The Occupational English Test (OET) is an important test for healthcare professionals who want to work or study in English-speaking countries. Of the four sub-tests, the OET Writing section is especially significant, as it tests your capacity to communicate effectively and appropriately in a healthcare context. To perform well in this section, it is important to avoid typical grammar errors. Even small grammatical errors can result in loss of marks and impact the effectiveness of your message.

In this blog, we’ll highlight the most frequent grammar errors candidates make and how to avoid them to enhance your writing performance.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

One of the most common mistakes in OET writing involves subject-verb agreement. This happens when the subject and verb in a sentence do not match in number.

Incorrect: The patient has a fever.

 Correct: The patient has a fever.

Always make sure the verb agrees with the subject. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb; if plural, use a plural verb.

2. Incorrect Tense Usage

Maintaining the correct tense is crucial in medical writing since it mirrors the timeline of patient events or conditions.

Typical mistakes:

Changing tenses in the same letter.

Using present tense for past events.

Example:

Incorrect: The patient was admitted yesterday.

 Correct: The patient was admitted yesterday.

Maintain consistency with tenses in your referral or discharge letter. While the past tense is commonly used to report the patient’s events or treatment already given.

3. Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices

Placing too much information into one sentence might result in a run-on sentence or misuse of commas.

Incorrect: The patient was admitted with chest pain, he was immediately given medication.

Correct: The patient was admitted due to chest pain. He was treated with medication at once.

Break down complicated concepts into easy, simple sentences to enhance readability.

4. Misuse of Articles (a, an, the)

Articles are tricky, particularly to non-native English speakers. Healthcare providers usually omit articles or misuse them.

Incorrect: Patient was referred to cardiologist.

 Correct: The patient was referred to a cardiologist.

Remember:

Use “a/an” when referring to something for the first time.

Use “the” when you are talking about something particular or already mentioned.

5. Preposition Mistakes

Wrong prepositions can change the meaning of your sentences and the reader will get confused.

Wrong: The patient complained of a severe headache.

 Right: The patient complained of a severe headache.

Some common verb-preposition combinations to remember:

Suffer from

Complain of

Admitted to

Respond to

Discharged from

6. Confusion in Pronoun Reference

The use of pronouns that do not have specific antecedents can make the reader confused about who or what you’re discussing.

Incorrect: The patient was instructed to refrain from smoking since they were influencing recovery.

Correct: The patient was instructed to quit smoking since it was influencing his recovery.

Always make sure that pronouns unambiguously refer to the right noun. In formal letters, particularly in the medical field, precision is paramount

7. Too much Passive Voice

Passive voice is ubiquitous in medical writing, but using it excessively can render your writing wordy and lacking in personability.

Example

Passive: Medication was prescribed.

Active: The doctor prescribed medication.

 Attempt to maintain a balance of passive and active voice to maintain brevity and directness in the letter without compromising on professionalism.

8. Spelling and Punctuation Errors

It is expensive for spelling errors, particularly of drugs or patient information. Similarly, incorrect punctuation makes the message confusing.

Tips:

Check the spelling of medications, diagnoses, and procedures twice.

Use commas to separate ideas and clauses appropriately.

Avoid exclamation marks – keep a formal tone throughout.

9. Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments are partial thoughts and must be avoided in professional communication.

Incorrect: Because the patient was not responding to treatment.

 Correct: The patient was not responding to treatment, so a different medication was prescribed.

Always make sure that each sentence contains a subject and a verb and constitutes a whole idea.

10. Incorrect Use of Formal Language

OET writing must have a formal and respectful tone. Don’t use contractions, colloquial or slang language, and too informal expressions.

Incorrect: The patient didn’t show up.

 Correct: The patient did not attend the appointment.

Maintain professional and clinical language.

Conclusion

Grammar mastery is an essential key to passing the OET Writing section. Eliminating these common errors can really boost your score and enable you to present information more precisely and professionally. Develop the habit of checking your writing for mistakes and practicing regularly with expert comments.

If you want to pass the OET in flying colors, Let’s Update is here to assist you. Let’s Update is the top OET coaching center in Kerala, providing professional online OET coaching in Kerala and classroom training in Kochi. The top OET coaching center in Kochi, we provide superior training specifically for healthcare professionals. We also provide superior OET training in Ernakulam and superior IELTS coaching in Kochi to assist students in attaining their dream scores.