Be consistent in number agreement between nouns and pronouns.

• Incorrect: The student must have their assignment ready.
• Correct: The student must have his/her assignment ready.
• Better: All students must have their assignments ready.

Use clear transitions to show relationships between ideas.

Use parallel structure when writing a sentence with related components.

• Incorrect: If you expect your neighbors to respect you, you must make sure your pets don't trample their gardens, pruning your bushes so they don't look messy, and you cut the grass regularly.
• Correct: If you expect your neighbors to respect you, you must keep your pets from trampling their gardens, prune your bushes neatly, and cut the grass regularly.

Use verb tenses correctly. Do not change tense in writing without reason.

• Incorrect: When he went on vacation, his friend watches his dog.
• Correct: When he went on vacation, his friend watched his dog.

Make sure the subject and verb agree.

• Incorrect: Each of the people on the picnic are going to bring extra food.
• Correct: Each of the people on the picnic is going to bring extra food.

Make sure past participle forms of the verb are used correctly.

• Incorrect: She was suppose to return her library books by the due date.
• Correct: She was supposed to return her library books by the due date.

When possible, use strong, active verbs