6 Grammatical Errors That Need to Stop Now

July 09, 2015 | Jonathan Long

[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.

[impimp]

I still don’t know the difference no matter how hard I try.

[ladyjane]

A possessive will ALWAYS have anapostrophe, it’s the plurals that never do.

Freepers' plurals never have them? Really?

[Genoa]

Yeah, so don’t I.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Though they make me cringe, I LIKE these things as they inform you, the receiver, as to the intelligence of the sender.

The explanation of “it’s” is not very clear.

[grania]

What does "so fun" mean?

Example: The day was so fun.

[Beach333]

Affect- think of the capital “A” as an upside down “V”, for verb.

[MichaelCorleone]

Oh, I was going to axe about that...

[cynicalman]

Since. Because

[CGASMIA68]

do you hear that often?

[Joe 6-pack]

I think there are two things in play with such ambiguity: laziness and self-centeredness. Being precise takes a little more effort. People may think they are streamlining things on their end and making a process more efficient, when in fact, they're muddying the waters and jamming up the works on the other end. I have multiple clients, some of whom will use the same acronym or abbreviation as others, with entirely different meanings. Fortunately, I'm pretty good at reading them in context.

[TalBlack]

You’re hearing it without the rising inflection and the emphasis on the “I”. It is a question delivered with an air of irony. I can remember some old Jews using it this way when I was a kid. You will see it in old movies from time to tim. Old books as well.

[ican'tbelieveit]

irregardless.

[CGASMIA68]

means your a X Valley Girl

[piytar]

That should be “Grammar Nazis...”

Sorry, could not resist.

/snark

[llmc1]

The use of “concerning” when “disconcerting” should be used:
The state of the culture is concerning.

The use of “of” when “have” should be used:
I should of known the answer:

“That” thrown in for no reason:
She knows that there are books at the library.

[This_far]

Is who/whom an advanced course or just something Yawn Kerry cares about?

I really haven’t learned the difference of those.

(Difficult when constantly hearing ‘how are you...good’)

aslongasImhereminirant...
Store check out: Did you find everything alright?
Customer: No
Store check out; Oh, I’m sorry
It’s SO difficult to reply, that’s it, that’s all, why did you ask?
however, I DID work retail and even had I not, I wouldn’t do that to someone who works checkout (depends on the store though)

[COBOL2Java]

---

Firefly: (Pontificating) My friends...This case moves me deeply. Look at Chicolini...He sits there alone...An abject figure.

Chicolini: I abject!

Firefly: (Pontificating again) I say, look at Chicolini...He sits there alone...a pitiable object! Let's see you get outta that one...Surrounded by a sea of unfriendly faces...Chicolini! Give me a number from one to ten!

Chicolini: Eleven!

Firefly: Right!

Chicolini: Now I ask you one...What is it has a trunk but no key, weighs two thousand pounds, and lives in a circus?

Prosecutor: That's irrelevant!

Chicolini: A relephant? Hey! That's the answer...There's a whole lotta relephants in the circus.

Judge: That sort of testimony we can eliminate!

Chicolini: At'sa fine, I'll take some.

Judge: You'll take what?

Chicolini: A lemonade...A nice, cold glassa lemonade. (Aside to Firefly) Hey boss, I'm doin' good!

[Calpublican]

It’s common now to hear, and even by our supposedly learned WH resident, improper usage as follows: “Well, between you and I.” These and other misuses of the object of the prep. are widely heard and will become accepted over time. Still, I have a hard time with it.

[tang-soo]

There is to areas of concern hear. I two agree that to often we use improper spelling or grammar.

[daler]

Who’s/whose