Proofing is my weakness. Laziness. Whatever you want to call it. I might be a grammar nazi, but there will always be something that slips past my best defenses. Hopefully, it won’t be something that is embarrassing. Because the embarrassing ones are always brought to my attention and usually in a not so nice way.
Like the “English Professor” that used a graphic I made with a misused Your instead of You’re as an example in his class of stupid passive aggressive bloggers. He had to email me and tell me this (true story). Or the time I misused its, and a commenter made a big jolly and called me an idiot. It happens to the best of us. But, when it happens, hopefully, it’s not an epic fail…
Your vs. You’re
How many invites have you gotten that have said “Your Invited”? A few? I know I have.
Your – possessive pronoun
You’re – contraction of you are
Could of, Would of vs. Could have, Would have
Coulda, woulda, shoulda – sounds nice, but it’s not right. You could of done it (no!), but really you could have done it (yes!).
I could care less vs. I couldn’t care less
I could care less means you could actually care less than you are currently caring. If you are caring a lot, caring less might still be relatively lots. If you don’t care at all, you couldn’t care, right? So, the right way to say it is – I couldn’t care less. Because you are at the maximum of not caring. Oohrah
For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes
I hear this one all the time, mostly in the spoken word. An intensive purpose is not the same thing as intents and purposes.
Then vs. Than
Then is time, than is comparison. It’s easiest to figure out than. Check if it is a comparison, if it’s not, use then.
Continual vs. Continuous
Continual is always occurring. Continuous is something that is happening without any stops.
Irregardless vs. Regardless
Regardless means carless, without attention and is the proper usage. Irregardless is in the dictionary and is considered an improper way to say regardless, even though it has been used since the 18th century. Irregardless of what the nazis say, it’s in the dictionary.
Alot vs. A lot
Alot is never a word. Never. Using it will make you look alot of stupid.
Towards and Anyways vs. Toward and Anyway
Don’t add an S – you move toward something not towards it.
Baited Breath vs. Bated Breath
Baited is like baiting a hook, taunting something – you are taunting your breath. Bated means moderate or restrain, a held breath.
Anyway(s) has always bugging the ever loving snot out of me when people use it. And idea vs ideals. Two different words!
I’m currently taking Teaching Grammar and I hate that class. It’s not the grammar I learned in school. I’ll be glad when it’s over!
Ugh?! What, it’s not the same? That would have my head spinning.
Less vs. fewer! I’ll never forget that SodaStream ad where Scarlett Johansson said “less bottles” instead of “fewer bottles.” It drove me crazy!
Yeah, that is usually a good one that I can “hear”
I can never seem to remember when I type the proper use of then vs than. I know the difference but that knowledge does seem to sink in and I find I need to edit it.
How about does vs dose? Dose is not a word.
Dose is a word, proper dose like medicine, so it won’t show up in spelling. And when using then and than – I always type than first… have to go back and check.
These are great! I used “baited breath” once and the person who corrected me said “your breath smells like bait?” I will never forget that one again 🙂
My grammar pet peeve is when people write “suppose to” instead of “supposed to”. “Should of” also makes me cringe, thanks for including that one.
Ewwww bait breath. I’m more likely to speak should of instead of write it, thank the grammar gods.
‘Alright’ is not, all right.
{Heather beet me to it on the ‘recurring vs. reoccurring. 🙂 }
beet vs. beat!
Hah! I got myself!
You can’t beet that! Dur…. 😛
Nice. 😀
I feel like I don’t use some of these words enough…
– Krys
I tried to do a few different ones this time.
Reoccuring vs Recurring. Recurring – to occur or appear again. Reoccuring – not a word as far as I and and dictionary I’ve ever checked can tell.
I found this. http://grammarist.com/usage/recur-reoccur/