You don’t have to be a total grammar snob to make judgments about a person based on something they’ve written—we all do it. But the fact is, college admissions representatives are often grammar snobs, i.e. (not to be confused with e.g. in this instance), highly educated individuals who are charged with enrolling college students based primarily on the strength of their application materials.
So when it comes right down to it, the adage is true: You get but one chance to make a first impression. Take heed of these most reviled grammar faux pas, and avoid them at all cost in your personal essays, SAT writing portions, and email exchanges with college representatives.
• your/you’re
o No: We’ll leave as soon as your ready.
o Yes: We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.
Hint:
-“Your” is a possessive adjective, indicating something belongs to you. -“You’re” is a contraction meaning “you are.” If you can replace “you’re” with “you are,” and it makes sense, then “you’re” is the one to use. If you cannot, “your” is, well, your only option.
• there/their/they’re
o No: They’re kids don’t think there obligated to be their.
o Yes: Their kids don’t think they’reobligated to be there.
Hint: This is similar to the situation above with an extra thrown in.
-“They’re” is a contraction meaning “they are.” If you can replace “they’re/their/there” with “they are,” and it makes sense, “they’re” is the one to use.
-“Their” is a possessive adjective, indicating something belongs to them. If you can replace “their” with “our,” and it still makes sense, you’ve chosen the correct word.
-“There” refers to an abstract place. Usually, if you can replace “there” with “here” and it still makes sense, then you’ve done it right again!
• affect/effect
o No: Don’t drive until you know how the medication will effect you.
o Yes: Don’t drive until you know how the medication will affect you.
Hint: “Affect” is a verb, or Action word. Remember that the one that starts with ‘A’ indicates Action.
• lose/loose
o No: Forgetful people tend to loose things.
o Yes: Forgetful people tend to lose things.
Hint: “Loose” is an adjective, describing a noun (a person, place, or thing). “Lose” is a verb (action word), meaning “to misplace” or “to not win.” Remember that “lose” literally loses the extra “o” in “loose.”
• it’s/its
o No: Simplicity is one of it’s best features.
o Yes: Simplicity is one of its best features.
Hint: “Its” (like your and their) is a possessive adjective, indicating possession. “It’s” is a contraction, meaning “it is.” If you can replace your choice with “it is,” then BINGO! You’re a winner!
• whose/who’s
o No: Never share a secret with someone whose prone to gossip.
o Yes: Never share a secret with someone who’s prone to gossip.
Hint: You know the drill by now. “Whose” is the possessive for who. “Who’s” is a contraction for “who is.” If you can replace “who’s” with “who is” or “who has,” you got it. If not, use “whose.”
• then/than
o No: I should know better then to take on too much.
o Yes: I should know better than to take on too much.
Hint: “Then” can mean lots of things, but usually indicates time: “next/soon after,” “at that time,” “in that case,” to name just a few. “Than” is used only when making comparisons. It doesn’t get any simpler than that!
It’s a bit disconcerting that there were a couple of grammar errors in this article!
(1) “…judgments about a person based on something they’ve written…”
The word “person” is singular. The pronoun “they” is plural. This should read “…judgments about a person based on something he has written…” or “…judgments about a person based on something he/she has written…”
(2) “…the adage is true: You get but one chance…”
The word “you” should not be capitalized.
Good column!
Here is a personal bugaboo of mine:
I hear SO many kids utter sentences like: “Me and my friend went to the movies.”
Can you please write a column explaining why this is wrong.
Oops! That last sentence should end with a question mark.
Aargh, those are like fingernails on a blackboard.
Here’s my list of five deadly grammar sins:
1. Comma splices and run-ons
Example: Bananas are good for you, I take one for my lunch every day.
2. Modifier errors (dangling and misplaced modifiers)
Example: After reading the book, it is evident that Melville is a genius. (This error is increasing because students are forbidden to use the word “I”)
3. Subordinators used as conjunctive adverbs
Example: Bananas are good for you. Although, they are too sweet.
