Easy Grammar Fix
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Snag Breac
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A useful article for students, from Education Age.
Finding the right words
APART from school work, most students rarely write on paper these days, but they do text, blog, use MSN, and post on forums. In an era of disconnected communities, people still connect in cyberspace. Writing is the medium of communication. For students, cyberspace is a compulsively interesting world, but one where text-talk rules. The exchange of information and ideas on the internet is often instantaneous. Few take time to reflect or edit. Not surprisingly, the writing is often riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors.
That is fine in cyberspace, where you can be casual and idiosyncratic. The difficulty arises when students can no longer distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, grammatically speaking. When these students tackle homework or examinations they can have difficulty making the necessary transition. In more formal, complex writing, good grammar is essential for clarity.
This is a reference for students, focusing on some of the common mistakes made in cyberspace.
1. Your/You're
These words have different meanings, which are often confused.
Your is a possessive adjective. Use it only to suggest ownership. Example: It's your turn. Pull up your socks.
You're is a short way of writing "You are". Example: You're right, mate.
2. Their/They're/There
Their is used for possession (ownership) only. Example: They want to do it their way.
They're is short for "they are". Example: They're the best team in the league.
There is used to indicate location. Example: Are we there yet? Yes, it's over there.
There is also used when we write, there is or there are. We can shorten there is to there's. Example: There's a concert on tonight.
3. Were/We're/Where
These are often confused.
Were is simply the past tense of the verb To Be. Example: We were late this morning.
We're is the shortened form of "we are". Example: We're looking forward to the holidays.
Where is used for place. Example: That's where we ate last night.
Where is often used in a question. Example: Where did he come from?
Use this sentence as an aide-memoire: We didn't know where we were going. Now we're lost.
Note that spellcheck will not help you decide which word to use in the above examples. They are all proper words, but you must know how to use them.
4. Could of/Should of instead of Could have/Should have.
Example: We should of beaten them. We could of won the grand final.
This construction does not exist!
When we write sentences like this, we're writing about what has happened. We should write:
We should have beaten them. We could have won the grand final.
5. To/too
To is used more often. It usually comes before or after a noun or verb. Example: I'm going to school. We have to go.
Too is used to suggest excess - too much. It usually comes before a describing word (an adjective or adverb). Example: She's too short to be a model.
Too also implies also. Example: Wait! I'm coming too.
6. Of/off
Both are prepositions, which come before nouns or verbs.
Of is used most often. Example: They're all members of the club. Which of them is captain?
Off is also an adverb. It suggests "away". Example: He grabbed the ball, ran off and fended off six players with one hand.
7. Did good/well
No one ever does good. They do well.
Good is an adjective. It describes nouns. Example: You're good at English.
Well is an adverb. It's used to describe how we are (state), or how we perform an action. Example: The teacher explained it really well.
8. Then/than
Then is used in relation to time (what comes next). Example: Finish your homework, then you can watch TV.
Than is used when comparing things. Example: Chips taste better than broccoli.
9. Are/our
Are is part of the verb To Be. Example: Are you ready?
Our/s is used for ownership. Example: Our team rocks.
10. Double Negatives
To turn a positive sentence into a negative one, we usually insert "not". Example: "I've done my homework" (positive) becomes "I have not done my homework" (negative).
But two negatives tend to make a positive. Never write: "We haven't got nothing to do". This means that we do have something to do.
The proper form is: We haven't got anything to do.
11. Contractions
A contraction is when we shorten a verb by leaving out one or more letters. Example: I do not can be shortened to I don't.
In the same way:
Cannot becomes can't
Will not becomes won't
You have becomes you've
She is becomes she's
He would becomes he'd
They will becomes they'll
Note that we must insert an apostrophe to indicate that a letter has been omitted.
We use contractions all the time in speech, but they should be used carefully in formal writing.
12. It's and Its
These are not interchangeable. They mean different things.
It's with the apostrophe is the contracted form of "it is". Example: It's not fair.
