General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

68. Several.

Sun Apr 20, 2014, 03:16 PM

Apr 2014

Not understanding that it's is the contraction of it is. Its is the possessive, meaning something belonging to it, whatever it refers to in the sentence. If you always substitute it is when you see it's, you'll get it correct just about every time.

Shrunk instead of shrank. Shrunk is the past participle and requires a helping verb. Shrank is the simple past tense. The movie title should have been: Honey, We Shrank the Kids.

Misusing lie and lay. Lay is a transitive verb and requires an object. You lay something down, or on the table, or whatever. Lie means to rest or recline. You lie on the couch while taking a nap. The confusion comes in with the past tense form and the past participles (the version needing the helper verb ) of those two.

Lie, lay, lain. Today I will lie down on the couch to take a nap. Yesterday I lay on the couch for two hours but didn't fall asleep. Many times I have lain on the couch, awake or asleep.

Lay, laid, laid. This morning I lay that book on the table. Yesterday I laid that book on the table but it's not there right now. I have often laid books on the table.

There are a number of other verbs where the past participle seems to be replacing the past tense, and I can't stand it. Seen when the person means saw.

The real problem seems to be that English grammar simply isn't taught in the schools these days. Foreign language teachers often complain bitterly that their students have absolutely no knowledge of the rules of English grammar, so they have to teach both English grammar and the French grammar, or whatever the foreign language is.

I do understand typos, or simply typing away so fast that the wrong word comes out. Sometimes, if I see a particularly egregious error in a post, I'll PM the poster about it. Since we've probably all let dumb mistakes slip by (I certainly have) I see no point in a public call out.

But I do wish more people here would get the its/it's thing straight.

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My grammar nazi revealed, so what are common spelling and grammar errors that annoy you? [View all] quinnox Apr 2014 OP

Well, madamesilverspurs Apr 2014 #1

The internet seems to have caused apostrophe issues treestar Apr 2014 #7

I prefer a mis-placed apostrophe to no punctuation at all. Smart phones especially are responsible. arcane1 Apr 2014 #52

HAHAHAHA! elleng Apr 2014 #9

DUzy! nt MADem Apr 2014 #176

The usual ones, I suspect whatthehey Apr 2014 #2

Oh my God, how could I forget "loose" instead of "lose"?? quinnox Apr 2014 #6

I have never understood the confusion over Jenoch Apr 2014 #127

farther and further LiberalElite Apr 2014 #150

I used to get that one mixed up. Jenoch Apr 2014 #161

All of them. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #3

lead/led, then/than pinboy3niner Apr 2014 #4

Then/than.......AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!! WillowTree Apr 2014 #58

Then and than...a classic n/t bobGandolf Apr 2014 #188

try and treestar Apr 2014 #5

there they're their elleng Apr 2014 #8

and your and you're noiretextatique Apr 2014 #101

I've noticed my father using Jenoch Apr 2014 #130

I have other things that annoy me. Not this. lonestarnot Apr 2014 #10

Not capitalizing proper nouns like Nazi. NuclearDem Apr 2014 #11

lol, got me! quinnox Apr 2014 #13

I never capitalize some words if I can help it, nazi,republican,romney Sunlei Apr 2014 #79

It really doesn't even bother me all that much. NuclearDem Apr 2014 #171

I have not capitalized "bush" since 2003, even in formal documents. Hoyt Apr 2014 #97

Nor cheney madokie Apr 2014 #107

Yep. Hoyt Apr 2014 #122

whose grammar is it anyway? Supersedeas Apr 2014 #212

to / too ManiacJoe Apr 2014 #12

Loose/lose is out of control... TeeYiYi Apr 2014 #14

You speak the truth! quinnox Apr 2014 #17

For realz. n/t Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2014 #44

Yep. Warren DeMontague Apr 2014 #129

Keyboard warriors calling each other "loosers" is kind of funny. pa28 Apr 2014 #155

I gotta agree! I don't understand the confusion. Inkfreak Apr 2014 #173

Passive voice, negations and got Android3.14 Apr 2014 #15

I have always had a problem with passive voice... n/t sweetloukillbot Apr 2014 #177

"Chaise lounge" (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #16

That horse is well out of the barn. Just google it and see.... hlthe2b Apr 2014 #74

