10 Common Grammatical Misspellings
How to Correct Everyday Writing Errors and Improve Professionalism
Aug 27, 2008
It's easy to make errors when writing, especially with our fast-paced lifestyles. But even when just shooting an email to a friend, refreshing your grammar skills can save you some embarrassment you and your word processor might miss.
Loose Instead of Lose
One of the most common errors in internet and casual writing is the use of loose instead of lose.
Incorrect: I hope I don't loose too much money at the casino.
Correct: Don't lose your sunglasses.
Correct: Those screws are loose.
Entitled Instead of Titled
Because entitled sounds professional, many people use it instead of titled. Entitled means to give right to.
Incorrect: The piece entitled "The Love of the Camera" won an award.
Correct: Her story titled "A Long Lost Carrot" did not make it to the finals.
Correct: Joan is entitled to her opinion, but I still don't agree with her.
Alot for A Lot
A lot should only be used in casual writing to mean a large quantity of and is always two words. The actual word allot has two Ls, means distributed among, and is most often used in the past tense.
Incorrect: The teacher gave us alot of time.
Correct: Jillian had a lot of complications during the pregnancy.
Correct: Finish the routine in the allotted time or you will be disqualified.
Better Than Using Then
Then should be used when talking about a time sequence, and than should be used when comparing items.
Incorrect: It's not true that one person is better then another.
Correct: Nobody makes pie better than my grandmother.
Correct: Wash the dishes and then you can go.
Your for You're
You're is a contraction for "you are" and your is possessive. If the sentence makes sense replacing you're with "you are," use the contraction.
Incorrect: Your welcome.
Correct: You're one of the greatest things to happen to this place.
Correct: I like your shirt.
Effect for Affect
Effect is a noun; affect is a verb.
Incorrect: The hurricane will effect many people along the coast.
Correct: Her scores can affect her future.
Correct: His abuse has caused an incurable effect on her personality.
*Note - There are a few lesser-known meanings of affect and effect. Effect can be a verb meaning "to create" and affect can be a noun meaning "emotion." For a more detailed description on alternate meanings and explanations on these confusing words, visit this site.
Except for Accept
Except is an exclusion and accept is to affirm, welcome, or hold true.
Incorrect: We except cash or credit cards.
Correct: I did not accept her excuse.
Correct: The entire team had a great attitude except for Johnny.
It's Instead of Its
The only time it's with an apostrophe should be used is when it's could be replaced by "It is" or "it has." Its without an apostrophe signifies possession and can be replaced in a sentence with "his" or "her." Never should its' be used.
Incorrect: The cat licked it's paw.
Correct: The club cheered for its team.
Correct: It's five hours until my birthday.
Could of, Would of, Should of
Although we often speak "I could of made it on time," never should the word of be used following could, would, or should.
Incorrect: Jimmy should of listened to his mom's advice.
Correct: Dianne wouldn't have shoplifted had she realized she was being filmed.
Correct: Jaelin could have gone to Harvard, but he chose Princeton instead.
Lay for Lie
Lay means to place and lie means to recline. Therefore, use lay with an inanimate object or something being acted upon, and use lie for a person, animal, or thing acting upon itself.
Incorrect: I told her to go lay down.
Correct: She should lie on the couch while I fix some soup.
Correct: Lay that set of papers on my desk.
*Note - The past tense of these words makes them more confusing. The past tense of lay is laid, and the past participle is lain. However, the past tense of lie is lay. For more explanation, visit this site.
Before submitting any email or document, read through your writing to find errors you might have made that your word processor or email editor might have missed. Try refreshing your grammar often to avoid embarrassing and preventable mistakes.
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