Grammar Gremlins: Confusing 'your' for 'you're'

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 11/6/5 | DON K. FERGUSON

[SmithL]

"Your invited to the reception."

This was the wording on an invitation someone showed me. Unfortunately, we too often see "your" used where the contraction "you're" is required, as it was on the invitation.

Handbooks say "your" and "you're" are commonly confused, as are the contractions "they're" for "their" and "it's" for "its."

The Gregg Reference Manual says as a test for the correct form, try to substitute "you are," "they are" or "it is" or "it has," respectively.

"If the substitution does not make sense, use the corresponding possessive form," Gregg says.

[SmithL]

I read Ferguson's grammar column every week, but this is the first one I've posted. The misuse of "your" is like nails on a blackboard to me.

[TBP]

There is also dropping in apostrophe to make a plural, as in "New York Yankee's." Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!

[dixiechick2000]

I'm no grammarian, but the use of their, they're, and there bother me.

[dixiechick2000]

"Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!"


You're right, right, right!

;o)

[thoughtomator]

I here that and second its.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

They,re no there their, is thar?

[Ros42]

The misuse of "your" is like nails on a blackboard to me.

Yer absolutely write!

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Was today Grammar Moron Day at FR or something?

[bad company]

They,re no there their, is thar?

Wear?

[driveserve]

They're so many ways two screw with yew that eye halve a hard thyme trying too due sew. Butt I prey aye suck seed. Jest four fun...

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

You're point is well taken.

[Old Seadog]

I red Gregs Manuel all the time and it shure helped me.

[colorcountry]

I wrote this sentence on FR last week:

"If they're there their work has been done."

Top that and you're sure of your prowess with words.

[martin_fierro]

You Who.

[martin_fierro]

Some other tidbits:

• Which usage is (more) proper: "The sales team IS working for better numbers" or "The sales team ARE working for better numbers"? I heard the latter usage this week. Might be an American vs. UK English thing.
• What is the proper spelling of the color "grey"? "Gray"?

[GOPPachyderm]

I hear you!

Loose / lose is one of those words for me, although however you spell it I love it when Democrats do it!

[SmithL]

The sales team is working, but sales team members are working.

The sales staff is working, but sales staff members are working.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"it's" is short for "it is".
"its" is the possessive form of it.

"There" is a pronoun denoting a place.
"They're" is short for "they are".
"Their" is the possessive form of they.

[cynicom]

I have always been amazed that gramarians would bother to learn both the right way and the wrong way. It seems that the message is communicated, whether right or wrong.

Actually there is no right or wrong, there is accepted and unaccepted.

I have a family member that is a grammarian, she has not a friend in the world and cannot understand why.

[Fierce Allegiance]

PING!