The New St. Martin's HandbooK
Handbook Home
Bedford/St. Martin's Home
Web Sites for Writers
20 Most Common Errors
About the Book
Order a Copy


The Twenty Most Common Errors



Check to make sure all the verb tenses in each of your sentences work together appropriately. Verb tenses tell readers when actions take place: saying "Willie went to school" indicates a past action whereas saying "he will go" indicates a future action. When you shift from one tense to another with no clear reason, you can confuse readers.