogue has its own set of punctuation guidelines and recommendations, which you can learn more about HERE.

8. Misuse of hyphens

The hyphen is one of the most difficult pieces of punctuation to understand. This is because it often changes the meaning of a sentence. For example:

She went to the old book club: indicates the book club is old
She went to the old-book club: indicates the books are old

Here are a few of the most common ways hyphens are used:

Compound adjectives – When two or more adjectives describe the same noun:
Examples: High-priced items, Green-eyed monster, Well-behaved child, Twenty-year-old couch

Numbers – Numbers 21 through 99 are hyphenated when spelled out, fractions, and ages as adjectives:
Examples: Two hundred and twenty-seven, Sixty-six thousand, two-thirds, five-year-old

Prefixes – Modifiers placed before a word to alter or enhance its meaning:
Examples: ex-husband, self-confident, re-imagined, all-in

To prevent confusion – When words or sentences have different meanings depending on whether a hyphen is used:
Example: “old book club” vs. “old-book club”

If you’re still writing your first draft, don’t let the editing side of your brain take over. Seeking grammatical perfection will only distract you from getting the words down, making it more difficult to finish. When you are ready to do some self-editing, steel your nerves. It will require you to disconnect from your manuscript and stop thinking like an author. You must be prepared to make cuts and changes, and do what's best for your book.

Once you’ve completed a revision for big picture edits, it’s time to fine tune your manuscript by finding the small, yet glaring, grammar and punctuation issues. Doing as much self-editing as possible will save you time and money in the overall editing process, allowing a professional editor to focus on the more advanced aspects of book editing.

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