We insert the apostrophe to show that we've omitted "i".
Its is a possessive pronoun referring to something that belongs to it. Example: The car stopped when its engine died.
13. Either and Neither
These words are used to refer to a single person or object, and the verb must be in the singular.
Example: It's either one or the other. You can't both go. Neither of us is going to the concert. Has either of you seen Liam?
14. Confusables: words often confused
Effect and Affect
Both effect and affect can be used as nouns and verbs, but effect is most commonly used as a noun, while affect is almost always a verb.
As a noun, effect usually means a result. Examples: Her hard work had the desired effect. What effect will the loss have on our team's morale?
As a verb, affect usually means to influence. Examples: The knee injury badly affected his kicking. Bad behaviour in class affects us all.
Practice and Practise
Practise is a verb - the action you perform. Example: How often do you practise your music?
Practice is a noun - the thing that you are doing. Example: We have basketball practice this afternoon.
Fewer and Less
There is a simple rule when deciding which of these words to use: If you can count whatever it is you are referring to, use fewer. If you can't count it, use less.
Example: We have fewer subjects than last year, but we have less free time.
15. Frequently Misspelt Words
Correct spellings of 12 words that frequently appear in cyberspace in other forms and guises.
Competent
Conscientious
Definitely
Disappointed
Eligible
Embarrass
Initial
Occurred
Possession
Relevant
Separate
Succeed
Of course, language is always evolving, and today's howlers will be quite acceptable in the future. But for the purposes of correct writing, and getting top marks, grammar still counts.
Finding the right words
APART from school work, most students rarely write on paper these days, but they do text, blog, use MSN, and post on forums. In an era of disconnected communities, people still connect in cyberspace. Writing is the medium of communication. For students, cyberspace is a compulsively interesting world, but one where text-talk rules. The exchange of information and ideas on the internet is often instantaneous. Few take time to reflect or edit. Not surprisingly, the writing is often riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors.
That is fine in cyberspace, where you can be casual and idiosyncratic. The difficulty arises when students can no longer distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, grammatically speaking. When these students tackle homework or examinations they can have difficulty making the necessary transition. In more formal, complex writing, good grammar is essential for clarity.
This is a reference for students, focusing on some of the common mistakes made in cyberspace.
1. Your/You're
These words have different meanings, which are often confused.
Your is a possessive adjective. Use it only to suggest ownership. Example: It's your turn. Pull up your socks.
You're is a short way of writing "You are". Example: You're right, mate.
2. Their/They're/There
Their is used for possession (ownership) only. Example: They want to do it their way.
They're is short for "they are". Example: They're the best team in the league.
There is used to indicate location. Example: Are we there yet? Yes, it's over there.
There is also used when we write, there is or there are. We can shorten there is to there's. Example: There's a concert on tonight.
3. Were/We're/Where
These are often confused.
Were is simply the past tense of the verb To Be. Example: We were late this morning.
We're is the shortened form of "we are". Example: We're looking forward to the holidays.
Where is used for place. Example: That's where we ate last night.
Where is often used in a question. Example: Where did he come from?
Use this sentence as an aide-memoire: We didn't know where we were going. Now we're lost.
Note that spellcheck will not help you decide which word to use in the above examples. They are all proper words, but you must know how to use them.
4. Could of/Should of instead of Could have/Should have.
Example: We should of beaten them. We could of won the grand final.
This construction does not exist!
When we write sentences like this, we're writing about what has happened. We should write:
We should have beaten them. We could have won the grand final.
5. To/too
To is used more often. It usually comes before or after a noun or verb. Example: I'm going to school. We have to go.
Too is used to suggest excess - too much. It usually comes before a describing word (an adjective or adverb). Example: She's too short to be a model.
Too also implies also. Example: Wait! I'm coming too.
6. Of/off
Both are prepositions, which come before nouns or verbs.
Of is used most often. Example: They're all members of the club. Which of them is captain?
Off is also an adverb. It suggests "away". Example: He grabbed the ball, ran off and fended off six players with one hand.
