Image illustrating the article above
“Grammar Tips for Professional Writers”
Whether you’re writing blog posts, website copy, or marketing emails, solid grammar is the foundation of professional writing. Clients expect polished, clear, and credible content—sloppy grammar is one of the fastest ways to lose their trust.
Here are the top grammar tips every freelance writer should master to elevate their writing and impress clients consistently.
1. Know Your Common Homophones
Words that sound the same but mean different things can easily sneak into your writing.
Examples:
- Their / There / They’re
- Your / You’re
- Its / It’s
- To / Too / Two
Tip: Read aloud or use Grammarly to catch these easy-to-miss mistakes.
2. Avoid Run-On Sentences
Long, unbroken sentences confuse readers and weaken your message.
Example (run-on):
“I finished the article it still needs editing and I have another one due.”
Better:
“I finished the article. It still needs editing, and I have another one due.”
Keep sentences clean and manageable—especially for web readers.
3. Master Comma Usage
Commas control clarity and pacing. Use them:
- After introductory phrases: “After the meeting, we finalized the content.”
- To separate items in a list: “Research, write, edit, and proofread.”
- Before conjunctions in compound sentences: “She pitched the article, and he approved it.”
Avoid the “comma splice,” where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma.
4. Use Active Voice Whenever Possible
Passive voice:
“The blog was written by the freelancer.”
Active voice:
“The freelancer wrote the blog.”
Active voice is clearer, stronger, and more engaging for most writing situations.
5. Be Careful With Apostrophes
Apostrophes show possession or create contractions—but they’re often misused.
- Correct: The writer’s deadline (possessive)
- Incorrect: The writer’s are late (should be writers are)
Avoid using apostrophes for plurals (e.g., “client’s” when you mean “clients”).
6. Maintain Parallel Structure
When listing or connecting phrases, keep the grammatical structure consistent.
Not parallel:
“She likes writing, to edit, and research.”
Parallel:
“She likes writing, editing, and researching.”
This small tweak adds polish and rhythm to your writing.
7. Watch Out for Wordiness
Clear writing is concise. Cut filler words like:
- Really
- Just
- Very
- Actually
- That (often unnecessary)
Example:
“I just really think that you should actually consider…”
Better:
“You should consider…”
Every word should serve a purpose.
8. Use “Which” vs. “That” Correctly
- Use “that” for essential clauses: “The article that I wrote was accepted.”
- Use “which” for non-essential clauses (with a comma): “The article, which I edited twice, was accepted.”
9. Avoid Double Negatives
Phrases like:
- “I don’t have no time.”
- “She isn’t not helpful.”
These are confusing and grammatically incorrect. Use:
- “I don’t have any time.”
- “She isn’t helpful.”
10. Proofread Like a Pro
Even experienced writers make grammar mistakes. Always:
- Read your work out loud
- Use tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Hemingway
- Take a break before proofreading (fresh eyes help)
Bonus Tip: Learn From Mistakes
When clients correct your grammar, don’t take it personally. Learn from it, make a note, and use that feedback to grow.
