What is a common mistake in sentence structure?

• A. Writing incomplete sentences or failing to ensure subject-verb agreement.
• B. Using precise subject-verb agreement.
• C. Using strong transitions.
• D. Proofreading thoroughly.

Answer: (A)

Clear sentence structure hinges on complete thoughts and proper subject-verb agreement. A frequent mistake is creating incomplete sentences or failing to match the subject with its verb. When a sentence is incomplete, it lacks a main clause, leaving readers hanging, as in “Because the policy changes.” The fix is to add a main clause so the thought is complete: “Because the policy changes, staff must update procedures.”

Subject-verb agreement matters because the verb must reflect the subject’s number. For example, with a singular subject, use a singular verb; with a plural subject, use a plural verb. A common mix-up is the phrase “The list of items is on the desk” versus “The list of items are on the desk.” The correct form uses is, since the subject is the singular “list,” even though it’s followed by a plural phrase “of items.”

These are common structure issues that hinder clarity. The other options describe good writing habits or techniques—precise verb use, strong transitions, and thorough proofreading—that help avoid mistakes rather than being mistakes themselves.