10 Grammar Sins You've Probably Committed

As an English teacher, grammar is important to me.  But sometimes I will catch myself committing "grammar sins."  We all do it.  But must we be content with this incompetence and blatant butchery of the English Language???

No.  We must be better than this.

If you're in a place with other people, look around you.  Not in a creepy way, but in a quiet, discreet kind of way.  Chances are, at least one of those people (it might be you) belong to the secret "Grammar Police."  Members of the grammar police notice when grammar sins are committed and inwardly cringe.  Some of them are brave and will tell offenders of their mistake, but some are too timid to impart their knowledge to their fellow human beings.

I asked some of the grammar police to share what they view as the biggest sins in grammar-dom.  I will present them to you now.

As your online writing tutor, I implore you to take note of these and make the following oath (raise your hand in the air): "I (your name) promise never to commit these grammar sins again, in either written or verbal form, so that our language might survive to live another century." Excellent. (You may put your hand down.)

Sin Number 10:   Take it for granite

What?  Granite is a type of igneous rock.  Remember igneous rocks?  7th grade science coming back to save you.  It's often used for kitchen countertops.  The phrase should read as follows:

Take it for granted-- meaning that we don't properly appreciate something that we have.

Sin Number 9:  Leave me be

You can say "let me be" or "leave me alone," but "leave me be" just doesn't make sense.

Sin Number 8. "I need to itch that..."

You mean scratch.   An itch is an unpleasant sensation on the skin or the location of the unpleasant sensation.  Scratching is what alleviates an itch.

Sin Number 7.  There, their, and they're

People seem to use these interchangeably, but their meanings are quite different.

There= indicating that spot or location: "it's over there."  Also, an exclamation to focus on something:  "there, I told you she wouldn't believe it."

Their= indicates possession: "it's their Venus flytrap," "we're going to their haunted crypt."

They're= an abbreviation for "they are":  "they're coming to eat us."

Laziness is usually to blame for this one, but it's no excuse.

Sin Number 6. Your and you're

Same issue.

Your= indicates possession: "it's your Venus flytrap," we're going to your haunted crypt."

You're= an abbreviation for "you are": "you're coming to eat us."

Sin Number 5. Irregardless

This isn't really a word.  Just say "regardless." 

Sin Number 4.  Should of, could of, would of

It's have.  Should have, could have, would have...abbreviated to should've, could've, would've. This one can be hard to catch verbally, but put this error in an essay an your teacher will rip you to shreds.

Sin Number 3.  All of the sudden

It's actually all of "a" sudden.  You can avoid the issue and use "suddenly" instead, if you'd like to make life a little easier.

Sin Number 2. Could care less

This is the one that really gets me.  It's "I COULDN'T care less."  If you could care less, why don't you?  You're telling me that you do care at least a little bit.  EVEN BEYONCE messed this one up in "Single Ladies."  Brings down the quality of the whole song.  Where are Beyonce's proofreaders?

Sin Number 1. Text shorthand

People.  Text shorthand belongs in text messages.  Nowhere else.  b4, gr8, lol, ur, r u--do not belong in emails, memos, essays, letters, reviews, comments, etc.  Using text shorthand in a text makes you look efficient and hip.  Using it anywhere else makes you look uneducated and lazy.  I saw "ur" instead of "your" all the time in student essays and it made me want to curl up in a corner with hot chocolate and a fluffy blanket to mourn the upcoming generation.  Take the extra half second it takes to type the whole thing out.  It's worth it.


Are you a member of the grammar police?  What's a grammar sin that gets under your skin?  Comment below!

Until next time I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B