7. Did good/well
No one ever does good. They do well.
Good is an adjective. It describes nouns. Example: You're good at English.
Well is an adverb. It's used to describe how we are (state), or how we perform an action. Example: The teacher explained it really well.
8. Then/than
Then is used in relation to time (what comes next). Example: Finish your homework, then you can watch TV.
Than is used when comparing things. Example: Chips taste better than broccoli.
9. Are/our
Are is part of the verb To Be. Example: Are you ready?
Our/s is used for ownership. Example: Our team rocks.
10. Double Negatives
To turn a positive sentence into a negative one, we usually insert "not". Example: "I've done my homework" (positive) becomes "I have not done my homework" (negative).
But two negatives tend to make a positive. Never write: "We haven't got nothing to do". This means that we do have something to do.
The proper form is: We haven't got anything to do.
11. Contractions
A contraction is when we shorten a verb by leaving out one or more letters. Example: I do not can be shortened to I don't.
In the same way:
Cannot becomes can't
Will not becomes won't
You have becomes you've
She is becomes she's
He would becomes he'd
They will becomes they'll
Note that we must insert an apostrophe to indicate that a letter has been omitted.
We use contractions all the time in speech, but they should be used carefully in formal writing.
12. It's and Its
These are not interchangeable. They mean different things.
It's with the apostrophe is the contracted form of "it is". Example: It's not fair.
We insert the apostrophe to show that we've omitted "i".
Its is a possessive pronoun referring to something that belongs to it. Example: The car stopped when its engine died.
13. Either and Neither
These words are used to refer to a single person or object, and the verb must be in the singular.
Example: It's either one or the other. You can't both go. Neither of us is going to the concert. Has either of you seen Liam?
14. Confusables: words often confused
Effect and Affect
Both effect and affect can be used as nouns and verbs, but effect is most commonly used as a noun, while affect is almost always a verb.
As a noun, effect usually means a result. Examples: Her hard work had the desired effect. What effect will the loss have on our team's morale?
As a verb, affect usually means to influence. Examples: The knee injury badly affected his kicking. Bad behaviour in class affects us all.
Practice and Practise
Practise is a verb - the action you perform. Example: How often do you practise your music?
Practice is a noun - the thing that you are doing. Example: We have basketball practice this afternoon.
Fewer and Less
There is a simple rule when deciding which of these words to use: If you can count whatever it is you are referring to, use fewer. If you can't count it, use less.
Example: We have fewer subjects than last year, but we have less free time.
15. Frequently Misspelt Words
Correct spellings of 12 words that frequently appear in cyberspace in other forms and guises.
Competent
Conscientious
Definitely
Disappointed
Eligible
Embarrass
Initial
Occurred
Possession
Relevant
Separate
Succeed
Of course, language is always evolving, and today's howlers will be quite acceptable in the future. But for the purposes of correct writing, and getting top marks, grammar still counts.
- Oct 8, 2004
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The worst crime contractions ever pulled was convincing people that "would've" is "would of".
Snag Breac
Brownlow Medallist
- Thread starter
- #329
Yes, incomprehensible. I've recently discovered that people routinely use his when they mean to write he's, as in he is. Eg:
I rate Beams, his a good kick.
- Oct 8, 2004
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Yeah - That's bad too.
Those not as bad as the one Dave repeatedly offends with
Those not as bad as the one Dave repeatedly offends with
Pie eyed
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- Jun 26, 2007
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Snag,
They forgot "a and an"
A Truck,
An Elephant.
They forgot "a and an"
A Truck,
An Elephant.
Snag Breac
Brownlow Medallist
- Thread starter
- #332
True. They ran out of space, I expect.
Snag....quick question.
What is the plural of "person"? Is it "persons" or "people"?
What is the plural of "person"? Is it "persons" or "people"?
Snag Breac
Brownlow Medallist
- Thread starter
- #335
"Persons" is the plural, but sounds rather formal - almost like police-speak, so we often use the collective noun "people" instead.
