The most common grammar, usage, and style errors in print today.

Below are errors that probably 95 percent of the English-speaking population makes every single day, without even knowing it. The good news is that, once you know what to look for, these errors are easy to avoid in your daily writing.
Description Incorrectly hyphenating two words that jointly modify another word Hyphenating prefixes Wrong Right Comment

one year period; the lady one-year period; the These are known as compound modifiers. Use a hyphen when preceding a noun, is high-class; aptlylady is high class; aptly but not following, and, to further confuse the issue, never after an adverb ending in named dog named dog -ly. semi-colon; presemicolon; approved; re-phrase; co- preapproved; rephrase; worker; selfmotivated coworker; selfmotivated 10" x 2' Dont! In general, hyphenate only when you would get a double a or i, e.g., ultraactive, anti-inflammatory, or if the original word is capitalized, e.g., antiSemitic. An exception is self-, which is always hyphenated when used as a prefix. Computers are the culprit here, but you can generally use the correct character if you can figure out the command and/or character map. Most software (e.g., QuarkXpress, Word, Illustrator) lets you default to one or the other, but doesnt know when to use which. A few programs (e.g., WordPerfect, as one of its few redeeming qualities) are smart enough to automatically insert the proper form.

Using inch/foot marks and 10 x 2 quotes/apostrophes interchangeably "Don't!"

Using two spaces after periods and colons Using a possessive apostrophe for nonpossessive words Misusing its/its Transposing that and which

...the door. The result: trouble. 1800s; CPUs; these photos its own way; its fitting and proper

...the door. The result: Old typewriter convention generally appropriate only for monospaced type (e.g., trouble. Courier). 1800s; CPUs; these photos The first two examples are a fairly recent development, and still the source of some debate. The third is just plain weirdness.

its own way; its fitting The first example is the major exception to the above rule for possessives. The and proper second example is the contraction for it is. Essential, limiting information uses that and no commas; nonessential, descriptive information uses which, with commas, and functions as if by the way were inserted after it. The ampersand is popularly, although not necessarily correctly, used in logos and headlines for its design element, but should never be used in text. A subject still under debate by those who debate such things, but at least be

...career which interests ...career that interests you.; ...a note, that is you.; a note, which is overdue, to explain... overdue, to explain... sticks and stones may red, white, and blue

Using an ampersand instead sticks & stones may of and Incorrect or inconsistent use red, white and blue

of serial commas Overusing upon Jumping from singular to plural based upon facts A customer often is concerned about how it will affect their cash flow. based on facts

consistent. Most style guides prescribe the comma before the and. Not incorrect, but overly formal for most communications. A customer often is The singular customer replicates into a plural reference to their in a just few concerned about how it short words. Unfortunately a bit wordier, his or her is correct, both grammatically will affect his or her and politically. cash flow. The en dash (Alt-0150 Windows, Opt-hyphen Mac) is noticeably wider than a hyphen and is most frequently used between continuous numbers such as years or pages. The em dash (Alt-0151 Windows, Sh-Opt-hyphen Mac) is twice as wide as the en dash, and is most frequently used to punctuate an abrupt change in thought for emphasis. Most style guides do not use spaces on either side of the dashes. Check out this amusing list. English prefers the more direct and forceful active voice over the passive except in situations where it is intended to soften rather than to amplify the message, such as a rejection letter. (Did you notice the demonstration, right in this paragraph?)

Lazily misusing hyphens and spaces when an en or em dash is needed

1961-1965; He could--or 19611965; He could should--have known; He or shouldhave could - or should - have known. known. Reason why; close proximity The use of the passive voice is generally to be avoided. One or the other, not both. In general, dont use the passive voice.

