It’s been a long time since you’ve taken an English class, but those grammar lessons make a difference when you’re writing your resume. Even if you’re applying to jobs where writing isn’t a big part of the job description, spelling and grammar errors, typos and other writing mistakes can make an impact on the person reading your resume. Here are a few of the most common.
Not using the correct style when listing your academic degree
When referring to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, there are two correct ways to write it. If you’re referring to a general degree, lowercase the name and use an apostrophe. When referencing the specific area of your degree, capitalize the name of the degree and don’t use an apostrophe. An associate degree never uses an apostrophe.
- Correct: I have a bachelor’s degree. I have a master’s degree.
- Incorrect: I have a Bachelor’s degree. I have a masters degree.
- Correct: I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I have a Master of Arts in Education.
- Incorrect: I have a bachelors of science in business administration. I have a Master’s of Arts in Education.
- Correct: I have an associate degree.
- Incorrect: I have an associates degree. I have an associate’s degree.
Using the wrong verb tense
As you write your resume, it’s easy to switch between past and present tense like “work” and “worked” without paying a lot of attention. However, if you do this haphazardly, it looks unprofessional. As you write your resume, use present tense when you describe your responsibilities at your current job, like “Create quarterly reports.” However, if you’re referencing a one-time, past accomplishment at your current job, then use past tense, like “Developed new filing and organizational practices, decreasing costs by 20 percent.”
When describing your responsibilities and accomplishments at any previous jobs, always use past tense.
Using the wrong homophone
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings, like “their,” “there” and “they’re.” Here are a few of the most common.
They’re/there/their:“They’re” is short for “they are.” “There” refers to a location. “Their” means something belongs to them.
To/Too/Two:“Two” refers to the number. “Too” can mean “also” or “very,” as in “I would like to go too if you aren’t too busy.” “To” is a preposition that means “in the direction of,” as in “I reported the error to my manager.”
It’s/Its:“It’s” is a contraction of “it is.” “Its” is possessive, meaning “belonging to it.”
Your/You’re:“You’re is a contraction of “you are.” “Your” is possessive, meaning “belonging to you.”
Affect/Effect:“Affect” is usually a verb. Use it to describe an action like, “My new website design affected leads, causing an increase of 20 percent.” “Effect” is usually a noun. Use it to describe the result of something like, “The certification had a major effect on team productivity.”
Using apostrophes incorrectly
It’s easy to use apostrophes too often or not often enough. There are two reasons you should use apostrophes in your writing.
- You are using a contraction like “can’t,” “it’s” or “you’re.”
- You are using a possessive like “managed the team’s finances.”
- Incorrect: Never use apostrophes when talking about plurals like “managed six employee’s.”
Using incorrect capitalization
When you’re writing your resume, it’s east to start capitalizing words that don’t need to be capitalized. It can get pretty confusing. Read the earlier section on degrees to see when you should capitalize those words. If you’re not sure if something should be capitalized, look it up and look up some example resumes. Here are a few other reasons to capitalize:
- A proper noun like the name of a company
- Your job title as a bullet point or before your name, but not if it stands alone in a sentence or comes after your name.
- Correct: At the conference, Company XYZ President Jane Doe delivered the keynote. Jane Doe, president of Company XYZ, delivered the keynote at the conference.
- Incorrect: At the conference, Company XYZ president Jane Doe delivered the keynote. Jane Doe, President of Company XYZ delivered the keynote.
- Names of cities
- Months and days of the week
- Names of universities
- Brands
- The first word in a bullet point
FAQs
How do you check grammar mistakes on a resume? ›
What tools can you use to check the grammar on a resume? You can use Resume Worded's grammar-checking tool which is, unlike several grammar-checking tools out there, tailor-made to check for errors that hiring managers don't want to see in resumes.
Is grammar important in resume? ›Grammar and spelling errors in your resume reflect poorly on you as a candidate. They can give the impression to recruiters and potential employers that you are lacking in communication abilities, attention to detail or time management skills. Remember to keep your resume skimmable, but do not skim when editing it!
Why error in syntax and grammar should be avoided in writing a resume curriculum vitae? ›Resume grammar mistakes can completely sabotage even the most carefully prepared presentation. Syntax describes sentence construction. How you arrange the words and phrases of your sentences makes a big difference in how you come across to readers.
What are the 5 common resume mistakes? ›- Having spelling errors and bad grammar. ...
- Exaggerating the truth. ...
- Poor formatting. ...
- An unoriginal personal profile. ...
- Not focusing on your achievements. ...
- Making your CV too long. ...
- Putting the wrong contact information.
- Grammar and punctuation errors. Think about the underlying message communicated with typos, and with errors in grammar and punctuation. ...
- Poor formatting. Can't fit your resume to one page? ...
- Failure to communicate knowledge and skills. ...
- Job descriptions that aren't descriptive. ...
- Using pronouns and articles.
