Examples of Writing Errors

“If your physician is with an independent practice, check with them…

[Physician is singular and should be referred to with a singular pronoun. It should read, ...check with him or her.] An ad for a medical treatment facility.

“Grapefruit, lime and pineapple are predominate…

[Predominate, most often used as a verb meaning to prevail, is an acceptable but rarely used way of saying predominant, which should be used here.]. Tasting notes for a vineyard.

“Better. Quicker. Stronger. These are more than superlatives.”

[These are actually comparatives. Superlatives would be Best, Quickest, and Strongest.] An ad for, surprisingly, a community college.

“Our kidney care mortality rate is better than eight of the top ten programs in the nation.”

[Mortality rate refers to the number of deaths relative to size of population per 1,000 people per year. It would be clearer and more compelling with lower vs. better. “Better” could be construed as this facility’s death rate is higher and the organization is proud of it!] An ad for a hospital.

“When you wish, the world becomes brighter. So wish. Its what makes the holidays the holidays.”

[Its is a possessive pronoun. This should be It’s, which is the contraction of it is.] On a large international coffee company's holiday take-out cup.

“The XXX Company [sic] has been able to attract some of the most talented people in the industry. Years of experience has given them the ability…”

[Years, the subject, is plural; the verb should be have. The XXX Company in the first sentence is followed by the verb “has been” correctly noting that the subject (XXX Company) is singular. Therefore, a singular pronoun should refer to a singular antecedent; so, them should be it or perhaps us in this case. The sentence would be correct and clearer if it were, “Years of experience have given us the ability…”] A promotional piece for a small business.

“...and it is tough to find someone that doesn’t love their job.”

[Who should be used to refer to people; use that for places or things. Someone is singular, so a pronoun referring to it should be singular. The sentence should read, “...and it is tough to find someone who doesn’t love his or her job.” If his or her seems awkward, change the antecedent to a plural. The sentence could then be changed to, “...and it is tough to find people who don’t love their jobs.” Note that jobs should be plural in this case, as “people” don’t have one job.] From a company's magazine ad.