As someone who is not only passionate about writing, but also a flat out eye-catcher of simple grammar mistakes, I think it’s time for the public to be informed on a few EASY grammar rules. I mean come on, these are so obvious and yet people make these mistakes constantly. Last semester I took a written communication course with Dr. Stanley Baran (which, by the way, I would recommend him a million times over! He’s funny, extremely knowledgeable, and a great teacher) and in it I had to create a grammar portfolio for myself. My “Writer’s Manual” consisted of the stupid grammar mistakes that I have been caught making. So yes, I do make grammar mistakes. I’m not pointing my finger at you while claiming my own hands are clean, but I am passing along my “own” rules in hopes they will help you all as much as they have helped me! Feel free to save this to your computer, print it out, and keep it right on your desk. Refer to it for your history papers, communication research, or just everyday writing! Enjoy HC readers!
Commonly Confused Words
- Accept – To take, to receive
- Except – Not including
- Affect – To change or influence
- Effect – The result, the consequence
- Amount – Use amount for substances that cannot be counted
- Number – Use number for items that can be counted
- Conscience – The sense of right and wrong
- Conscious – Aware
- Etc., and so forth – Etc. is the abbreviation of et cetera (Latin for “and so forth”). The c is at the end, followed by a period. Don’t write “and etc.” It is better style to use “and so forth.”
- Fewer, less – Use fewer for items that can be counted (fewer headaches). Use less for substances that cannot be counted (less pain).
- A, an – Use a before words starting with consonant sounds. Use an before words starting with vowels or pronounced as if they did.
- Who’s – Who is
- Whose – Possessive
- Worse – When comparing two things; one is worse than the other
- Worst – When comparing three or more things; one is the worst. The almost always comes before worst.
Hyphenated Words
- Hyphens make a multiple-word adjective before a noun but not after it:
George Elliot was a nineteenth-century author.
George Elliot wrote in the nineteenth century.
DO Capitalize
- Subjects in school whose names come from names of countries; complete titles of courses
- Days of the week
- People’s titles when they precede their names
- Brand Names
- Public Holidays
- The entire name of a specific place, event, and so forth
Do NOT Capitalize
- Subjects in school whose names do not come from the names of countries
- Genres of literature and art
- Family names except when used as an actual name…do not capitalize aunt or uncle, except with a name (Uncle Frank)
- Seasons of the year
Differences
- Your and you’re
Your describes something belonging to you
You’re is a contraction of you and are
- Their and they’re
Their describes something belonging to a group of people
They’re is a contraction of they and are
A lot of these rules were taken from “A Writer’s Reference” by Diane Hacker…it’s a great reference book with tons of rules, tips, and great writing ideas! Another cool site to check out is actually my favorite writing reference. This site has “quick and dirty tips” for all of your writing questions: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/