15 common grammar mistakes in IELTS Writing (with fixes)

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of the four criteria in IELTS Writing, so it is worth a quarter of the marks for each task. At band 7, examiners expect a variety of complex sentences and many sentences that are completely free of errors. Most candidates do not need to learn new grammar to get there. They need to stop making the same small mistakes again and again.

Below are 15 of the most frequent grammar errors in IELTS essays, each with a wrong example, a corrected version and a short explanation.

1. Missing or unnecessary articles

Articles (a, an, the) cause more errors than almost anything else for many learners.

• Wrong: Government should invest more in the public transport.
• Correct: The government should invest more in public transport.

Use the when the reader knows which one you mean (the government of your country). Use no article for general uncountable ideas such as public transport, society and nature.

2. Subject-verb agreement

• Wrong: The number of cars on the roads have increased.
• Correct: The number of cars on the roads has increased.

The subject is the number, which is singular. Be careful with long subjects where a plural noun comes just before the verb.

• Wrong: People who lives in cities ...
• Correct: People who live in cities ...

3. Making uncountable nouns plural

• Wrong: Students can find many informations and advices online.
• Correct: Students can find a lot of information and advice online.

Common uncountable nouns in IELTS topics include information, advice, research, equipment, knowledge, evidence, traffic and pollution. To count them, use phrases such as a piece of advice or several studies.

4. Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence joins two complete sentences with no punctuation or linking word.

• Wrong: Many people work from home now they save time on commuting.
• Correct: Many people work from home now, so they save time on commuting.

5. Comma splices

A comma splice joins two complete sentences with only a comma. It is one of the most frequent punctuation errors in IELTS essays.

• Wrong: Online shopping is convenient, it saves a lot of time.
• Correct: Online shopping is convenient because it saves a lot of time.
• Also correct: Online shopping is convenient. It saves a lot of time.

Words such as however and therefore cannot join two sentences with a comma either.

• Wrong: Prices have risen, however, wages have not.
• Correct: Prices have risen; however, wages have not.

6. Sentence fragments

A fragment is an incomplete sentence, often a dependent clause standing on its own.

• Wrong: Many people prefer cars. Because they are more comfortable.
• Correct: Many people prefer cars because they are more comfortable.

7. Inconsistent or wrong tenses

In Task 1, data from the past usually needs past tenses. In Task 2, general truths usually need the present simple.

• Wrong: In 2010, sales increase sharply and then they had fallen.
• Correct: In 2010, sales increased sharply and then fell.

Use the present perfect for changes that continue up to now:

• In recent years, the cost of housing has risen dramatically.

8. "One of the" with a singular noun

• Wrong: Pollution is one of the biggest problem in cities.
• Correct: Pollution is one of the biggest problems in cities.

One of the is always followed by a plural noun, while the verb agrees with one: One of the main reasons is cost.

9. Wrong word form

Using a noun where you need an adjective, or an adjective where you need an adverb, is a very common error.

• Wrong: Smoking is a danger habit that affects health serious.
• Correct: Smoking is a dangerous habit that seriously affects health.

Watch common word families such as economy / economic / economical, success / succeed / successful and benefit / beneficial.

10. Wrong prepositions

Many verbs, nouns and adjectives are followed by a fixed preposition.

• Wrong: Success depends of hard work, and students should focus in their studies.
• Correct: Success depends on hard work, and students should focus on their studies.

Some verbs take no preposition at all:

• Wrong: This essay will discuss about both views.
• Correct: This essay will discuss both views.

Other common examples are emphasise the point (not emphasise on), an increase in demand, and rose by 10%.

11. Unclear or mismatched pronouns

A pronoun must clearly refer to one noun and agree with it in number.

• Wrong: Governments should support small businesses because it has a responsibility to create jobs.
• Correct: Governments should support small businesses because they have a responsibility to create jobs.

Also avoid an unclear it or this:

• Unclear: Children use phones and tablets for hours, and it is harmful.
• Clearer: Children use phones and tablets for hours, and this habit can be harmful.

12. Double comparatives

• Wrong: Public transport is more cheaper and more better for the environment.
• Correct: Public transport is cheaper and better for the environment.

Use -er for short adjectives and more for longer ones, never both together.

13. Gerund or infinitive after a verb

Some verbs are followed by an -ing form, others by to + verb.

• Wrong: Many people avoid to use public transport, and I suggest to build more bus lanes.
• Correct: Many people avoid using public transport, and I suggest building more bus lanes.

Verbs followed by -ing include avoid, suggest, consider, enjoy and risk. Verbs followed by to include decide, plan, refuse, afford and aim.

14. Passive forms with the wrong verb

Some verbs, such as happen, occur, arrive and die, cannot be passive because they have no object. Other passives need the past participle, not the base form.

• Wrong: The accident was happened because the road was build badly.
• Correct: The accident happened because the road was built badly.

15. "Although ... but"

In English, although and but do the same job, so use only one of them.

• Wrong: Although technology is useful, but it can be addictive.
• Correct: Although technology is useful, it can be addictive.
• Also correct: Technology is useful, but it can be addictive.

How to stop repeating these mistakes

Knowing a rule is not the same as avoiding the error under time pressure. These habits help:

• Keep an error log. After each practice essay, write down every grammar mistake and its correction. You will probably find that the same five or six errors cause most of your problems.
• Check for one error type at a time. In your final minutes, read once for subject-verb agreement, once for articles and once for punctuation between clauses. This is usually more effective than one general read.
• Use complex sentences you can control. Examiners reward range, but a complex sentence full of errors does not help. Build range gradually with structures you can use accurately, such as relative clauses, conditionals and although.
• Do not avoid complex grammar completely. An essay made only of simple sentences cannot show the range needed for band 7.

Check your grammar

It is hard to notice your own errors, especially ones you have repeated for years. You can paste a full Task 2 essay into StudyChat to check your essay for free and get an estimated band score with feedback on your writing. The band score is an AI estimate, not an official result, and StudyChat is not affiliated with IELTS or its official partners.