8 common blog writing mistakes

This is perhaps one of the most common errors in blog writing. Run-on sentences might be something that writers have heard of before, yet they continue to make this mistake. A run-on sentence refers to a sentence that connects two independent clauses together inappropriately. What exactly is an independent clause? Quite simply, it refers to a complete subject and a complete verb that can stand on its own as a sentence. So, in plain terms, you can refer to an independent clause as a sentence on its own. To avoid this mistake, do not connect two independent sentences together unless you can use a comma or a semi colon, or even a conjunction (for, but, and, or, so).

1. Avoid run on sentences

Blogging is not only a great way to show off your writing skills but it’s an excellent way to demonstrate what your company has to offer. It helps to give your brand a voice and connect with your audience in an attempt to help attract new customers, set yourself apart from the competition and increase the possibility of getting qualified, fresh leads for your business. 

But blogging is not always a matter of straightforward writing; if you feel that you haven’t been seeing the results that you’ve been hoping for, there is a good chance that you are not blogging as effectively as you could. So, if you are committed to make a change for the better, here are a few common blog writing mistakes that you might just be guilty of – so read on and see how you can improve. 

2. Sentence fragments

Another popular mistake when it comes to blog writing is sentence fragments. This usually happens when a sentence is missing a subject, verb, or both. To avoid this, always make sure that your sentence has all the essential parts in order to be complete. The subject of the sentence should be a noun performing an action, a noun that is acted upon, or a noun that is being described with the use of a verb (was, were, is, are, etc.). The verb is usually the action performed by, or on, the subject. Sentence fragments often occur within blog posts and other written content and it is quite a common mistake, especially when it comes to less experienced writers.

3. The dreaded comma splice

The next blog writing mistake is the comma splice. It's a type of run-on sentence and it occurs when two independent clauses are connected with a comma alone. Instead of doing this, include a coordinating conjunction (yet, so, but, and, for, etc.) after the comma to divide the two sentences. It’s a bad mistake to make, yet it’s a common occurrence in many blog posts!

4. The subject-verb agreement

This issue involves a little less grammar speak, but it’s none the less important to note. The subjects of your sentence and the verbs they perform should always be in a numerical agreement. In plain terms – a single noun should be paired with “is”, instead of “are”. As an example, he and his friends are at the movies, or he is at the movies. These errors often occur when the writer works too quickly, not paying attention to what they are writing and not proofreading their work. 

5. The dependendent / independent clause

When a dependent clause tries to act as an independent clause, it can cause all kinds of sentence fragments. A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause in order to be seen as grammatically correct. When a sentence or clause begins with a dependent word it is seen as a dependent clause. A good example would be “When I was young, I had to do my homework on my own.” You can tell that “I had to do my homework on my own” is an independent clause because it can stand alone and make sense by itself. But, the dependent clause “When I was young” doesn’t make sense by itself. The word “when” really spoils it!

6. Always be consistent with your publishing

How often do you publish new blog posts? If you cannot quite remember the last time you publish a post, this is definitely one of the first problems but you should address.

You should have a publishing schedule that is consistent and predetermined. Without a proper structure, your blogging activities and easily get sidelined and your readers won't know when to expect fresh content. Why would they return to your blog then?

If you don't already have one, it's time to make use of an editorial calendar for your company's blog. This will help you to plan your blog posts in advance and stay consistent with your publishing schedule. There are many free tools available online that you can use for your editorial calendar; the most important aspect is that you stay consistent and carefully planned your future blog posts.

7. Never hold back on value

Writers often find it tempting to write teaser content, while holding back the good stuff for a newsletter or e-book. People can quickly be turned off by this approach as it implies that there are strings attached. Authoritative bloggers know that they will always have more to offer in the future than they do now, so that is the real reason why people will subscribe to their content. Your audience will wait eagerly for future content because they know you did not hold back today. 

8. Always be on point

Avoid covering too many different topics at the same time. Stick to your main topic and cover it in-depth, otherwise you are just white noise to the audience. Covering very few topics with great depth will provide value to the right people and this will boost your business image too. As the saying goes, “Go an inch wide and a mile deep!” 

These steps all form part of a continuous cycle that will help any blogger to be more successful and become popular in their specific market. You might not always be perfect, but you can always improve and become an authoritative blogger for your business. Dedication and consistency are always key to your success as a blogger.