4. Coordinating conjunctions used as conjunctive adverbs
Example: Bananas are good for you. But, they are too sweet.
5. Conjunctive adverbs used as coordinating conjunctions
Example: Bananas are good for you, however they are too sweet.
Reason why…. worst mistake ever!!
If there is an 8th deadly sin, it must be the improper use of the pronoun “I” where “me” is correct.
Example: The invitation was sent to Sue and I.
Note to Patty Miller. You wrote, “It’s a bit disconcerting that there were a couple of grammar errors in this article!” You used the word “grammar” incorrectly. It is a noun. You should have used “grammatical”, the adjectival form of grammar. Now that is disconcerting also, lol.
One of my favorite stories from when my son was about 8:
Son: “Joe’s mom is bringing lunch for Joe and I tomorrow.”
Me: “…for Joe and me. Remember, pretend the other person isn’t there in order to determine which pronoun to use.”
Son: “That doesn’t make sense – why would she bring me lunch if Joe wasn’t there?”
Seven Deadly Grammar Sins for Middle School much less college!
To Houston Mom. Also disconcerting is your failure to put the comma following “grammatical” within the parenthesis.
Melissa, for the youth of today, there is a huge difference between informal conversation and formal expression. I will always utter such sentences (“Me and my friend went to the movies”) even though I know that they aren’t grammatically correct. When I text/chat with friends, I generally ignore capitalization, some punctuation, and other basics of grammar. As silly as it may sound, proper grammar in everyday conversation makes “kids” look pretentious, even in the most academic of settings. On the other hand, in any essay, paper, job interview, speech, or other formal piece, I will always use proper grammar to the best of my ability. (I’ll also use proper grammar when I desire credibility, as in this comment.) This comment is assuming that by “kids,” you mean teens and other young adults. If you were referring to middle school children and those younger, this is a moot post.
TL;DR – The usefulness of proper grammar in everyday conversation is subjective.
Mary Burland, that’s the first deadly sin in my book. It’s infinitely worse than the use of “me” where “I” is correct.
Thanks, Quaker Biscuit. You are correct!
I like (dislike, actually) “a whole nuther” as in, ” that is a whole nuther set of problems.” It should be thus —-”that is a whole other set of problems.” Now, I think people more often speak than write this phrase incorrectly. While I am at it, many do not put the “ly” on adjectives when using them as adverbs.
How many errors did I just now make?
@Patty Miller http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they
The singular ‘they’ is not a grammatical error.
‘Grammar error’, however, is an error, since grammar is a noun, not an adjective. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grammar)
In direct speech “…the adage is true: You get but one chance…”, the first letter of a reported sentence MUST ALWAYS BE CAPITALIZED. Granted, the phrase is lacking quotation marks, but, for it to be uncapitalized it has to be either:
“… the adage is true; you get but only one chance” with a semi-colon or
“… the adage is true in that you get but only one…” using an intermediary phrase.
your information regarding effect/affect confusion is too simplistic; both words can funtion as both noun and verb.
eg “The special effect in the last scene of the movie was amazing”…. noun
eg “The athlete effected (ie accomplished/produced) a spectacular last jump in the triple jump competition”…..verb
eg “The student was deeply affected by the teacher’s lofty ideals”….verb
eg “The affect (ie mood) of the depressed patient was very dysphoric”….noun
To Some Dude in Oregon: Hey, that wasn’t me!
@Oregon Dude: Is “To Houston Mom.” a sentence? This could go on forever. Who is ready to critique me?
Scott, those very obscure uses that you’re protesting for. I would even venture that “The athlete effected a spectacular last jump” isn’t very good in that context. You really only see that in “effect change.” By your reasoning, “loose” is wrong as well, since in addition to being an adjective, it can be used as a verb as in “I had to loose the noose around the poster’s neck after he realized he was being a nit-picker.”
