When you are editing your book, it is crucial to keep an eye out for some of the most common grammar errors that occur. Here are a few of the mistakes that you should be especially wary of making, as they are some of the most frequently found in self-published materials.

• That vs. Which: When determining whether to use “that” or “which,” there is one major question to ask yourself: is the clause you are introducing essential or nonessential? If it is an essential clause use “that”; if it is a nonessential clause use “which.” Remember that when using “which” the clause should be set off by commas, whereas essential clauses using “that” should not be.
• Who vs. Whom: This is a grammatical conundrum that has plagued writers for years—but there is an easy way to remember the difference between them. “Who” is used when you are speaking about the subject of a sentence and “whom” is used when you are referring to the object.
• That vs. Who: This is an issue that is most commonly encountered when speaking about companies and other organizations, as people tend to personify them. “Who” should always refer to a person, while “that” refers to everything else.
• Incorrect Use of Semicolons: Semicolons are, arguably, among the most misunderstood punctuation marks in the English language. Most basically, semicolons are used to connect sentences that are related but that, if you so choose, could stand on their own. Additionally, they can be used to separate items on a list.
• Run-On Sentences: Writers often fall into two camps—those who use an abundance of punctuation and those who use it sparsely. While clear, concise prose is certainly a wonderful way to convey a story, it is crucial to ensure that your sentences are not run-ons, as this can become confusing to readers.

Self-publishing is not an easy task, as there are so many responsibilities that accompany the job. Contact Enoch Press at (887) 245-6782 or click here to learn more about how we can help with the self-publishing process.