It was an ordinary day. Examining a few websites to make sure I have used the correct grammar for a few of my previous stories I have entered on my blog. I have written five stories in the past 13 years trying to explain why I have used specific grammar in a story. On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 I wrote a story titled "The '.....and here's to you Mrs. Eisenhart'" . It was meant to be a "Thank You" to my 11th grade English teacher for all she did to help me be a better reader and writer of the English language. I also wrote stories dealing with using the correct English language on August 26, 2015; May 8, 2017; November 15, 2019; and June 30, 2021. I recently read an online story telling of the 13 grammatical mistakes that can make me look bad. I had already written about a few of them on the previous dates I just gave to you, but I thought I would give you the additional mistakes in hopes that both you and I might recognize poor use of the English language while expressing ideas and thoughts to others. Grammical errors are easy to miss and the more you are told about them, the less you will use them. So...here are a few more grammatical mistakes that could make you, and me, look bad...or good!
Using "should of" instead of "should have." "Should of" should never be used. It is possible that when you mean to say "should have" it comes out to the listener as "should of". The contraction of "should have" is "should've and it may sound like to many people that you are saying "should of." You should never use "should of" since it is not an expression to be used in writing or speaking.
Using "everyday" instead of "every day." The adjective "everyday" means commonplace, daily or ordinary. However, this compound word does not refer to the unit of time known as a day. When you mean "each day," remember to separate the words.
Using "lay" vs. "lie." Lay is the past tense of lie, and laid is the past tense of lay. You lie down, but you lay something down. Still confused? I am too from time to time, so I don't let it bother me!
Using "it's vs. "its." I learned a long time ago that when you use an apostrophe it indicates possessive form. "It's" is the possessive form of it, or "it is." It's going to be cold today means - it is going to be cold today. "Its" is the possessive form of it and no apostrophe is required.
Using "effect" vs. "affect." I do confuse them quite often until I read it over and over again to make sure I used the correct version. Try to remember that "affect" is usually going to be a verb, and "effect" is usually going to be a noun. "Affect" is usually an action word while "effect" is a result. Does that help at all?
Using "there," "they're," and "their." "There" is a pronoun, adverb and more rarely, a noun and adjective. "They're" is two words put together that mean "they are." It is known as a contraction. The word "their" is the possessive form of "they". Put them together and you get: "They're over there in their boat!" Got it? Did you see that I used a question mark at the end of that last sentence? It was meant to be a question and not a statement.
Using "your" vs. "you're." You can look really bad if you mess this one up. "You're" is two words together meaning "you are." "Your" is a form of the possessive case of you used as an attributive adjective.
Using "to" vs. "too." Have I given you too many rules to follow? Did you see that I used "too" in the last sentence? "Too" means more or very or excessively. "To" is a common, frequently used preposition. Remember using prepositions in our English classes? I do too. Or, should I have written...I do too?
Well, this was my English lesson for today. Perhaps it will help you when you try to write something the next time. After writing this blog for the past 13 years, I'm beginning to get better at writing and using the correct words in my stories. If I happen to make a mistake, don't leave me a comment, since by that time my wife has already told me about the mistake. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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