ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

COMMON ERRORS
IN ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
WRITING
Prepared By: Janelle M. Gonowon
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
1. Use a singular verb to a singular subject
and a plural verb to a plural subject.
Klea goes to the mall to watch
a movie with her friends.
 My nephews keep on
running around the house.
2. Two or more singular subjects joined by
and are always plural.
Jonas and his team supply
photos for the magazine.
Lyra and Rochelle do their
assignment in silence.
 3. Two singular subjects pertaining to
the same person or thing are considered
singular.
The famed writer and photographer is
expected to contribute an article for
the next editíon of the magazine.
Macaroni and cheese is my
favorite food.
Fish and chips is a popular
dish in the United
Kingdom.
 4. For singular subjects joined by
either/or or neither/nor, consider the
form of the noun closest to the verb.
Either Sarah or Ana is going to
be the rapporteur for the
symposium.
 Neither the host nor the judges were
informed of the final results before the
announcement of winners.
5. Subjects that come with the words each
or every, along with pronouns like
someone, somebody anyone, anybody,
or no one, are considered singular.
Each perspective has its
own merit depending on
context.
No one does the
assignment.
6. Subjects with the phrase a number are
plural.
A number of teachers
attend the three-day
seminar.
A number of books were
missing from the library.
7. Subjects with the phrase “the number”
of are singular.
The number of students in
the class is 30
 The number of CoVID
positive cases is indeed
staggering.
The number of students in
the class is 30
8. Units of measure or time often require
a singular verb.
At least 30 minutes of exercise is
needed for good blood
circulation among adults.
A half kilo apple is needed.
 9. Some indefinite pronouns (e.g, none, some,
most, all) are either singular or plural. When used
with uncountable nouns, they take the singular form
of the verb. When used with countable nouns, they
take a plural verb.
None of the honey has been taken
by Kevin.
Most the designs made by Jela
were vibrant.
 Supplementary Materials
https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asps
https://grammary.in/40-rules-of-subject-verb-agreement/

https://uwf.edu/cassh/resources/the-uwf-writing-lab/access-
additional-materials-for-self-guided-study/grammar-and-
punctuation/introsubverbagr/
x
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT
AGREEMENT
Pronoun words used in place
of noun.
 Antecedent the nouns pronouns
replace should agree to one another
with each other to ensure that
messages are conveyed clearly
Basic Rule

Pronoun should agree with its antecedent in

terms of number, gender, and person. This means
that singular pronouns should replace a singular
noun, and plural pronouns should replace plural
nouns.
EJ Obiena broke his own record
for pole vaulting at the 2021
Southeast Asian Games.
Example

People across the globe are

joined together by their common
wish to end the pandemic.
Example

Shiela folded the laundry. When

she was done, she took a rest.
Supplementary Materials

https://www.uvu.edu/writingcenter/handouts/pronoun-
antecedent-agreement.html

https://www2.hawaii.edu/~gharada/ENG100grammar/PronounAn
tecedent.htm
VERB TENSES
Verb tenses indicate when
the action in the sentence is
completed.
LEGEND:
V1- base form of verb; V2- past tense; V3- past participle

BASE FORM (V1) SIMPLE PAST (V2) PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)

arrive arrived arrived

sing sang sung

cut cut cut

Main Tenses

PAST TENSE
 Simple Past Tense
-used to indicate an action or event
that happened in the past.

-subject + V2
Simple Past Tense

The APAC Dancers performed

during the induction ceremony.
Simple Past Tense

Dan sang during the teacher’s

day celebration.
 Past Continuous Tense
-used to depict an action or event
that was continuing in the past.
-subject + was/were + verb + -ing
Past Continuous Tense

Chloe Isabelle was listening to

her favorite songs.
Past Continuous Tense

It was raining in Manila.

 Past Perfect Tense
-used to represent an event or action
that happened in the past before another
event or action that happened in the past.
 Past Perfect Tense
-subject + had + V3
Past Perfect Tense

I had finished my report before

the bell rang.
Past Perfect Tense

Michael had written a letter.