Redundancies Using the passive voice

Transposing and ...a small gift, i.e. a plant ...a small gift (e.g., a Both come from Latin: e.g., exemplia gratia, means for example; i.e., id mispunctuating e.g. and i.e. or flower; He did not plant or flower); He did est, means that is to say, and references words synonymous with the preceding respond: eg: he declined. not respond, i.e., he statement. Both are always punctuated as shown, sometimes in parentheses. declined. Misusing reflexive pronouns Not italicizing periods He went with Bob and He went with Bob and Reflexive pronouns such as yourself, myself, ourselves, etc. are used for emphasis, yourself; Pat, Mike, and you; Pat, Mike, and I i.e., to reflect back to the subject or object, not replace the subject or object. myself will attend. will attend. Give it to me. Give it to me. Just kidding.

Nonwords and nonphrases orientate; irregardless; in orient; regardless or Wish I were just kidding. It should be conceded that orientate is, according to regards to irrespective; in regard Webster, a valid word, but it is interpreted to be less preferential to orient, and to or regarding also means referring to the Orient, or the east. A visitor has also pointed out that British English favors (or should I say favours?) the use of orientate. But, heck, this is an American company, so Ill stick to my guns and still cringe when I hear it in the USA.

Im tired of this shit.

Its about time that everyone learned their damn homophones. If you slept your way through the fourth grade or just skipped all of the grammar lectures because you were too busy sucking off that dude in the locker room, then maybe this table will help clear up some of the fucking confusion.

Commonly fucked up homophones.

THESE Affect ARE NOT Effect THE FUCKING SAME.

Your horrendous grammar affects the quality Your grammars effects are so unspeakable that *Hint: EFFECT is most commonly a you should be prosecuted at The Hague. noun; AFFECT is most commonly a verb. of your input as an interlocutor.

Bare
By using improper grammar, you are laying bare your ignorance.

Bear
I cannot bear this any longer: please, learn your damn homophones.

Capital
Capital punishment should be applied to people who use improper grammar.

Capitol
Improper grammar is not allowed inside the capitol. *Hint: Capitol has an O, which is round like therotunda in the US Capitol Building.

Complement

Compliment

Brandy Ryan complements me because she is I compliment Brandy Ryan on her transcendent

everything Im not.

beauty incessantly.

Discreet
If you cant discern the difference between homophones, then be discreet.

Discrete
There is a discrete difference between someone who knows homophones and someone who does not.

Dual
The dual benefit of knowing homophones is that you will be able to communicate effectively and you wont look like a jackass.

Duel
If you cant even get homophones right, imagine how youd do in a duel. Lets just put it this way: *Hint: DUEL is usually deadly; DUAL is almost John Wayne knew his homophones. never harmful at all. *Hint: ITS can only be possessive; ITS is acontraction of it & is. Strongbad can explain this in further detail.

Its
Bad grammar shall no longer rear its ugly head.

Its
Its a terrible thing to use improper grammar.

Loose
The grammar gods shall let loose some horrible plague upon you should you choose to continue fucking up homophones.

Lose
Using bad grammar is a social stigma, which makes you lose credibility.

Principal
The principal frowns upon fucking up homophones.

Principle
Using proper grammar is a good principle to live by. *Hint: PRINCIPAL contains the word pal, which is a person just like the principal.

Than

Then

By fucking up homophones, you show that most fourth graders have better grammar than you.

If you cant write properly, then dont write at all.

Their
Their egregious grammar sin of mixing up homophones will not go unpunished.

Theyre There
There is no excuse for fucking this up. Theyre just stupid if they cant get this. *Hint: THEYRE is a contraction of THEY & ARE.

To
Im going to ban you from speaking if you cant get homophones right.

Too
The rest of the world hates you, too.

Two
You should have learned these when you were two. *Hint: VERSUS can only be a preposition, so it can only take the form of Me versus You or This versus That; VERSES will almost always be a noun. *Hint: YOUR can only be possessive; YOURE is acontraction of you & are. See theWarehouse for further explication.

Verses
The verses of the canonized Holy Text do not contain incorrect homophone usage; therefore, it is a cardinal sin to fuck them up.

Versus
A match against good grammar versus bad grammar is like Batman fighting a baby and stealing his candy in the process.

Your
Your grammar sucks.

Youre
Youre an idiot if you fuck up homophones.

Please, learn your damn homophones.