I think my favorite thing about this article is all of the comments which have misspellings and grammatical errors in them. The comments agree with the article and I do too; however, when one is writing informally, grammar simply doesn’t matter as much. Language is meant for communication and as long as you are able to communicate your ideas, the means of communication (or for that matter, the correctness of the grammar) doesn’t matter.
Some dude in Oregon:
They’re quotation marks, not parentheses.
Thanks for this post, “its” going to help me with future writings.
Thank you all for starting my day with a smile.
I’ve found my people.
The list could go on and on! How about the rampant misuse of the apostrophe? How about incorrect use of “hopefully”? Ooooooh…. and ANY use of the word “irregardless”? Now that’s cause for capital punishment. (NOT “capitol punishment, but that’s for another day.)
Mitch:
I’m glad you feel that way, because in your first sentence, you misused the word ‘which,’ where ‘that’ would have been appropriate. Restrictive clauses should always br preceded by the word ‘that,’ and don’t ever forget it. See, that’s what you get for trying to condemn grammar correction.
Liz touched on this, but I MUST bring up the rampant misuse of the apostrophe. Why is it now common place to use an apostrophe to pluralize words? I was even VOTING last year and the sign said “Precinct’s 139 and 142 check in here.” What in the heck? I see this use of the apostrophe all of the time, everywhere, and it drives me crazy! (whew! thank you for allowing me to get that off of my chest! LOL) Also, if you would like someone’s advice, do not ask them for their advise. !!
The trend I have noticed is the rise in the use of single quotation marks (” ‘ “) over their doubled siblings. I have always understood that the only situation in which single quotation marks are used is in a quotation within a quotation (“Beverly said to me ‘I can’t afford this jewelry’ and moved on to look at shoes”). In all other situations double quotation marks should be used. Yet I now see single quotation marks seem to be preferred, especially in “scare quotes” (or is it ‘scare quotes’?) meant to indicate that a word is being used in a special sense.
BTW, the American convention that punctuation such as commas and periods must always be placed inside quotation marks, regardless of whether or not the punctuation properly belongs to the quotation itself, I find very irritating. The British are much more sensible on this matter.
me has no grammar skills. :p
The word “person” is singular. The pronoun “they” is plural. This should read “…judgments about a person based on something he has written…” or “…judgments about a person based on something he/she has written…”
My latest irritation is everyone under 25 saying “these ones” when “these” would do fine.
I feel badly for ya’lls kid’s! Good grammar all depends on where your at in the country. As long as you speak American, people will figure it out.
(wink-wink)
@Right at Home: All y’alls kids. (No apostrophe with kids, and “all y’all” is much more inclusive, isn’t it?) Methinks the under-educated protest too much. Grammar rules are not hard to maintain if one has learned the rules correctly in the first place and if one hears/reads the rules correctly spoken/written time and time again. A pox on texting language! Truly one more instance of the “dumbing” down of America.
One of my bugaboos is the overuse of certain words like “but” and “so.” I frequently will hear a radio commentator say, “A is true, but B is an exception. But C is something to also consider.” The word “but” is used for contrasting two items. To use it twice does nothing more than reveal one’s ignorance.
In the little mini-essay above, the writer should have omitted the “so,” and simply gone with “When it comes right down to it…”
This is not a grammatical issue, but have you noticed how folks–today–will pronounce works slightly incorrectly…like “news” the same as “Nooze?” And, “what” the same as “wut?” The first should be pronounced as “nyooze”..and the second as “”hwut.” I have worked a bit in radio broadcasting and dialect-work for many years. It was a pleasure joining you folks today, on this page. ; )
Hey everyone.
I guess it’s good to see everyone so into correcting each other… but whats up with everyone trying to prove each others wrong. dudes you guys might think all this sounds smart but to me it sounds like a whole bunch of people who are dying to correct others. look at yourself you people haha. go ahead an’ correct all my grammatical errors
“Smash ‘em” is that proper English for a paper?