Common grammatical errors in English CVs

Inconsistency

You can use periods, commas, or nothing at the end of bullet points, but be consistent.

Use verb

CV refers to your achievements and experiences, so the verbs expressing this content must be in the past form.

“I led my team to achieve 120% of target last quarter” (I led my team to 120% of the target last quarter).

Wrong terms for masters and bachelor’s degrees

If you want to include your education on your CV, make sure you use the correct terminology.

For example, “master” is a master’s degree, and “bachelor” is a bachelor’s degree. The genitive in this case is “master’s” and “bachelor’s”: “I obtained a master’s/bachelor’s degree from …” (I got my master’s degree from…) or “bachelor of”, “master of”.

Using “master’s of”, “bachelor’s of” and “masters of”, “bachelors of” are incorrect.

Confusing similar words

– “Career” with “carrier”

“Career” is career, work – the word should be used in CV. Meanwhile, “career” is often mistakenly written by the candidate as “carrier”: a person or object carrying other objects.

– “There”, “they’re” and “their”

These three words are pronounced the same but have completely different meanings: “there” is there, this, that, “they’re” stands for “they are” and “their” is the pronoun property of “they”.

“While there I increased revenue by 500%” (Meanwhile, I increased sales by 500%).

“They’re,” meanwhile, is a shortened version of they are, so you’d say, “I provide clients with the excellent service they’re looking for” (I give my clients the great service they’re looking for).

“I was their biggest asset” (I am their greatest asset).

– “You’re” and “your”

While “you’re” stands for “you are”, “your” means you. In CVs, these two words are rarely used and experts also recommend not to use them, because it will make the employer feel uncomfortable. However, this pair of words is common and easy to mistake in cover letters.

– “Ensure”, “insure” and “assure”

The meanings of these three words are respectively “ensure”, “insure” (arrangement, indemnification), “assure” (removal of doubt or uncertainty, accompanied by a promise).

In your CV, unless you work in the insurance industry and are describing items for which you are “insure”, you should use “ensure”. It’s rare that candidates promise or “assure” an employer, so you need to avoid this word.

Thanh Hang (According to The English Meeting Room, Resume Target)