The 12 Grammar Mistakes That Quietly Kill Your Cover Letter

Q: Does 'perfect' grammar really matter?

Yes. It reflects your attention to detail and your ability to produce high-quality work in a professional environment.

Q: Is it okay to use 'SG-English' for local jobs?

For casual interactions, yes. For a formal cover letter, standard business English is expected across Singapore.

Q: What is the most common grammar mistake?

Tense inconsistency is the most frequent error, where writers mix up their history with their current capabilities.

Q: How can I catch these errors?

Reading your text backwards out loud is a proven technique for catching spelling and minor grammatical slips.

In the professional world, your grammar is your first handshake. A single typo in your cover letter can suggest a lack of discipline. For candidates in Singapore applying to global firms, cover letter grammar mistakes are the most common reason for early rejection.

The 12 Silent Killers

Your vs. You’re: "You're company is great" (Wrong).
Its vs. It’s: "The team met it's target" (Wrong).
Subject-Verb Agreement: "The manager and the staff is here" (Wrong).
Affect vs. Effect: "This will affectively change the process" (Wrong).
Dangling Modifiers: "Walking to work, the office looked big" (Wrong).
Comma Splices: Joining two thoughts with a comma instead of a period. Try in Email Improver.
Tense Inconsistency: Jumping from past to present in one paragraph.
Misusing "Revert": "Please revert back soon" (Should be "Reply").
Overuse of Passive Voice: "The project was led by me" (Use "I led").
Apostrophe Misplacement: "10 years experience" (Should be "10 years'").
Run-on Sentences: Sentences that never seem to end.
Typos in the Salutation: "Dear Hiring Manger."

SG/SEA Tone vs. Global Tone

In the SEA region, we often use "already" or "can" in ways that aren't globally standard (e.g., "I can do this one already"). Global business English requires more precise auxiliary verbs: "I am confident I can complete this task."

Before vs After: Grammar Fixes

Pair 1: Common Localism

Before: Please kindly check and revert back at your earliest convenience.
After: Please let me know your thoughts at your earliest convenience.

Pair 2: Tense Issue

Before: I worked at Firm X where I manage a team of ten.
After: I worked at Firm X, where I managed a team of ten.

Copy-Paste Templates

Template 1: The "Polished" Intro

Dear [Name], please accept this application for [Role]. My background in [Field] is a direct match...

Template 2: The "Current Role" Description

Currently, I lead [Project] at [Firm]. I am responsible for [Action].

Template 3: The "Future" Closing

I look forward to the possibility of discussing how I can contribute to [Company].

Template 4: The Inquiry Template

Hi [Name], I’m checking to see if you received my application for [Role]...

Template 5: The Brief Refined Template

Dear [Name], I’ve optimized my professional achievements in [Skill] to suit [Company]’s needs.

Actionable Checklist

No "Its/It's" errors. Try in Email Improver.
Salutation is spelled correctly.
Used British or American English consistently (don't mix).
"Revert" replaced with "Reply" or "Answer."
File name is professional. Review our pricing.

FAQ Section

1. Does "perfect" grammar really matter? Yes. It is about risk. If you can't be perfect in a one-page document you had a week to prepare, HR assumes you won't be careful with daily emails.

2. Is it okay to use "SG-English" for local jobs? No. Professional settings in Singapore still require standard English. "Can" and "Already" are for chat, not cover letters.

3. What is the most common grammar mistake? Tense inconsistency—starting a paragraph in the past tense and ending it in the present.

4. How can I catch these errors? Read your letter backwards. It forces your brain to look at each word individually.