None. I make a living (in part) correcting people's mistakes . . . Journeyman Apr 2014 #18

lol, interesting perspective there! quinnox Apr 2014 #19

Job security. Brigid Apr 2014 #138

dislikes enid602 Apr 2014 #20

When grammar is use to refer to one's grandma. Lint Head Apr 2014 #21

Quotation marks BainsBane Apr 2014 #22

"Alot" (n/t) William Seger Apr 2014 #23

"irregardless" for "regardless", Ilsa Apr 2014 #24

Ha. I was gong to mention "penultimate." DirkGently Apr 2014 #39

I found out what penultimate meant... Ron Obvious Apr 2014 #55

Youch. In fairness to you, that's some heavy DirkGently Apr 2014 #156

Those bastards! penultimate Apr 2014 #195

The worst for me frogmarch Apr 2014 #25

lol quinnox Apr 2014 #27

+1. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #33

I feel her pain! LOL! Thanks! nt Ilsa Apr 2014 #57

"I could care less." has seemed to replace, "I couldn't care less." on a lot of internet posts. Sunlei Apr 2014 #85

less instead of fewer arely staircase Apr 2014 #26

But now "over" is okay for "more than." Gah. DirkGently Apr 2014 #36

Oh man, my wife gets on all of us all day long about that one. Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2014 #46

Doh! I said the same thing downthread... SidDithers Apr 2014 #84

yeah but I didn't say sid agrees with me arely staircase Apr 2014 #86

I hate "noone" too Orrex Apr 2014 #28

OK, you asked rock Apr 2014 #29

Noone is a widely used spelling variation of no one. MineralMan Apr 2014 #30

I hear these on 2naSalit Apr 2014 #31

I hate the loosers that can't spell loser scheming daemons Apr 2014 #32

You get full credit for that one! quinnox Apr 2014 #35

+1 That is the only spelling or grammar error I have a problem with. Zorra Apr 2014 #71

Typo King here. Have to be careful of hypocrisy. DirkGently Apr 2014 #34

Oh, for sure. I have noticed, in general, duers are excellent in spelling and grammar. It is part of quinnox Apr 2014 #37

My job includes a lot of writing, typing, and editing. Jenoch Apr 2014 #133

I kvnow wvhat ywouv meamn. DirkGently Apr 2014 #149

:>)))))))))) pangaia Apr 2014 #158

Yes, it bother me. Jenoch Apr 2014 #159

pronouncing important as impordant notadmblnd Apr 2014 #38

Anderson Cooper does this. CrispyQ Apr 2014 #54

HAHAHA I noticed that to, bugs the SHIT out of me! nt laundry_queen Apr 2014 #88

and "library" as "li-barry" hlthe2b Apr 2014 #93

IMO, people like you are annoying and arrogant and shallow. nt Logical Apr 2014 #40

welp, nobody's perfect quinnox Apr 2014 #42

I think people only correct others to make themselves feel better. nt Logical Apr 2014 #43

Welp, you are entitled to your opinion. But I can tell you, that is not the only possible reason! quinnox Apr 2014 #45

I don't usually correct people unless they've pointed out someone else's errors notadmblnd Apr 2014 #65

agreed 2pooped2pop Apr 2014 #102

Good point, I even understood your text shorthand! :-) Logical Apr 2014 #103

And how did writing that make you feel? WinkyDink Apr 2014 #118

I think those who criticize corrections do so because they make the most mistakes... LanternWaste Apr 2014 #209

I'll cop to the first two, but I assure you I am far from "shallow." WinkyDink Apr 2014 #117

You were? nt Logical Apr 2014 #120

Yes. 1992. Alas (for me), I lost. WinkyDink Apr 2014 #121

Congrats. Cool deal. nt Logical Apr 2014 #123

Affect and effect libodem Apr 2014 #41

Insure and ensure. Jenoch Apr 2014 #134

Uh huh libodem Apr 2014 #183

I have a long list but I noticed that I make the stupidest mistakes when posting from the phone... Democracyinkind Apr 2014 #47

When people who are *paid to write* make these mistakes Freddie Apr 2014 #48

mine is using a noun instead of an adjective WhiteTara Apr 2014 #49

In the news, we often hear so and so "went missing" Samantha Apr 2014 #50

Oh, good one! I have even got used to that one, it has become so common, that I didn't notice it. quinnox Apr 2014 #51

Here is a mispronounciation of a word that is spreading rapidly and it makes me cringe Samantha Apr 2014 #98

I believe that there is an influence from Spanish flamingdem Apr 2014 #128

Yes... How did THAT get started? hlthe2b Apr 2014 #77

"I had went to the store to get candy" cry baby Apr 2014 #53

And there's a tendency, mostly in the South it seems....... WillowTree Apr 2014 #61