- Typos and Grammatical Errors. ...
- Lack of Specifics. ...
- Attempting the "One–Size–Fits–All" Approach. ...
- Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments. ...
- Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short. ...
- Bad Summary. ...
- No Action Verbs. ...
- Leaving Off Important Information.
Missing or unnecessary contact information. At the very top of your resume should be: Your name (big and in bold), address (to let the hiring manager know where you're based), personal email and phone number (so they can contact you). In some cases, it may be appropriate to include a link to your website or portfolio.
What are five of the 10 common mistakes to avoid in writing? ›- 1 Overuse of adverbs. ...
- 2 Too many prepositional phrases. ...
- 3 Ambiguous (“Squinting”) modifiers. ...
- 4 Misuse of lie/lay. ...
- 5 Ambiguous pronoun references. ...
- 6 Comma splices. ...
- 7 Run-on sentences. ...
- 8 Wordiness (inflated sentences)
...
Don't include:
- Your marital status.
- Sexual orientation.
- Religious or political affiliations.
- Social security number.
- Anything else that a prospective employer can't ask about.
Interestingly enough, it's through your use of spelling, grammar and punctuation. By looking at your grammatical errors – or lack thereof – employers learn about your attention to detail, critical thinking skills and overall competency.
Do employers care about grammar? ›
In fact, 77% of employers will immediately screen out a resume with typos or bad grammar (CareerBuilder survey), and 58% of resumes contain this type of error. One spelling study found that well over 50% of Americans earn low marks on spelling tests made up of everyday words.
What are 7 major don'ts of writing a resume? ›- Use templates and tables included in software.
- Make general claims (“Good communication skills”) without backing them up with examples.
- Mislead employers about your GPA, skills, or abilities.
- Include long, generic objective statements. ...
- Submit references on the same page as your resume. ...
- Don't go over two pages.
Not only does grammar play a role in written language, but it also plays a role in spoken language. While grammar rules are less strict when speaking, grammatical errors in speech are still critical. Too many grammar mistakes and spoken language become distracting. That makes it hard for people to follow your meaning.
What are you going to avoid in writing a resume? ›- Don't make your resume unnecessarily long. ...
- Don't leave it to the reader to figure out what you do. ...
- Don't forget to make your resume searchable. ...
- Don't be vague. ...
- Don't use a list of tasks. ...
- Don't be passive. ...
- Don't use pronouns. ...
- Don't miss typos and grammatical mistakes.
- Rule 1: Think Before You Type. ...
- Rule 2: Write Your Professional Profile Last. ...
- Rule 3: Summarise Your Responsibilities. ...
- Rule 4: Make Achievements Your Key Area of Focus. ...
- Rule 5: Write For Your Reader.
The 3 F's of resume writing are Function, Form(at) and (e)Ffectiveness. When these 3 elements are adhered to simultaneously in the resume, they make it the perfect fit for the role you're applying to.
What are red flags in a resume? ›- Spelling, grammar, and punctuation issues. ...
- Poor formatting. ...
- Failure to follow directions. ...
- Lack of customization. ...
- Unexplained employment gaps. ...
- Regression or lack of progression. ...
- Multiple career changes. ...
- Unprofessional social media presence.
To become an employer magnet, they'll need a handful of essential qualities known as the 4 C's: Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking.
What are two things you should not do on a resume? ›- Too much information. ...
- A solid wall of text. ...
- Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. ...
- Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience. ...
- Unnecessary personal information. ...
- Your age. ...
- Negative comments about a former employer. ...
- Too many details about your hobbies and interests.
Here are the eight most common resume lies told and the percentage of people telling them, according to StandOutCV: Previous work experience: 55.4% Skills: 43.1% College degree (or equivalent): 41%
What not to put on a resume in 2022? ›
Don't include lots of information that's irrelevant to the job you're applying for. “Sure, you've got hobbies, interests, languages, favorite bands, and ambitions,” Cenedella says. “But keep the information that doesn't address your ability to be responsible, accountable, and a hard worker to a reasonable level.”
What words should not be used in a resume? ›- “Salary negotiable” Yes, they know. ...
- “References available by request” See the preceding comment about unnecessary terms.
- “Responsible for ______” ...
- “Experience working in ______” ...
- “Problem-solving skills” ...
- “Detail-oriented” ...
- “Hardworking” ...
- “Team player”
- Subject-Verb Agreement Errors. ...
- Sentence Fragments. ...
- Misuse of Contractions and Apostrophes. ...
- Passive Voice. ...
- Dangling Modifiers. ...
- Comma Splice. ...
- Run-on Sentences. ...
- Ending a Sentence in a Preposition.
The article “Four Most Serious Errors” illustrated four most common errors in english writing, including fragments, run-ons,problem with subject-verb agreement and problems with verb form and tense.
What is the most common grammar mistake? ›One of the most common grammar mistakes is using the wrong verb tense. The verb tense tells your reader when the action takes place: in the past, present, or future.
