Note To Readers: There is no possible way that I could have written this article. I rely on two editors to make sure my grammar is correct! So I invited Ms. Brenda Bernstein, the Essay Expert, to come along and write this series of two articles for me. She is quite the grammarian, and she is much smarter than I. So you all had better listen to her – and enjoy!
Do you want to impress the people who matter?
For better or worse, many people judge you on your ability to express yourself in words. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a blogger, a college applicant or a job seeker, it is crucial that you write clearly and coherently.
I read a lot of bad writing, and I have noticed certain errors that occur over and over again. If you AVOID this list of errors, you will stand a chance of getting in the door.
- Its/It’s
This one might be the most common error of them all. Its is the possessive of it. It means “belonging to it.” E.g., The computer is on its last legs. The tree lost its leaves.
The confusion comes from the fact that usually we use an apostrophe to form a possessive, e.g.,
I stole the dog’s bone. The President’s speech did not inspire me.
Exception alert! Possessive pronouns (yours, hers, ours, theirs) have NO apostrophe, e.g., Is that picnic blanket yours, ours or theirs?
There’s an exception to the exception: One’s, which is also a possessive pronoun. E.g., It’s good to take one’s time when writing a business letter.
It’s – with an apostrophe – means “it is.” It’s a contraction like do not (don’t). E.g., It’s a beautiful day! It’s hard to know when to use “then” and when to use “than.”
Want to read more? It’s Time to Get Straight About It’s and Its
- Then/Than
Then refers to time. Many people tend to use then when than is correct. Here’s a cool trick: Then rhymes with when! First I saw. Then I came. Then I conquered.
When? Then.
Than refers to comparison. The Empire State Building is taller than my house. I love you more than he does.
If you’re not answering the question “When?” (Answer: Then), [know/no] to use than.
- Know/No
Know is what you do with knowledge. If you know how to spell knowledge you know how to spell know.
No is used to express the negative and is the opposite of Yes. E.g. No way! No means no!
I know you can get this [write/right].
- Write/Right
Write is most often used to refer to what you do with words. Conveniently, “write” and “words” both start with a w. Write words.
Right is the opposite of left, or of wrong. E.g., You write with your right hand, am I right? Right can also mean to set something straight. E.g., [Everyday/Every day], my cat knocks over my ficus plant, and every day I right it.
- Every Day/Everyday
If you do something every single day, use every day. Try putting “single” in the phrase and if it belongs there, make sure you put a space between “every” and “day.”If something is commonplace or done every day, use everyday.
e.g., I don’t wear my everyday shoes every day. Sometimes I like my shoes to [stand out/standout].
Want to read more? Everyday Words We Use Everyday
- Stand Out/Standout
Stand out is a verb. Try putting the word “right” into the phrase. E.g., She stands [right] out in a crowd. If the sentence works, make sure you put a space between “stand” and “out.” Standout is an adjective meaning impressive or noticeable. E.g., We attracted a standout crowd on opening night, despite the foul [weather/whether].
- Weather/Whether
Weather comprises things like sun, rain, snow, sleet and hail.
Whether is a conjunction used to introduce an alternative. E.g., Whether or not, here I come! Whether raises a question, much like other questions words like “who,” “what,” and “which,” which also start with “wh.”
As questionable as the weather may be, it does not start with a wh. E.g., In early Spring, I often [here/hear] weather reports that contradict each other as to whether it’s going to rain or snow.
- Here/Hear
Hear is generally what your ears do. Notice that “ear” is part of “hear.” This one should be easy. Can you hear me now?
Here relates to a place or a time. E.g., Please come over here.
The expression “Hear hear!” comes from “Hear ye Hear ye!” We love what these folks have to say and we want to hear [they're/their/there] words!
- There/They’re/Their
There is a place. Look over there. Note it has “here” in it, which is also a place: There.
They’re is the contraction for They Are. You make it the same way you make don’t (do not), it’s (it is), and you’re (you are).
Their is a possessive pronoun. It has “heir” in it. If Bob and Jim are heirs according to [statute/statue] then the money is theirs.
- Too/Two/To
Too means “also” or “as well.” Think extra. An extra thing and an extra o.
Two is a number, also known as 2. Unfortunately it does not have 2 os in it, which would make things easier to remember. Just remember w for wacky. ‘Cuz this is a pretty wacky spelling of a word if I ever saw one. Or you can think of other words that have “tw” in them like “between” and “twins” that also have a “tw.”
To is a preposition. It gets you from one place to another. It is the beginning of the word toward, which is another word that [affects/effects] your location.
Sam’s Note: I hope this was helpful. Any guesses for #11-20? Stay tuned to find out!
About the author: Brenda Bernstein is the Founder and Senior Editor at TheEssayExpert.com. She holds B.A. in English from Yale and a J.D. from New York University School of Law, and has been coaching individuals and companies on their writing projects for over 10 years. The Essay Expert provides assistance with college essays, LinkedIn profiles, resumes, cover letters, web copy, business writing, and custom writing projects.
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