I come from a school where grammar was beaten into us with a stick. I also had a best friend who cringed every time people used incorrect grammar.
Many times in the spoken word we are able to cover many of our grammar errors. However, as more and more of us are blogging or using facebook it becomes harder to mask these errors. It is so critical that we minimize these errors because for many people this will be the only impression they ever get of us. I think we are all guilty of making simple errors that could be avoided by better editing.
Here are a some of the more common errors:
1. Affect vs. Effect:
I was greatly affected by the news of his passing.
His sudden passing had a tremendous effect on me.
2. I vs. ME
My husband and I are attending a concert.
My mother bought concert tickets for my husband and me.
3. Except vs. Accept
I hope they accept the buyer's offer.
I work every day, except Sundays.
4. Were vs. We're
We're (we are) headed to the club.
We were planning to go to the club.
5. There vs. Their vs. They're
They're (They are) moving to Florida.
Their dog is large.
I was planning to put my shoes over there.
Bonus:
I should have went/gone to the store.
Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Long & Foster Real Estate
www.staceybaugh.com
staceyannbaugh@gmail.com
240-481-3565 (C)
301-924-1100 (O)
FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!
I hate the, "I can sale your house". Really? Can you? What if I wanted you to SELL my house?
Evening Stacey-Ann, You're preaching to the choir now ! Way too many sloppy errors in the MLS listings.
i LOVE IT! I just had this conversation today - I ain't got no answers.....did he really say that? I ain't calling him no more......are you kidding me? I overheard this conversation today and I had a lenghtly conversation about it......like nails on a chalkboard. And then to actually put it in writing too? You made a great point today on a topic that me was just talking about......LOL ...I was just talking about.
Thank you!
Don't forget Your vs You're . . . which I see blooped at least once daily.
My mom's a retired 1st grade teacher and I worked in education for a while too so it's hard for me not to be the grammar/spelling police.
But when I see a contract, I'd like it to look like a grownup wrote it. ;)
Donna - That's funny.
Bill - The MLS remarks are really bad.
Colleen - I ain't calling him either.
Candice - Those apostrophes seems to get people every time because Your vs You're and Its vs It's are some really common ones.
Stacey, my pet peeve is I seen that... yikes...
Hi Stacey-Ann, grammar is so important in the way we present ourselves. Unfortunately, it's not everyone's strong suit.... It's and its ALWAYS is a tripper upper --too.
Hi Stacey ~ Great list! I would add one of the ones I see constantly -you do not use an apostrophe for a plural -even if the word ends with a vowel.
And I second Donna - why on earth did people start saying "I had three *sells* last month" - huh? Too weird.
We all make mistakes but it IS really important to catch as many of them as you can - even if that means having someone proofread your writing before you print it or post it.
Liz
Hi Stacey,
Spell check and texting make me lazy - you are so right about the It's or Its. I have known that since probably second grade but still make mistakes. I'll probably make one here.
Invitation to Broker's open house received today "See you their Friday"
Here is one that bugs me! Using an exclamation point at the end of every sentence! I just saw a listing on a really nice house! Every sentence was so exciting! Even the directions to the home!
Not going to use the spell check on this post, sew If i spel somethin rong Ill corect It latar.
Kent Davis
Mary - That's how I feel about "I shoudda went to ...."
Mary - It's & Its is really a problem.
Elizabeth - You are so right about confusing apostrophe and plural. That is an incredibly common mistake.
Kent - Computers have definitely hurt our grammar and spelling! Not to mention our punctuation!
You would make my English teaching mother proud. Grammatical mistakes were one of her major pet peeves.
You would make my English teaching mother proud. Grammatical mistakes were one of her major pet peeves.