How many mistakes are acceptable on a resume? ›A recent poll asked hiring managers how many spelling errors they could tolerate on a resume or cover letter. The answer: One or none, according to most managers.
What counts as a grammar mistake? ›Most often, grammar mistakes occur when you construct an incorrect sentence. For example, if you mix up two commonly confused words, or if you string two independent clauses together without an appropriate conjunction, those are grammar mistakes.
How do you know if your grammar is well? ›- Read: Reading is one of the secret weapons to improve your grammar skills. ...
- Use a grammar manual: It is a very useful idea to have a grammar manual nearby that you can consult when writing. ...
- Write more and quiz yourself: ...
- Re-reading aloud: ...
- 5 Consult others and learn from feedback:
- 1: Misspelled words. ...
- 2: Repeated words. ...
- 3: Vague words. ...
- 4: Misspelled names. ...
- 5: Not capitalizing the first word in a sentence. ...
- 6: Passive voice. ...
- 7: Oxford commas. ...
- 8: Ending a sentence without a punctuation mark.
A more recent view considers grammar as a skill. According to Larsen-Freeman (2001), “grammar is to be seen as a skill not as a competence” (p. 67). That is, when we speak or write, we are always involved in “doing” grammar, whether consciously or unconsciously.
How can poor grammar affect you on a resume in a job interview and at work? ›
If you have formidable writing skills and extensive English or other language knowledge, put them on your resume and you will have an easy time job hunting. Bad grammar reflects poorly on your credibility. Recruiters frown upon grammatical errors as they showcase someone as careless, sloppy, and a poor communicator.
Do and don'ts of writing resume? ›Resume dos and don'ts
Update skills regularly and remove ones that are irrelevant. Focus on achievements in past positions instead of copy/pasting job descriptions. Add sections outside the five essential ones (contact information, professional summary, education, experience, skills) when relevant.
- Contact information.
- Career summary.
- Skills.
- Professional experience.
- Education.
- Learn Basic Grammar Rules.
- Write Clearly and Concisely.
- Proofread Your Work.
- Write and Review At Different Times.
- Read Your Work Backwards.
- Use A Spell Checker.
- Hire An Editor.
- Use Grammar Checking Software.
Avoid Spelling Errors: If you are unsure about spelling, check it before using the word. Punctuate: A misplaced punctuation mark can change the entire meaning of the sentence or make it sound like a nonsensical sentence. So, make sure to put those commas, apostrophes etc.
What is the best way to avoid spelling mistakes? ›- Use a (good) dictionary. ...
- Be consistent about using British or American spellings in your writing. ...
- Always check certain “troublesome” suffixes in your dictionary. ...
- Create your own “difficult-to-spell” lists. ...
- Learn the standard pronunciations for frequently misspelled words.
- Typos and Grammatical Errors. ...
- Lack of Specifics. ...
- Attempting the "One–Size–Fits–All" Approach. ...
- Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments. ...
- Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short. ...
- Bad Summary. ...
- No Action Verbs. ...
- Leaving Off Important Information.
- Incorrect subject-verb agreement. • The relationship between a subject and its verb. ...
- Wrong tense or verb form. ...
- Incorrect singular/plural agreement. ...
- Incorrect word form. ...
- Unclear pronoun reference. ...
- Incorrect use of articles. ...
- Wrong or missing prepositions. ...
- Omitted commas.
- Wrong word use or confusion.
- Vague pronoun references.
- Faulty sentence structure or parallelism.
- Unnecessary shift in verb tenses.
- Fused (run-on) sentence structure or sprawl.
- Lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement.
- Sentence fragments.
- Misplaced or dangling modifiers.
What are the basic rules of grammar? Some basic rules of grammar include ensuring all sentences have a subject and a verb; placing adjectives directly before the noun they describe, or after it if separated by a verb; and using a comma to connect two ideas.
What is a grammatical mistake? ›
A grammatical error is an instance of faulty or controversial language use. It makes it hard for the reader to understand what you're saying. There are many kinds of writing mistakes, and it's important to distinguish grammar errors from other mistakes.
What are the 3 common types of spelling errors? ›In the samples below, the spelling errors from a student's writing are assembled into three broad categories: phonological (phonetically inaccurate), orthographic (phonetically plausible but inaccurate), and morphologic/syntactic.
What is the most common spelling mistake? ›- accommodate. Common misspellings: acommodate, accomodate. ...
- acknowledgment. Common misspelling: acknowledgement. ...
- acquire. Common misspelling: aquire. ...
- apparent. ...
- calendar. ...
- colleague. ...
- conscientious. ...
- consensus.
Correct spelling is an indicator of English proficiency: If your writing has a lot of errors, the person reading will doubt your ability to use English. Wrong spellings lead to misunderstandings: For instance, “You're Jack” and “Your Jack” mean very different things!