"Persons" tends to put the emphasis on the individual, even when referring to the plural. The classic example is the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity - three persons in on God.
- Oct 8, 2004
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No journalism style guide that I've ever read suggests using "persons" instead of "people".
As far as I can tell, "persons" seems to be used solely in the legal system.
As far as I can tell, "persons" seems to be used solely in the legal system.
I thought it was something like if you can count the amount of people or not.....or maybe I am way off.
For example,
"There were 36 persons in the room" or "There were a large number of people in the room"
For example,
"There were 36 persons in the room" or "There were a large number of people in the room"
Snag Breac
Brownlow Medallist
- Thread starter
- #338
Usage rules, and "Persons" sounds stilted, except in the legal sense. But it's still the plural of "person."
Magpie Militia, I'd suggest, There were 36 people in the room. It's correct, the meaning is clear and it sounds/feels "right'.
N.B. If you reading widely and well, your sense of what sounds/feels right will be come very acute.
Pie eyed
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The use of "person or persons" saw a massive revival due to de-sexualization of our legal, business and everyday language.
It does not only sound wrong because it is wrong, it sounds wrong because the concept it tries to imbue is in it self sexist and wrong.
There are two sexes, which are very different ( hallelujah )and there ain't know PC way around that.
Pie eyed
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What are the pluaral of:
Opus
Origami
Abacus
LOL.
Opus
Origami
Abacus
LOL.
LOL, Pie eyed! You have used the word 'wrong' four times in one sentence!
Pie eyed
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LOL, Pie eyed! You have used the word 'wrong' four times in one sentence!
lol...limited vocabulary and the word I heard most during my educative years.....
RRRooocccaaa
Cancelled
- Banned
- #343
Pie eyed
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hehehe.
What is the plural of...if a serial killer's split personalities had different habits.
Modus Operandi?
Modii Operandus ............................???
What is the plural of...if a serial killer's split personalities had different habits.
Modus Operandi?
Modii Operandus ............................???
Pie eyed
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Hmm, not sure. What is a pluaral?
Two drunk posters trying to applaud each others spelling.............lol
Four would be a "pluarus"
Two drunk posters trying to applaud each others spelling.............lol
Four would be a "pluarus"
Lol. Hope you don't have to work tomorrow....
Pie eyed
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Did you know the collective noun for a group of Magpies is......
tidings of magpies
others..
streak of tigers
kettle of hawks
convocation of eagles
storytelling of crows
nuisance of cats
sowse ofl ions
kennel of dogs...
Other intersting collective nouns...
More than one
Rohan. a sphincter of Rohan
FuManchu a lexicon of FuManchii
Tess a conspiracy of Tess
Aghhhhhh.. Richmond got raped.
tidings of magpies
others..
streak of tigers
kettle of hawks
convocation of eagles
storytelling of crows
nuisance of cats
sowse ofl ions
kennel of dogs...
Other intersting collective nouns...
More than one
Rohan. a sphincter of Rohan
FuManchu a lexicon of FuManchii
Tess a conspiracy of Tess
Aghhhhhh.. Richmond got raped.
- Banned
- #349
a tank of blues
Snag Breac
Brownlow Medallist
- Thread starter
- #350
OI, OI, OI, OI! A drunken rabble has run wild in this thread since I was here last. A very Prick of Posters!
And those collective nouns should read:
A Mewling of tigers
A Squawk of hawks
A Duster of eagles
A Nonentity of crows
A Tedium of Swans
A Lapping of cats
A Leg-Up of dogs
A Depression of blues, although a Tank of Blues is good too.
And abit is NOT a word. It's a bit.
A very Prick of Posters!And those collective nouns should read:
A Mewling of tigers
A Squawk of hawks
A Duster of eagles
A Nonentity of crows
A Tedium of Swans
A Lapping of cats
A Leg-Up of dogs
A Depression of blues, although a Tank of Blues is good too.
And abit is NOT a word. It's a bit.
