Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

6 Grammatical Errors That Need to Stop Now
July 09, 2015 | Jonathan Long

Posted on 08/30/2015 10:38:18 AM PDT by B4Ranch

Proper grammar seems to be a thing of the past -- why stress about tiny technicalities, right? Wrong.

You should be a grammar stickler for many reasons. Do you want to risk turning off potential clients, employers and connections because of grammatical mistakes?

Many people are so concerned with what they are saying in an email or text message that they completely forget to pay attention to how they are saying it. If you chose to turn grammar mode off when you are communicating with friends, that is one thing, but there is absolutely no reason to send a professional communication that contains errors.

Here are six grammatical errors that are so simple, yet such common offenders. Make sure you aren’t making them.

1. Your/You’re

This is probably the most common mistake I see on social media, in text messages and in emails. This one is real simple -- if you are trying to say “you are” then “you’re” is correct. If you are talking about something that belongs to you, such as “your car” then you use “your.”

2. Too/To/Two

Many people confuse these and don’t even realize they are doing it. It’s real easy -- “two” is a number, “too” is an adverb that means “also,” and “to” is a preposition used to express motion, direction, limit of movement, contact, a point of limit in time, purpose, intention and destination -- to name a few.

For example:

“I would like to become an entrepreneur.”

“I too would like to become an entrepreneur.”

3.  There/Their/They’re

What should have been squared away in third grade continues to haunt grammar police on a daily basis. The there/their/they’re mistake is common -- but it’s really simple to avoid.

Use “they’re” when you are trying to say “they are.”

“Their” should be used when you are indicating possession.

Finally, “there” needs to be used when referring to a location.

Example: "They're going to love working there. Their company culture is amazing!"

4. You/U

This one is really just pure laziness rather than a grammatical mistake. Texting has completely ruined grammar and you/u is a perfect example. I understand that “u” is perfectly acceptable if you are texting a friend and are in a rush -- but it’s not acceptable in a professional email.

Here is an excerpt of an email I received last week from a C-level executive who is in charge of a company that does business worth several hundreds of millions of dollars every year:

… that would be gr8! Talk to u soon!

He managed to nail two text slangs back to back like a champ. Again, if it was a text message, fine -- but a professional email is no place for this. This email is actually what sparked me to write this article, so thank you grammatically challenged C-level executive.

5. Then/Than

When you are talking about time you use “then” and when you are making a comparison you use “than.” It really shouldn’t be that difficult to distinguish what one to use:

“We are going to grab a quick bite to eat and then head back to the office.”

“This new software update is much better than the previous version.”

6. It’s/Its

This one confuses a lot of people, mainly due to the apostrophe, which typically symbolizes possession. Use “it’s” when you are trying to say “it is” and use “its” when you are looking for the possessive form of “it.”

“I looked at its owners manual to get the correct settings.”

“It’s a beautiful day outside.”

What are some other grammar mishaps that drive you nuts? Share them in the comments section below.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: grammar; spelling
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 361-378 next last
To: GingisK
>> I really get bent out of shape when people use the term “clip” for a “magazine” <<

Yep! And whaddabout bullet for cartridge?

301 posted on 08/30/2015 3:40:34 PM PDT by Hawthorn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

“go ahead and...” drives me crazy.


302 posted on 08/30/2015 3:46:49 PM PDT by bruin66 (Time: Nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rodamala
And then, there are errors which cannot be corrected with BACK SPACE or White Out...

...then blood did...what?

303 posted on 08/30/2015 3:49:51 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 254 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

The writer forgot who/whom and should have/should of. And that’s not even counting the nigh universal PC use of the plurals “they” and “their” for the singular “everyone” or “everybody.”


304 posted on 08/30/2015 3:55:45 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (The "end of history" will be Worldwide Judaic Theocracy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tophat9000

>> if you can clearly understand what was written...it served its function <<

Seems like a corollary to perhaps the greatest lesson I’ve ever learned about writing. The advice came from the late James J. Kirkpatrick, who said something to the effect that if the reader needs to pause and figure out what you mean by some particular phrase, you’ve failed in your job as a writer.


305 posted on 08/30/2015 3:59:18 PM PDT by Hawthorn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: tophat9000

I will slide a little on grammar but I am strict on spelling. I tend to judge someones intelligence on how well they can spell. Make too many errors and I will stop reading. I don’t give fools much of my time.

Come at me with Ebonics and I leave the area. I refuse to tolerate that nonsense.


306 posted on 08/30/2015 4:00:53 PM PDT by B4Ranch (When buying + selling are controlled by legislation, the first things bought + sold are legislators.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: goodwithagun

“See my tag line lol!”

Years ago, pre-Chernobyl, I saw a guy in LAX wearing a sandwich board that said, ‘More people have died in Ted Kennedy’s car than in nuclear power station accidents.’


307 posted on 08/30/2015 4:14:07 PM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea (I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Fungi

Googling “younz”.


308 posted on 08/30/2015 4:44:59 PM PDT by cornfedcowboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 281 | View Replies]

To: cornfedcowboy

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Younz
This has it right as my friends who used this are from that area.


309 posted on 08/30/2015 4:47:28 PM PDT by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 308 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

Loose/lose.


310 posted on 08/30/2015 4:48:23 PM PDT by Califreak (Hope and Che'nge is killing U.S. Feel the Trump-mentum!(insert ireally.supportCruzdisclaimerhere/))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe

#296 All this could be solved by a Edith button at forums... : )


311 posted on 08/30/2015 4:54:12 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 296 | View Replies]

To: Fightin Whitey

No, no, no...there is nothing ‘un’ about you... ;)


312 posted on 08/30/2015 5:00:20 PM PDT by krunkygirl (force multiplier in effect...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 278 | View Replies]

To: Chickensoup
Pictures are hung.

People are hanged.


313 posted on 08/30/2015 5:21:27 PM PDT by eartrumpet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 294 | View Replies]

To: eartrumpet

That is funny

But it isn’t grammatical


314 posted on 08/30/2015 5:22:44 PM PDT by Chickensoup (We lose our freedoms one surrender at a time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: chopperman
The "h" in "history" is hard because the syllable it is in has the stress.

My Webster's does not indicate any alternative to pronouncing the "h" in "historical" (where the "h" is in an unstressed syllable), but for the word "vehicle" it allows both pronunciations (in fact putting the alternative where the "h" is silent first)...likewise for "vehemence" (where the "h" is in an unstressed syllable).

315 posted on 08/30/2015 5:23:14 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 283 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch
I tend to judge someones intelligence on how well they can spell.

Spelling is not an indicator of intelligence. It is an indicator of specialized memory. Intelligence is indicated by problem solving ability in a void of previous knowledge of the problem.

316 posted on 08/30/2015 5:57:03 PM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 306 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

317 posted on 08/30/2015 6:04:19 PM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

where you be at? ebonics made easy


318 posted on 08/30/2015 6:04:53 PM PDT by ronnie raygun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: krunkygirl
How about You?
319 posted on 08/30/2015 6:12:32 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 312 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch
Your/You’re

This is probably the most common mistake I see on social media, in text messages and in emails.

I think yer wrong about that.

320 posted on 08/30/2015 6:16:35 PM PDT by Tau Food (Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 361-378 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson