Common grammar and usage errors

12/22/04 | Self

[georgiadevildog]

I am starting a grammar thread at the behest of Xenalyte and TheMom. Post your most irritating pet peeves of grammar or usage here.

[georgiadevildog]

We'll start with homophones. There, their, they're. I can't stand seeing these used incorrectly!

THERE

there ( P ) Pronunciation Key (thâr)

adv. At or in that place: sit over there.
To, into, or toward that place: wouldn't go there again.
At that stage, moment, or point: Stop there before you make any more mistakes.
In that matter: I can't agree with him there.

pron. Used to introduce a clause or sentence: There are numerous items. There must be another exit. Used to indicate an unspecified person in direct address: Hello there.

adj. Used especially for emphasis after the demonstrative pronoun that or those, or after a noun modified by the demonstrative adjective that or those: That person there ought to know the directions to town. Nonstandard. Used for emphasis between a demonstrative adjective meaning “that” or “those” and a noun: No one is sitting at that there table. Them there beans ought to be picked.

n. That place or point: stopped and went on from there.

interj. Used to express feelings such as relief, satisfaction, sympathy, or anger: There, now I can have some peace!

THEIR

Always used to show possession! That is their home. (not there home.)

THEY'RE

Always used as a contraction for the words "they are." If you take "they're" out of your sentence and "they are" doesn't make sense in its place, you've made a mistake.

[georgiadevildog]

PING

[baltodog]

"It's" -- ..and the people who don't know when to use it.

[Chad Fairbanks]

We'll start with homophones.

I hate homophones. I think they should all get some disgusting self-inflicted disease, then die, and rot in hell like the perverts they are...

;0)

[georgiadevildog]

Absolutely. Drives me nuts.

"The dog was chasing it's tail."

The dog was chasing it is tail?

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I predict this thread is going to get hugh and series. But gotta go, by beeber is beeping.

[georgiadevildog]

Ummm....wrong thread.

LOL

[rocksblues]

to and too

I went to the store.

I went too far.

[Bosco]

I think this is a series thread. It's impact will be hugh.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Ummm....wrong thread.

Yup, I seen that.

[georgiadevildog]

To eggs are two many too eat.

[Bosco]

Is the'ir a word? How about thi'er?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Your = belonging to y'all

You're = you are.

[Semper Vigilantis]

In addition to the three theres I go crazy when people confuse to, too and two and believe it or not, which and witch.

Here's a new one - I just got an email that that said "conceded" instead of "conceited".

*shaking head and walking away*

[rocksblues]

Now that's funny!

[jellybean]

Please do Your and You're, Who and Whom, Here and Hear. Those are a few that drive me nuts!

[georgiadevildog]

Next: using "I" or "me".

She went with Jenny and me. (not I)

Jenny and I went with her. (not Jenny and me)

The test: leave out the other person, and see if the sentence makes sense.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Oops. Sorry, I thought this was a homophonic thread. My bad.

[headsonpikes]

whut galls me mostest is peeple going "aint" when it should be "ain't"!

[Jack Deth]

I feel the same way about the words:

Hugh and Huge, Chad.

Hugh is a first name. As in the name Hugh Beaumont, who play Ward Cleaver on "Leave It To Beaver". Or Hugh Grant, who plays Hugh Grant. It is pronounced "HEW".

Huge means BIG. It's pronounce "HUJE".

I'm looking at my keyboard and there is no way that the far too often used phrase "This is Hugh!" for "This is Huge" could be a typo!

Don't even get me started on "There", "Their" and "They're"!!!

Jack.