A freelance writer’s ultimate guide to basic grammar rules for writing

Knowing the basic grammar rules for writing is essential for freelance writers who want to produce clear, engaging, and professional content. Whether you’re writing blog posts, articles, or marketing copy, proper grammar enhances the clarity of your message, establishes credibility, and ensures a polished final product. This is important because writers are not just selling their ideas. They’re selling their ability to communicate them effectively. And that means getting the grammar right every time.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover the most important grammar rules every freelance writer should know. From punctuation and sentence structure to mastering tenses and avoiding common mistakes, these tips will help you sharpen your writing skills to ensure that every piece of content you deliver is top-notch.

Essential punctuation rules

Punctuation is one of the most critical aspects of grammar, yet it’s often overlooked. Proper punctuation not only clarifies your meaning but also ensures that your writing flows smoothly. 

Here’s a breakdown of the most important punctuation rules for writers:

• Periods (.): Use periods to end a complete thought. Avoid run-on sentences by breaking long sentences into shorter, clearer ones.
• Commas (,): Commas are used to indicate pauses and separate elements within a sentence. However, be careful not to overuse them, as this can clutter your writing.
  • Example: I went to the store, bought some groceries, and returned home.
• Semicolons (;): Use semicolons to link closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list.
  • Example: I have a big deadline tomorrow; therefore, I need to finish writing tonight.
• Colons (:): Colons introduce lists, explanations, or clarifications.
  • Example: I have three favorite books: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, and The Great Gatsby.
• Apostrophes (’): Apostrophes are used for contractions and to show possession.
  • It’s means it is, while its shows possession.
  • Example: It’s raining outside, but the dog has its bone.
• Quotation Marks (“ ”): Quotation marks are used for direct quotes or to indicate titles of short works.
  • Example: She said, “I’m excited to start this project!”

Correct punctuation is key to maintaining the flow and meaning of your writing. Misplaced punctuation can lead to confusion, so always review your punctuation choices carefully.

Subject-verb agreement

Understanding subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that freelance writers must master. Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of a sentence must match the verb in number—singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. This rule applies to both simple and complex sentences.

Key rules for subject-verb agreement:

• Singular subjects require singular verbs:
  • Example: The dog runs in the park.
• Plural subjects require plural verbs:
  • Example: The dogs run in the park.

However, certain situations can make subject-verb agreement tricky. Watch out for collective nouns (like team or group), compound subjects, and sentences where the subject comes after the verb (e.g., There are many reasons).

Common challenges with subject-verb agreement:

• Collective nouns: Nouns that refer to a group (such as team, family, audience) may take singular or plural verbs depending on the context.
  • Example: The team is winning. (treated as a single unit)
  • Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (emphasizing individual members)
• Indefinite pronouns: Words like everyone, someone, and nobody are singular, even though they may refer to multiple people.
  • Example: Everyone is coming to the meeting.

Maintaining subject-verb agreement ensures that your sentences are grammatically sound and easy to read.

Proper use of tenses

The proper use of tenses is essential for creating clear and coherent writing. Tenses indicate the time of an action or event, and consistency in tense is crucial for maintaining the flow of your narrative. There are three main tenses:

• Past tense: Describes actions that have already happened.
  • Example: She wrote the article yesterday.
• Present tense: Describes actions happening right now or habitual actions.
  • Example: She writes for several blogs.
• Future tense: Describes actions that will happen in the future.
  • Example: She will write a new article tomorrow.

Inconsistent use of tenses can confuse readers. If you start a paragraph in the past tense, stay in the past tense unless there’s a clear reason to shift to another tense. Switching between tenses without purpose disrupts the flow and makes your writing harder to follow.

Additional tense-related tips:

• Present perfect tense is used for actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past but are still relevant.
  • Example: She has written many articles about travel.
• Past perfect tense is used for actions that were completed before another action in the past.
  • Example: By the time she finished the project, she had already written several chapters.

Avoiding common grammar mistakes

Even seasoned writers can make common grammar mistakes, but awareness and careful proofreading can help you avoid them. Here are some of the most frequent issues freelance writers encounter:

• Their/There/They’re:
  • Their is possessive (Their opinions matter).
  • There refers to a place or existence (The book is over there).
  • They’re is a contraction of “they are” (They’re coming to the event).
• Its/It’s:
  • Its is possessive (The dog wagged its tail).
  • It’s is a contraction of “it is” (It’s a sunny day).
• Who/Whom:
  • Who is used as a subject (Who is going to the meeting?).
  • Whom is used as an object (Whom should I ask about the project?).
• Affect/Effect:
  • Affect is a verb (The decision will affect the outcome).
  • Effect is a noun (The decision had a positive effect).

Avoiding these mistakes will elevate the professionalism of your writing.

Mastering sentence structure

Good sentence structure improves readability and keeps your audience engaged. A variety of sentence types ensures your writing doesn’t feel monotonous. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Simple sentence: Contains one independent clause.
  • Example: The dog barked.
• Compound sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
  • Example: The dog barked, and the cat hissed.
• Complex sentence: Contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
  • Example: While the dog barked, the cat hid under the bed.

Mixing these structures throughout your writing adds variety and keeps the reader’s attention.

Using active vs. passive voice

Most freelance writing should be in the active voice, which is more direct and engaging. In active voice, the subject performs the action. In passive voice, the subject receives the action, which can lead to less clarity.

• Active: The writer completed the project.
• Passive: The project was completed by the writer.

While passive voice has its place (particularly in scientific or technical writing), active voice typically results in clearer, more powerful sentences.

Clarity with proper grammar

Proper grammar enhances clarity, making your writing more accessible and easier to understand. Improving writing clarity with grammar involves focusing on structure, punctuation, and word choice to eliminate ambiguity. 

Proofreading is your best friend here—reading your work aloud helps catch awkward phrasing, and grammar-checking tools can flag potential issues.

Resources for improving grammar skills

Even experienced writers can benefit from brushing up on grammar. Here are some great grammar resources for writers:

• Grammarly: An online tool that provides real-time grammar, spelling, and style suggestions.
• Purdue OWL: A comprehensive resource for writing and grammar rules.
• Hemingway Editor: A tool that highlights overly complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives.

Know grammar like the back of your hand to succeed in freelance writing

Mastering basic grammar rules for writing is essential for freelance writers who want to deliver clear, professional content. By refining your grammar skills, you’ll improve the quality of your writing, reduce errors, and stand out in a competitive field. Keep practicing, use the resources available, and continuously strive to enhance your grammar for a successful freelance writing career.