Main Tenses

PRESENT TENSE
 Simple Present Tense
-pertains to actions happening in the
present, but is mostly used to state facts
or habits.
-subject + v1/ v1 with s/es
Simple Present Tense

Zee annoys his little brother.

Simple Present Tense

During English time, the

students check their own paper.
Simple Present Tense

Bryan practices basketball every

after class.
 Present Continuous Tense
-used to denote an action that is
continuing at the present moment.
-subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing
Present Continuous Tense

Diana is baking cookies for

Cris.
 Present Continuous Tense

They are waiting the announcement

of class cancellation.
 Present Perfect Tense
- used to indicate an action that is used
to denote an action that is indefinite and
still has its effect on the subject or object
in the sentence.
 Present Perfect Tense

-subject + has/have + v3
Perfect Present Tense

Micha has reached home.

Perfect Present Tense

Lisa and Mona have arranged

the bridal shower of Alli.
Main Tenses

FUTURE TENSE
 Simple Future Tense
-expresses what will happen after the
present.
-subject + will + v1
Simple Future Tense

I will buy you flowers.

Simple Future Tense

I will buy you flowers.

 Future Continuous Tense
-to suggest that something is about to
happen or will happen at some time that is
not clear or precise.

-subject + will be+ v + -ing

Future Continuous Tense

I will be preparing our dinner.

Future Continuous Tense

Aunt Susan and Arjay will be

visiting our grandmother
tomorrow.
 Future Perfect Tense
-a verb tense that is used to refer to an action
that will be completed by a specified time in the
future.
-subject + will have + v3
Future Perfect Tense

Lalaine will have paid you next

well.
Future Perfect Tense

I am sure I will not have

dressed yet by the time you
arrive.
Past Tense

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

TENSE TENSE TENSE
s + v1/v1 s + will s +
SIMPLE s + v2
with s/es v1
s + was/were s + am/is/are s + will be + v
CONTINUOUS + v +-ing + v +-ing +-ing
s + has/have + s + will have +
PERFECT s + had + v3
v3 v3
PARALLELISM
-using the same structure for
related words, phrases, or clauses in
a sentence.
-makes the sentence concise, clear,
and easy to read.
x

Loi loves to cook, read

and go swimming every
weekend.
Loi loves to cook, read
and swim every weekend.
x

The conference will focus on

marketing strategies, digital
advertising, and how to manage a
business.
The conference will focus on
marketing strategies, digital
advertising, and managing a
business.
x

The company ships goods by

land, by sea and by air.
x

Mr. Warner teaches physics and

coaches the baseball team.
MODIFIER
USE
-pertains to words or phrases that
function as adjective or adverb to
describe another word or phrase in
the sentence.
-should be placed next to the word
it describes.
Mary admitted to her mother with a
sad face that she had failed the
chemistry examination.
She served sandwiches to the
children on paper plates.
The students who studied diligently
performed well on the test.
She spoke softly in the library.
She spoke softly in the library.
WORD USE
ACCEPT vs. EXCEPT
Marian (accepts, excepts) Josh’s
apology. She was willing to make
amends (accept, except) her mom
was asking for a public apology.
ACCEPT
-receive

EXCEPT
-exclude
STATIONARY vs.
STATIONERY
STATIONARY
-fixed

STATIONERY
-paper
I will remain (stationary,
stationery), go and buy some
(stationary, stationery) to add in
your collection.
THERE vs. THEIR
THERE
-location

THEIR
-possessive pronoun
They left (their,there) bags over
(their,there) by the tree while they
went for a hike.
Supplementary Materials

https://nmu.edu/writingcenter/common-word-usage-errors

https://www.grammarbook.com/homonyms/confusing-
words.asp
References
Essentials of English for Academic and Professional
Purposes pp. 21-25

https://byjus.com/english/english-tenses/