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.
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.”
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.”
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!"
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.
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.”
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.
I’m sorry, what did you Axed me?
Please gimme a dolla Woof-of-gas.
God Bless the school system, It’s working. Right?
How about further and farther? That’s much more confusing to most people than it’s and its, isn’t it?
“Grammer.” I see it all the time, from people attempting to correct someone else.
I love irregardless. ;)
#5 is the one that gets me.
One example I hear in speech more than written is using “have “ and “got” together, i.e..”I’ve got more today than yesterday.” That one really grates.
Resist you much
“I’ve always had a problem with #6. I understand the use of the apostrophe for the contraction of “it is” - but the non-use of it when dealing with possession has always puzzled me.”
That had me baffled for many years as well. I’ve always sort of sensed that an apos would be right, but it’s not.
And: ONLY PEOPLE can possess things or attributes requiring an apostrophe. Not in real life, only in punctuation convention.
WRONG: The companys’ policies affected morale.
No apostrophe on non-human things.
Wrong: The frogs’ eyes followed me about the room.
Your such a grammer nazi. May bee if you’re mother liked u to, than u wouldn’t be talking like that. Their, I said it.
See Weird Al’s “Word Crimes” for caring less.
:^)
Now, I also know some brilliant engineers who write at least as well as many lawyers whom I know. Why do I compare those engineers to lawyers? Because most lawyers make their livings via the written word, so they tend to be pretty good writers.
Guess which engineers get the better promotions?
PS Most engineering schools require fewer English credits for engineering degrees than most nontechnical degrees. If the curriculum was up to me, the engineers would have to take more English credits!
The most widely used grammar solecisms involve the total inability to distinguish possessives and plurals and how to use apostrophes. Next is the ignorance of the use of pronouns in English or, in many cases, the conscious refusal to use them correctly.
Well...perhaps the individual suffers from diabetic neuropathy
(runs for cover)
Bump
Well Done!
2 Wordgirl points for YOU!
bonus points for semi-humility
[you get a semi-for]
(I gotta review my HTML, opportunities lost)
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