Definitely. Being from the south and living there now, cry baby Apr 2014 #64

Yes. That one is especially grating. hlthe2b Apr 2014 #76

People who can't get straight when to use "breath" and when to use "breathe". WillowTree Apr 2014 #56

Also had a boss once, really arrogant woman she was........ WillowTree Apr 2014 #59

Yeah, I get that one. Cloths vs clothes is one that I find annoying. nt laundry_queen Apr 2014 #90

Republicans. NV Whino Apr 2014 #60

bit/bitten, broke/broken, went/gone, narnian60 Apr 2014 #62

People that use "viscous" instead of "vicious" SwankyXomb Apr 2014 #63

how do you feel about "walla" instead of "viole" notadmblnd Apr 2014 #180

I prefer "voila." BeeBee Apr 2014 #197

I think it means "see there!" in French. Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2014 #208

If I can tell what they meant, I don't care. But sometimes, it changes the meaning. McCamy Taylor Apr 2014 #66

Their inability to demonstrate they're over there. MohRokTah Apr 2014 #67

Several. SheilaT Apr 2014 #68

I taught French way back in the 60's and 70's and beveeheart Apr 2014 #136

I graduated high school in 1965 SheilaT Apr 2014 #143

Alls I have to do is.... titaniumsalute Apr 2014 #69

I suspect that many kids in France can... dogknob Apr 2014 #70

People, especially published authors, making up goofy adverbs that don't exist. raccoon Apr 2014 #72

Drank NV Whino Apr 2014 #73

Is that as in-- pangaia Apr 2014 #160

That will work. NV Whino Apr 2014 #169

Less / fewer makes my teeth hurt... SidDithers Apr 2014 #75

You must really love going through the grocery check-out lines for hlthe2b Apr 2014 #78

Yup. How that phrase ever became industry standard is a mystery... SidDithers Apr 2014 #80

There's one that galls me thru and thru... Mister Ed Apr 2014 #81

I have always hated "GROW THE ECONOMY--i.e., using grow as a transitive verb... hlthe2b Apr 2014 #82

And no grammar nazi thread is complete without Mitchell and Webb... SidDithers Apr 2014 #83

Ok, I may be an "anti-gun Nazi", but I admittedly enjoyed that^^^ LOLOL hlthe2b Apr 2014 #87

Kerfunkle instead of kerfuffle...nt SidDithers Apr 2014 #89

Using "I" as an indirect object cyberswede Apr 2014 #91

Yes. The "I" as indirect object was incorrectly reinforced in my early education... I'm not sure hlthe2b Apr 2014 #92

Using "I" as an indirect object beveeheart Apr 2014 #139

nazi's need life. 2pooped2pop Apr 2014 #94

Know doubt. Common Sense Party Apr 2014 #203

lol, great answer 2pooped2pop Apr 2014 #204

My biggest pet peeves are spartan61 Apr 2014 #95

"I feel badly" instead of "I feel bad." Ironically, TV writers often use the first phrase pnwmom Apr 2014 #96

Unless, perhaps the individual has a neurological condition that makes them insensitive to touch... hlthe2b Apr 2014 #106

True. But I've never actually heard the phrase used in that context. Have you? n/t pnwmom Apr 2014 #108

No... since there are better scientific (medical) terms for describing that phenomenon, no. hlthe2b Apr 2014 #109

"Your the greatest!" brer cat Apr 2014 #99

Oh no! That reminds me of my daughter's first grade LibDemAlways Apr 2014 #179

Grammar and spelling elitists should avoid Craigslist. lpbk2713 Apr 2014 #100

"Elitists"?? Is that like those Mathematics elitists who prefer correct sums, subtractions, etc.? WinkyDink Apr 2014 #119

I have not seen noone noones. itsrobert Apr 2014 #104

I could care less catbyte Apr 2014 #105

do do Sneezpaddle Apr 2014 #110

The most blatant that I see daily, maybe even hourly meadowlark5 Apr 2014 #111

This whole thread makes me nauseous. Liberal Veteran Apr 2014 #112

Actually, it could (theoretically) induce nausea or, as you may be indicating reflect your feeling hlthe2b Apr 2014 #113

...for the win! ..nt TeeYiYi Apr 2014 #137

I make mistakes frequently so I would never call anyone else out. former9thward Apr 2014 #114

