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Editing & Grammar: 12 Fast Fixes (Y5–10)

Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Strong writing starts with clean sentences. Use these twelve fixes as a quick tune-up before you hand anything in. Each one has a rule, example, and a mini drill you can try now.

Teacher/Parent tip: Set a 6–8 minute “CUPS” pass at the end of any task — Capitals, Usage (grammar), Punctuation, Spelling.

1) Capitals & full stops

Rule: Start sentences and proper nouns with capitals; end statements with a full stop.

Example: On Tuesday, Maya visited the Science Museum.

Mini drill: fix → in august we went to Melbourne it was raining


2) Commas in lists (Oxford comma optional)

Rule: Separate three or more items with commas. The Oxford comma before and is optional in UK English—use it if it avoids confusion.

Example: We packed sandwiches, fruit and water.

Mini drill: add commas → Bring pencils highlighters a ruler and a calculator.


3) Fragments & run-ons

Rule: Every sentence needs a subject and a finite verb. Use a full stop, semicolon, or conjunction to avoid run-ons.

Example (fixed run-on): The storm eased, and the power returned.

Mini drill: repair → The bell rang we kept working.


4) Apostrophes: possession vs “it’s/its”

Rule: Use ’s for possession; s’ if the plural already ends in s. It’s = it is/it has; its shows possession.

Examples: the teacher’s laptop; the players’ change room; it’s cold; its handle.

Mini drill: choose → The robot lost (it’s / its) wheel.


5) Subject–verb agreement

Rule: Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb. Watch collective nouns (team, class) and tricky phrases (a pair of…).

Example: The team is winning. / The players are celebrating.

Mini drill: pick the verb → A pair of shoes (was / were) left behind.


6) Tense consistency

Rule: Stay in one time unless you clearly signal a change.

Example: We were waiting when the bus arrived.

Mini drill: fix → He opens the door and then shouted at us.


7) Precise pronouns (no vague “this/that”)

Rule: Make sure pronouns clearly refer to one noun.

Example: Jade told Priya the news, and Priya smiled. (not she)

Mini drill: clarify → When Sam met Alex, he was nervous.


8) Fronted adverbials need a comma

Rule: If a sentence starts with a time, place or manner opener, add a comma.

Example: After the interval, the band returned.

Mini drill: add comma → In the distance the siren wailed.


9) Extra information = commas (non-restrictive clauses)

Rule: Use commas to bracket information that can be removed without changing core meaning.

Example: My brother, who loves chess, entered the tournament.

Mini drill: add commas → The museum which opened in 1920 is closed on Mondays.


10) Colons & semicolons (the tidy duo)

Rule: Colon introduces an explanation/list; semicolon links two related complete sentences.

Examples: Bring: water, hat, sunscreen. / The sky darkened; thunder rolled.

Mini drill: choose one → I had one goal win the race.


11) Hyphens for compound adjectives & ages

Rule: Hyphenate compound modifiers before a noun and ages used as adjectives.

Examples: a well-known author; a ten-year-old cyclist.

Mini drill: add hyphens → a state of the art laboratory.


12) Homophones that trip writers up

Rule: Pick the word that fits meaning, not sound.

Quick set: their/there/they’re, your/you’re, to/too/two, where/were/we’re, effect/affect (noun/verb most of the time).

Mini drill: fill the gap → We’re late, so put your bag over there.


One-page mini worksheet (12 items)

Fix each sentence or choose the correct form.

  1. in january the club hosted a tournament it was huge

  2. The puppies (was / were) asleep.

  3. Its/It’s time to start the test.

  4. Before the match the captain gave a speech.

  5. The painting which hung in the hall was stolen. (Add commas if needed.)

  6. We bought milk bread eggs and juice.

  7. The drone lost it’s/its propeller.

  8. He finished the puzzle he turned off the light. (Join correctly.)

  9. a three storey building (Add hyphens.)

  10. I revised for one reason I wanted to improve. (Colon or semicolon?)

  11. When Mia called Zara she answered immediately. (Clarify pronoun.)

  12. Choose the correct homophone: I hope the medicine has no side (effects/affects).


Answer key

  1. In January, the club hosted a tournament. It was huge.

  2. were

  3. It’s

  4. Before the match, the captain gave a speech.

  5. The painting, which hung in the hall, was stolen. (non-restrictive)

  6. We bought milk, bread, eggs and juice. (Oxford comma optional)

  7. its

  8. He finished the puzzle, and he turned off the light. (or semicolon)

  9. a three-storey building

  10. Semicolon → I revised for one reason; I wanted to improve. (Colon also works if the second clause explains a single reason: I revised for one reason: to improve.)

  11. When Mia called Zara, Zara answered immediately.

  12. effects


Quick proofreading routine (2 minutes)

  1. Read aloud once (you’ll hear missing words).

  2. Run the CUPS checklist.

  3. Do one last pass just for apostrophes & homophones.


Call to action

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