Common Mistakes in Writing and How To Avoid Them
Common Mistakes in Writing and How To Avoid Them
A quick and funny comic is here.
1. "Lose" and "loose"
Lose = opposite of win.
Loose = opposite of tight.
Two 'o's make it loose, so you lose one.
2. "Weird" not "Wierd"
Wierd is how you spell weird when you're wired (and not in a good way).
3. "Their", "They're" and "There"
Their = possessive, meaning that they own something.
They're = "they are". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'a'.
There = e.g. "It's over there!" A good way to remember this is to take away the 't', which leaves you with 'here'.
They're with their platypus over there.
4. "It's" and "Its"
It's = "it is". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'i'.
Its = possessive, meaning that something belongs to 'it'. Confusing, I know. 'It' has totally different rules to everything else.
It's its birthday!
It's a good time to get the cat its food.
5. "Your" and "You're"
Your = possessive, meaning that something belongs to 'you'. E.g. "Your cat ate my canary yesterday."
You're = "you are". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'a'.
You're your worst enemy when it comes to chocolate.
6. Definitely is defiantly not "definately"
Basically, definitely = certainly, defiantly = stubborn, and "definately" definitely isn't a word.
7. Effects affect
Effect is a noun. It is a thing. Affect is a verb -- "to affect" is the infinitive.
HOWEVER
"to take effect" is when something happens. For example: "This is a new bill, planned to take effect some time next week."
(For more clarification, just ask.)
8. I wonder whether the weather...?
Weather = the wind, rain, sun, etc.
Whether = Used in indirect questions to introduce one alternative: "We should find out whether the museum is open."
OR
Used to introduce alternative possibilities: "Whether she wins or whether she loses, this is her last tournament."
I wonder whether the weather will be wet today. (<-- See? Alliteration.)
9. "A lot" vs "Alot"
A lot is a quantity. You don't say "abunch", "alittle", "afew". Why should you say "alot"?
There's a lot of space in "a lot".
(I'm really bad at coming up with good ways to remember things, as I've never really needed them... So if you come up with or know any better, please let me know so I can add it!)
A quick and funny comic is here.
1. "Lose" and "loose"
Lose = opposite of win.
Loose = opposite of tight.
Two 'o's make it loose, so you lose one.
2. "Weird" not "Wierd"
Wierd is how you spell weird when you're wired (and not in a good way).
3. "Their", "They're" and "There"
Their = possessive, meaning that they own something.
They're = "they are". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'a'.
There = e.g. "It's over there!" A good way to remember this is to take away the 't', which leaves you with 'here'.
They're with their platypus over there.
4. "It's" and "Its"
It's = "it is". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'i'.
Its = possessive, meaning that something belongs to 'it'. Confusing, I know. 'It' has totally different rules to everything else.
It's its birthday!
It's a good time to get the cat its food.
5. "Your" and "You're"
Your = possessive, meaning that something belongs to 'you'. E.g. "Your cat ate my canary yesterday."
You're = "you are". The apostrophe is there instead of the space and the 'a'.
You're your worst enemy when it comes to chocolate.
6. Definitely is defiantly not "definately"
Basically, definitely = certainly, defiantly = stubborn, and "definately" definitely isn't a word.
7. Effects affect
Effect is a noun. It is a thing. Affect is a verb -- "to affect" is the infinitive.
HOWEVER
"to take effect" is when something happens. For example: "This is a new bill, planned to take effect some time next week."
(For more clarification, just ask.)
8. I wonder whether the weather...?
Weather = the wind, rain, sun, etc.
Whether = Used in indirect questions to introduce one alternative: "We should find out whether the museum is open."
OR
Used to introduce alternative possibilities: "Whether she wins or whether she loses, this is her last tournament."
I wonder whether the weather will be wet today. (<-- See? Alliteration.)
9. "A lot" vs "Alot"
A lot is a quantity. You don't say "abunch", "alittle", "afew". Why should you say "alot"?
There's a lot of space in "a lot".
(I'm really bad at coming up with good ways to remember things, as I've never really needed them... So if you come up with or know any better, please let me know so I can add it!)