Since when betsuni Apr 2014 #115

The Usual Suspects. But the MOST egregious two = "would of" and variations of "to I"!!!!!!!!!!!!! WinkyDink Apr 2014 #116

Nukelar instead of nuclear. darkangel218 Apr 2014 #124

Seperate instead of separate, irregardless instead of regardless flamingdem Apr 2014 #125

Libary instead of library flamingdem Apr 2014 #126

Fewer/less. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2014 #131

Good, I'm not the only person that has noticed this change cpwm17 Apr 2014 #148

Prolly... YvonneCa Apr 2014 #132

That's a midwest thing. Colloquially, we definitely say 'prolly'... Shandris Apr 2014 #185

1. Regime/regimen. E.G., The dictator's regime required students to follow a daily exercise regimen. ancianita Apr 2014 #135

The difference between 'login' and 'log in'. gtar100 Apr 2014 #140

Good. Now please frogmarch Apr 2014 #141

It all depends on if you logged on or logged in. gtar100 Apr 2014 #164

Thanks! Very helpful. nt frogmarch Apr 2014 #167

do you ever get requests to "do the needful"? Skittles Apr 2014 #163

LOL I have and had to tilt my head just a bit to get what they meant. I guess it's a translation of gtar100 Apr 2014 #165

I tell them to stop, that it sounds funny Skittles Apr 2014 #181

the one I never get write (come on you laughed) Botany Apr 2014 #142

Easy-peasy: Possessive pronouns never take apostrophes. Hers, his, yours, ours, theirs, its. WinkyDink Apr 2014 #145

Also, "it's" ALWAYS means "it is," so if you look at your sentence and it Nay Apr 2014 #190

The problem is not the internet. LiberalFighter Apr 2014 #144

Consentual vs consensual. pnwest Apr 2014 #146

Misspelling "Republican" as "Third Way" MannyGoldstein Apr 2014 #147

also misspelling "Third Way" as "Democrat" Dragonfli Apr 2014 #200

Has anyone else run into 'anymore' as a delimited term? yewberry Apr 2014 #151

Ekscape. Kingofalldems Apr 2014 #152

Who axed you? WinkyDink Apr 2014 #213

Prepare copies of the report for Susan and myself. trackfan Apr 2014 #153

Accept and except.. pangaia Apr 2014 #154

What is with - 'went missing?' pangaia Apr 2014 #157

"The media IS�" tularetom Apr 2014 #162

All of the above, RebelOne Apr 2014 #166

When people type "u" and "ur" instead of "you" and "your/you're". Initech Apr 2014 #168

Speaking of which: You're and Your, not to mention making plurals possessive... Rhiannon12866 Apr 2014 #170

Oh, where do I start? Le Taz Hot Apr 2014 #172

Just for fun. 3catwoman3 Apr 2014 #174

Eye sea watt ewe did their. lpbk2713 Apr 2014 #175

Your/You're LibDemAlways Apr 2014 #178

"Ain't got" and "you be" drive me up a wall Dragonfli Apr 2014 #182

'whole nother' ronnie624 Apr 2014 #184

People who don't know the difference between Woman and Women. donheld Apr 2014 #186

Referring to a company ohheckyeah Apr 2014 #187

Not exactly grammar, but annoying anyway: Tracer Apr 2014 #189

Cakes are done, people are finished. tavernier Apr 2014 #191

Although I don't like these errors when I see them here, on FB, etc. deutsey Apr 2014 #192

Loose/lose is at the top of my list. onenote Apr 2014 #193

"Free reign" instead of "free rein". nt. Mariana Apr 2014 #194

Spelling it seperate instead of separate. leftyladyfrommo Apr 2014 #196

cancelled not canceled GreatCaesarsGhost Apr 2014 #198

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/canceled-or-cancelled mfcorey1 Apr 2014 #199

I nevuh mizzspell wurds SummerSnow Apr 2014 #201

Us vs. we. narnian60 Apr 2014 #202

To lose is not to loose! Puzzledtraveller Apr 2014 #205

'None are' pisses me off and malaise Apr 2014 #206

"I was, like, woah" Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2014 #207

I hate that people are too lazy to use capital letters. MicaelS Apr 2014 #210

Constant Misuse RobinA Apr 2014 #211

Your alleged post is a good one! WinkyDink Apr 2014 #216

Since several asked... "Went missing": WinkyDink Apr 2014 #214

Oooh, ooh, Mr. Kotter! THIS ONE---"lead" instead of "led" as the past tense of "lead"! WinkyDink Apr 2014 #215

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2014 #217