Academic writing plays a central role in higher education across the UAE, where students are required to demonstrate not only subject knowledge but also strong English communication skills. However, many students struggle with grammar due to differences between English and their first languages, whether Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, or others.
These grammar challenges can impact clarity, coherence, and academic performance. In this blog, we will explore the common grammar errors in UAE academic writing, their causes, and how students can overcome them.
Importance of Grammar in Academic Writing
Grammar is the backbone of academic writing. Proper sentence structure, verb usage, punctuation, and agreement ensure that ideas are conveyed clearly and professionally. In the UAE, where universities emphasize global standards of education, strong academic writing skills are crucial for success. Misuse of grammar can:
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Lower grades in assignments and exams
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Create misunderstandings in research papers
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Reduce credibility of academic work
Thus, identifying and addressing common grammar mistakes is essential for UAE students aiming to excel in academic writing.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Common Mistake:
Students often confuse singular and plural verbs, especially when the subject seems complex.
Example:
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Incorrect: The group of students are preparing for the exam.
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Correct: The group of students is preparing for the exam.
Why It Happens:
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In Arabic and some Asian languages, the rules for verb agreement differ significantly from English.
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Plural words placed close to the verb often confuse students.
How to Fix It:
Always identify the main subject of the sentence and match the verb accordingly. Ignore additional words between subject and verb.
2. Incorrect Use of Articles (a, an, the)
Common Mistake:
Students either omit articles unnecessarily or overuse them.
Example:
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Incorrect: She is studying in university.
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Correct: She is studying in a university.
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Incorrect: The nature is beautiful in UAE.
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Correct: Nature is beautiful in the UAE.
Why It Happens:
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Arabic and other regional languages do not use articles in the same way English does.
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The definite article the in English has no direct equivalent in many languages.
How to Fix It:
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Use a/an when introducing something general.
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Use the when referring to something specific or previously mentioned.
3. Misuse of Prepositions
Common Mistake:
Prepositions are frequently misused because their use in English does not directly translate from Arabic or other languages.
Example:
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Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
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Correct: She is married to a doctor.
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Incorrect: We discussed about the project.
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Correct: We discussed the project.
Why It Happens:
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Literal translation from Arabic or Urdu leads to misplaced prepositions.
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Many prepositions have multiple meanings, which confuses students.
How to Fix It:
Learn prepositions through context and examples rather than translation. Reading academic journals can help internalize correct usage.
4. Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Common Mistake:
Students often join multiple independent clauses without proper punctuation or leave sentences incomplete.
Example:
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Run-on: I studied for the exam I was tired I went to sleep.
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Correct: I studied for the exam, but I was tired, so I went to sleep.
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Fragment: Because she was late.
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Correct: She missed the bus because she was late.
Why It Happens:
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Different sentence structuring rules in Arabic and English.
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Lack of clarity on punctuation use.
How to Fix It:
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Use conjunctions (and, but, so) or punctuation (commas, semicolons) to join ideas.
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Ensure every sentence has a subject and a verb.
5. Incorrect Verb Tenses
Common Mistake:
Verb tense errors are widespread in UAE academic writing.
Example:
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Incorrect: Yesterday, he go to the library.
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Correct: Yesterday, he went to the library.
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Incorrect: By next year, she completed the course.
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Correct: By next year, she will have completed the course.
Why It Happens:
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In Arabic, verb tenses are structured differently and are often simpler.
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Overuse of present tense in academic writing due to uncertainty about past or future tenses.
How to Fix It:
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Pay attention to time markers such as yesterday, next year, already.
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Review rules of simple, perfect, and continuous tenses.
6. Confusion Between Singular and Plural Forms
Common Mistake:
Students often mix up singular and plural nouns, especially with irregular forms.
Example:
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Incorrect: The informations are important.
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Correct: The information is important.
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Incorrect: Sheeps are grazing in the field.
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Correct: Sheep are grazing in the field.
Why It Happens:
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Arabic and other languages form plurals differently.
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English irregular plurals do not follow consistent rules.
How to Fix It:
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Memorize irregular plural forms.
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Recognize uncountable nouns (e.g., information, advice, furniture) and avoid adding -s.
7. Misplaced Modifiers
Common Mistake:
Students sometimes place descriptive words incorrectly, leading to confusing meanings.
Example:
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Incorrect: She nearly wrote 20 pages every day.
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Correct: She wrote nearly 20 pages every day.
Why It Happens:
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Direct translation from other languages often changes word order.
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Limited practice with advanced sentence structures.
How to Fix It:
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Place modifiers close to the words they describe.
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Read sentences aloud to check clarity.
8. Capitalization Errors
Common Mistake:
Capitalization rules are often ignored or misapplied.
Example:
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Incorrect: he studies at khalifa university.
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Correct: He studies at Khalifa University.
Why It Happens:
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In Arabic, capitalization does not exist.
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Students confuse proper nouns and common nouns.
How to Fix It:
Capitalize:
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The first word of every sentence
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Proper nouns (people, places, institutions)
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Titles when used with names
9. Confusing Homophones (Words that Sound Alike)
Common Mistake:
Students often confuse words with similar pronunciation but different meanings.
Example:
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there/their/they’re
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to/too/two
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your/you’re
Incorrect: Their going to the library. Correct: They’re going to the library.
Why It Happens:
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English spelling and pronunciation are inconsistent.
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Over-reliance on speech rather than writing.
How to Fix It:
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Learn word meanings in context.
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Proofread carefully to catch homophone errors.
10. Incorrect Use of Punctuation
Common Mistake:
Students either overuse or underuse punctuation marks.
Example:
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Incorrect: Let’s eat students.
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Correct: Let’s eat, students.
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Incorrect: The teacher said "The exam is tomorrow".
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Correct: The teacher said, “The exam is tomorrow.”
Why It Happens:
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Punctuation in Arabic and Urdu differs significantly from English.
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Lack of familiarity with quotation marks, commas, and apostrophes.
How to Fix It:
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Understand that punctuation changes meaning.
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Practice using commas, periods, and quotation marks properly.
11. Overuse of Passive Voice
Common Mistake:
While passive voice is sometimes necessary, students overuse it, making writing wordy and unclear.
Example:
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Passive: The experiment was conducted by the students.
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Active: The students conducted the experiment.
Why It Happens:
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Students think passive voice sounds more formal.
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Many academic texts use passive voice, influencing learners.
How to Fix It:
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Use passive voice only when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
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Prefer active voice for clarity.
Strategies to Improve Grammar in Academic Writing
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Practice Regularly: Writing practice is the most effective way to reduce errors.
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Read Academic Material: Exposure to journals and articles improves natural grammar understanding.
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Use Grammar Tools: Online tools like Grammarly can identify common errors.
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Seek Feedback: Professors, tutors, and peers can highlight recurring mistakes.
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Take Notes of Mistakes: Maintain a personal error log to track and correct patterns.
Conclusion
Grammar errors are a common hurdle for students in the UAE as they transition into academic writing in English. From subject-verb agreement and article usage to prepositions and tense confusion, these errors arise due to structural differences between English and students’ native languages. However, with consistent practice, awareness, and guidance, students can master academic grammar and improve both their confidence and performance.
Strong grammar not only enhances academic grades but also prepares students for global opportunities in education and careers. By addressing these common mistakes, learners in the UAE can achieve clarity, precision, and professionalism in their academic writing.