Let's face it, dumb is a turn-off, so before you send another txt or bbm to that hot guy, read this Savvy City Girl's take on the biggest e-communication blunders. I've pinpointed the problem and provided easy fixes for each.
Will see what happens.
Their doing fine.
Your right about that!
Their doing fine.
Your right about that!
UGH!
In the world of email, texting and social media, now more than ever our grammar and writing is out there on display for everyone to see. It used to be that just our professors, co-workers, subordinates or bosses knew about our little grammatical shortcomings. But that's no longer the case. Personally, I am amazed at how many intelligent, educated, successful people out there make mistakes that would get a fifth-grader a big red mark in writing workshop.
What gives? It seems to this SCG that it's the CONTRACTION that is messing everyone up. So, I pulled together the TOP 3 MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE USING CONTRACTIONS. I also outlined an EASY FIX for each, so savvy city girls won’t ever be guilty of making them again.
1) they're and their vs. there
they’re – a contraction of they are (example: they are doing fine = they’re doing fine)
their – a possessive pronoun (example: their dogs are doing fine)
Let’s use them both in one sentence: They’re doing fine taking care of their dogs.
EASY FIX: Stop contracting they are. Just write it out until you are sure you have it right. Or apply this easy test - if they are doesn’t work in your sentence, then it's either their or there that you are looking for.
2) we’ll vs. will
we’ll – a contraction of we will (example: we will see how things turn out = we’ll see how things turn out)
will – a verb or auxiliary verb to be used with a noun or pronoun; also a noun, but not for our purposes here (example: they will be going to the store so you will have to be patient)
EASY FIX: used as a verb (action or state of existence), will always need a noun (person, place, thing) or pronoun (a replacement of a noun with general reference), which means you should never use will alone unless you are using it as noun (as in Last Will and Testament).
Note: will can be contracted with just about any pronoun (she will = she’ll; he will = he’ll; they will = they’ll; I will = I’ll; you will = you’ll; who will = who’ll) but it only causes problems when contracted with we to make we’ll. That's because we’ll and will sound so much alike. Making a habit of pronouncing them correctly is a helpful reminder. Again, if you can’t keep them straight, stop contracting or use the easy fix above.
3) you’re vs. your
you’re – a contraction of you are (example: you are absolutely right = you’re absolutely right)
your – a possessive pronoun (I saw your dog wearing your shoes and your hat)
In the same sentence: You’re right, it wasn’t your dog!
EASY FIX: This one is so simple, but so many people get it wrong. If you are not sure which one to use do the you are test. If you are doesn’t work, it’s your.
No comments:
Post a Comment