When you’re blogging for an audience and not just yourself, and especially when you’re doing copy-writing, you definitely have to watch out for common grammar mistakes. Nothing takes down the dedication to or the credibility of a blog or site that isn’t following simple writing rules more than common writing mistakes.
There are thousands of spelling and grammar rules you have to follow in order to pen a perfect paper… but there’s certain rules that writers, no matter how experienced they are, break time and time again. The following 10 examples are common mistakes people make when writing. While you won’t be expected to submit the perfect blog post every time, committing these mistakes to memory and making sure you use them as tips for college writing will help you avoid these grammar no-no’s and become a grammar and spelling guru.
Confusing Then and Than
They sound alike but mean completely different things. Than is usually used for comparisons, while then is used to indicate time or when writing instructions or steps down.
Misuse of Effect and Affect
The misuse of effect and affect is one of the most common grammar mistakes people make. When used as a verb you will want to make sure you use affect, when you are talking about something producing something you will use effect.
The Three T’s – There, Their and They’re
The three T’s sound alike but will change depending on what you are trying to convey in your writing. When you wish to convey possession of an item for more than one person you use their, there is used to indicate placement or location and they’re is a contraction for they are.
Wrong Use of Its and It’s
Words that sound alike but mean something different can cause you to make grammar mistakes. It’s is used for a contraction for it is, while its is a possessive form for it.
Using Apostrophes at the Wrong Time
Apostrophes only have two purposes. They are used to show possession or to form contractions of words. There are no other reasons to use apostrophes in your writing.
Possession for Words Ending in Y
A common mistake that is made is to take the y off the end of the word and placing ies. However that makes it a plural word. Possession for words ending in y would be ‘s.
Mixing Singular and Plural Words
When you are writing about a singular object or person don’t mix plural words with your writing. Try to avoid using words like they when talking about one person or object.
Conjunctions
And, but and or are the only conjunctions you should be using. No other word can connect phrases.
Choosing to Use Your and You’re Correctly
Contractions and similar sounding words can be confusing. You’re is the contraction for you are, while your is the possessive form of you.
Wrong Use of Less and Fewer
Writers often use less and fewer interchangeably but they are different. Less if for items that can’t be counted or for time, while fewer is for items that can be counted.
Becoming a grammar guru requires you to commit these grammar mistakes to memory and assess your blog posts with a fair eye. How will you avoid committing them this next time?
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The Your and You’re issue bugs the heck out of me. I always find myself correcting people and I end up looking like a jerk. Maybe they should have paid attention in school!
Money Markets´s last post..What You Should Know About Money Market Instruments
Were, we’re and where similarly trip up some people. English can be a challenging language to master.
I have to agree there is nothing worse than when people get your and you’re mixed up. I mean how hard can it be? Your as in belonging to or you’re as in you are!
Chris @ Roots Web Solutions´s last post..My Comprehensive Guide to Guest Blogging
“And, but and or are the only conjunctions you should be using. No other word can connect phrases.”
Really? Did your grammar education stop at 6th grade? You’ve never seen a conjunctive “so”, or “nor”, or “yet”? A few people object to the conjunctive “like”, though its usage dates to Chaucer and is found in writings of many of the greater writers in English literary history. If you’re just saying “phrases”, then you also get subordinating conjunctions like “since” and “because”.
It is rank, embarrassing ignorance to say there are only three conjunctions in English.
Thanks Bob, it is good to hear from someone with a wider understanding of our great language. I appreciate your contribution.
Twitter: Kristin P
says:
I’m also very particular with the 3 T’s, its & it’s and any misplaced or missing apostrophes. Ugh.
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Apostrohes are tricky at times. I’ve not quite worked out the dash though.
Twitter: bryanmch
says:
Hi Michael,
We all seem to make these simple mistakes so often that sometimes we just take it as norm.
It used to bother me when so called professionals would spell their words incorrectly … but as it appeared more and more I have just accepted that IM are not great at English… ha ha
Thanks for bringing this to our attention….
Cheers
Bryan
Bryan McHeyzer´s last post..Everyday is Special
No worries Bryan, this is one of my recent guest posts. English was one of my weaker subjects many years ago but since then I’ve developed a greater appreciation for the language.
Nice post! It’s interesting how common it is to see these types of mistakes on so many blogs. In fact, some websites are even marketing their sites with improper grammar in their text links. Guess it just goes to show that you even have to create special link building campaigns for the less educated search engine user.
Mr Link Builder´s last post..Content is King! (Freshness Update)
It’s a shame to say but I am not an exception! I also got the same mistakes. Maybe, I need to re-edit my old posts and check the grammar again. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Amie @Money Saving Advice´s last post..Are you talking to the wrong consumer? Without customer segmentation, you might be
I totally agree with this, I have tried writing my own article, and I have experienced some of the common mistakes listed here. by reading this article I can adopt a lot for me not to experience the same mistakes I have done before. I really appreciate this.
Kate Brown Wilson´s last post..gun holsters
Twitter: EBScribblings
says:
Hi Michael,
Everybody makes mistakes from time to time – but when they’re repeated again and again it does become annoying and distracting. You can usually tell a typo where your fingers and your mind aren’t connected as opposed to generic poor grammar.
The one that invariably annoys me is the use of “loose” instead of lose. I even see people who otherwise write very well using this.
Hamish @ ebook reader reviews´s last post..Kindle 4
A list of my pet hates all on one web page… as Hamish says, the Loose / Lose is so common that it’s no longer a typo, it’s incompetence. What’s more, there are people with very well-paid jobs making basic errors, proving that it no longer matters (to them or anyone in control these days) whether they can spell or not.
Hi Michael, I made mistake of its and it’s. Thanks for the correction.
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