Grammar, Usage, and Sentence Correction
Master clause structure first
Most sentence-correction items hinge on clause boundaries. Know the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause, and recognize the three classic boundary faults: the comma splice (two independent clauses joined only by a comma), the run-on or fused sentence (no punctuation at all), and the fragment (a dependent clause or phrase punctuated as a sentence). Repair a comma splice with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or so. Do not repair it with a conjunctive adverb alone: "The report was late, however it was thorough" remains a splice; use a semicolon before however and a comma after it.
Agreement, reference, and parallelism
Check subject-verb agreement across interrupting phrases: in "The list of approved vendors is long," the subject is list, not vendors. Indefinite pronouns such as each, everyone, and neither are singular. Confirm that pronouns have one clear antecedent; "When the manager met the client, she apologized" is ambiguous. Parallelism requires matching grammatical forms in a series: "reviewing, revising, and approving" not "reviewing, revising, and to approve."
Modifiers and tense
Place modifiers next to what they describe. "Walking into the office, the memo was on the desk" dangles because the memo was not walking. Keep verb tense consistent unless time sequence demands a shift, and use past perfect only for the earlier of two past actions.
Worked example
Sentence: "Each of the interns have submitted their timesheet."
Step 1: The subject is Each, which is singular, so use has. Step 2: Their is acceptable in modern usage, but on a formal test, match the singular: his or her or recast as "All of the interns have submitted their timesheets."
Rule of thumb: strip interrupting phrases, find the true subject, then make the verb agree.