Grammar Goofs
10 Typical Grammatical Errors to Avoid
Noelle Knox
1. Its / It’s
“Its” is a possessive pronoun, meaning belonging to it. “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or
“it has.”
Example:
The puppy is lying in its bed.
It’s a German shepherd.
2. Your / You’re
“Your” is a possessive pronoun, meaning that you own something. “You’re” is the contraction
of “you are,” meaning that you are something.
Example:
I love your dress.
You’re stunning in that dress.
3. They’re / Their / There
“There” refers to a place, “their” pertains to something owned by a group, and “they’re” is the contraction of “they are.” Make sure to double check that you’re using the right ones at the right places.
Example:
They’re so happy.
Their baby girl is so cute.
She’s over there!
4. Affect / Effect
“Affect” is a verb that has to do with the act of changing. “Effect” is a noun used when discussing the change itself.
Example:
My brother’s opinion did not affect my decision to move to Oklahoma.
The effect of the tornado in Oklahoma was devastating.
5. i.e. / e.g.
“i.e.” is used to clarify something you said because it is the equivalent to “that is” or “in other words” while “e.g.” is used to add background and depth to a story because it means “example given” or “for example.”
6. Fewer / Less
Use “fewer” when discussing countable objects and if there is nothing to count, use “less.”
Example:
There are fewer plates than guests.
I spent less than an hour setting the table.
7. Then / Than
“Then” is used when discussing time and “than” is used in comparisons.
Example:
We ate breakfast and then went to class.
Breakfast is so much better than class.
8. Me, Myself, and I
“Me” always functions as the object in the sentence, whereas “I” is always the subject of the sentence. “Myself” is only used when you've referred to yourself earlier in the sentence.
Example:
If you need help washing the dishes, please call my sister or me.
I’ll wash the dishes myself.
My sister and I washed the dishes.
9. Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. A dangling Modifiers occurs when a descriptive phrase is followed by a noun that shouldn't be described by that phrase.
Example:
Hungry, the leftover pizza was devoured. (Incorrect)
Hungry, we devoured the leftover pizza. (Correct)
10. Who / That
Use “who” when you’re describing a person. Use “that” when you’re describing an object.
Example:
I spy the little girl who ran away.
I spy the car that was stolen.
