Grammar Peeves and Rules

[sfitzgerald351]

So, after the little discussion we had about grammar on another thread I've been writing down the common errors I've seen that drive me nuts. So here they are along with an explanation of the correct usage... Hopefully this will be helpful to folks. It is not meant to make fun of anyone. I just want folks to be able to write better than the Toolman!

Your vs You’re

Your is possessive and means to own something. Your Mastercraft is sweet!

You’re is a contraction for “you are.” You’re going wash the boat today, right?


Its vs It’s

Similar to your and you’re. If you can use “It is” or “It has” you should use “it’s.” Otherwise use “its.”

Its is possessive. With its great wake my Mastercraft is the best ski boat out there.

It’s is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” It’s a nice day to go water skiing today.


There vs Their vs They’re

“There” indicates a place or a situation. The ski course is over there. There are 3 fins on my Mastercraft.

“They’re” is the contraction of “they are.” If you can substitute “they are” in the sentence, then use “they’re.” They’re the best skiers I know.

“Their” is a plural possessive, that is something belongs to more than one person. If you can substitute more than one name (or thing) and not change the meaning of the sentence, then use “their.” It is Bob and Cindy’s Mastercraft. It is their Mastercraft.


Plural Words and Apostrophes

Never use an apostrophe to indicate the plural of anything. An apostrophe generally indicates possession (with the exception of “its”!) or a contraction of two words (as in “it is” above)

There are 3 Mastercraft’s on my lake is NOT correct
There are 3 Mastercrafts on my lake is correct

It is Bobs ski i] NOT correct
It is Bob’s ski is correct


Lose Vs. Loose Vs. Loss

“To lose” (pronounced “looz”) is the opposite of “to win.” You are losing, you will lose, you lost, you have lost. If you ding your prop you lose performance.

Loose (pronounced “looss”) is the opposite of “tight.” The verb form is to loosen (a bolt, a light bulb, etc.). A loose rudder will make it difficult to steer straight through the course.

Loss is the noun form of the verb “to lose.” The toolman should have bought a Mastercraft instead of a Bayliner. Oh well, it's his loss.

To vs. Too

Just remember that the only meanings of “too” are “also" and “in excess.” Note that extra O. It should remind you that this word has to do with adding more on to something. I want to ski too. Your stereo is too quiet, please install some more subwoofers!

“To” is the proper spelling for all the other uses and usually refers to heading somehwere. We're going to go to the lake this weekend.

[Mag_Red]

Good post!

[lakes Rick]

Originally Posted by sfitzgerald351

Loose (pronounced “looss”) is the opposite of “tight.”

Mag, would you please explain this? I have a feeling it is probably your specialty...............

Good one, it goes one and on, sale/sell, bye/by/buy, who/whom, ya'll/you all, every so-so/occasionally/once in a while, role/roll, quiet/quite, git-r-done/working on it, effect/affect, idea/ideal, principal/principle, ..........the English language is really screwed up....without spell checker I am lost.....

[sizzler]

IT ONLY SEEMS SCREWED-UP GUYS,BECAUSE ITS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE

[Mag_Red]

Originally Posted by lakes Rick

Mag, would you please explain this? I have a feeling it is probably your specialty...............

You lost me Rick.............but then again, I just got up.

[Cloaked]

Originally Posted by sizzler

IT ONLY SEEMS SCREWED-UP GUYS,BECAUSE ITS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE

Point well taken Mate....

[André]

Ok Scott ,just for me now.
I need the good spelling cause i'm never sure how to spell them ...
To think at the past and to teach at the past ? Thaught ,tought, ???
Any tricks on how to remember ?
And by the way,anyone can correct me anytime on my English, I won't be offended.
I don't use spellcheck because i'll get lazy about my English spelling!

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by lakes Rick

Mag, would you please explain this? I have a feeling it is probably your specialty...............

..............................

[sizzler]

Originally Posted by André

Ok Scott ,just for me now.
I need the good spelling cause i'm never sure how to spell them ...
To think at the past and to teach at the past ? Thaught ,tought, ???
Any tricks on how to remember ?
And by the way,anyone can correct me anytime on my English, I won't be offended.
I don't use spellcheck because i'll get lazy about my English spelling!

WE'LL CORRECT YOU IF YOU CORRECT US ON OUR FRENCH..MON AMI