My last post about grammar mistakes and solutions went over well, and many of you asked for more grammar information. Who am I to tell the masses they can’t have more grammar? Here are six more common grammar mistakes and how you can fix them.
- To vs. Too: Too always means in addition or also. Any time you’re confused about
whether to use ‘to’ or ‘too’, ask yourself if you can substitute ‘in
addition’ or ‘also’. For example, I want to come too (also). - Comma vs. Semicolon: This has been explained in several places better than I could explain it here.
- A vs. An: Use an before words that begin with a vowel sound (I’ll be there in an hour.). Use a before words that begin with a consonant sound (She has a ball.).
- Affect vs. Effect: (The following is courtesy of mom2fur from my comments on the previous grammar post.)
Effect is a noun, a thing. You use the word ‘the’ with nouns–the
dog, the cat, etc. If you can put a ‘the’ in front of it, the correct
form is effect–just match up the "e"s! (You might need to reword the
sentence in your head first.) For example: What is the effect of eating a gallon of ice cream in one sitting?Affect is a verb. It’s a action word. Just think "A for Action" and you should get that one right every time, too! For example: I wonder how it will affect me if I eat this entire gallon of ice cream?
- Then vs. Than: Than is only used when making a comparison (You’re smarter than I am.). Everything else usually uses then.
- This ! is an exclamation point. It is not an explanation point.
My hero, Grammar Girl, has a great pdf document to help you write better. Download Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.
Finally, what grammar post would be complete without a quiz?
Now head back to Shannon’s for the rest of this week’s WFMW posts!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a grammar rock star…who knew?
Grammarian in Training…better than I thought I was going to do! That was fun!
I love these posts. Grammer is something I need DAILY to keep it fresh. Although, I believe I will forever have issues with commas and spelling.
If you do this again, can you PLEASE explain to me when did “definitely” become spelled with an alternate of “defiently” or “defiantly”! I have seen those both EVERYWHERE lately, and it’s driving me NUTS!!! (I don’t claim to have perfect grammar..but I DO claim to not have made up random spellings of common words!)
Thanks again for the grammar tips. It’s always good to have a refresher.
I knew that A/AN rule had to be right, but someone told my hub’s the opposite so of course he thinks he’s right.
Downloading the pdf now.
Wonderful!
(I’m trying very hard to start using semicolons in my writing. It’s not coming naturally for me though!)
Good thing I got “Writer material”, you know, since I write.
Related to a blog, with the exception of the serious mistakes, do you overlook some mistakes when they are used to make a passage ‘sound’ like a conversation? Or do those still make you (and others) crazy?
I love grammar tips. My favorite is the ! is an exclamation point, not an explanation point as many people say it incorrectly.
But as soon as I saw your post, I thought maybe I could ask you a grammar questiion as well. My friends are getting married and I want to buy them a personalized sign engraved with their last name. Their last name is Frantz.
How do I do the plural of Frantz? Is it: The Frantzes
The Frantz’ OR something else?
I hope you know the answer to this because I have googled it.
I’m over here: http://www.queenoftheclick.com
Another grammar rock star here. What does it say about me that I got all excited when I saw there was a grammar quiz?
Wow, I’m flattered you used my effect/affect explanation!
I was surprised that I came up as a ‘grammarian in training,’ since I’ve written and published several books. Oh, well, I’ll blame the Benadryl I took a while ago.
Great post. Loved the first one too!
Grammar is definitely something I would like to get better at.
I can’t stand it when people mistake to for too. Hopefully because of your blog, there will be a lot less of that in the world! : ) Thanks for the grammar test too (see the proper us of too!)it’s fun for an English major in the early 90′s to test her skill!
Oh my goodness! Explanation point?! I’ve never heard that one.
Other then that one time when I read an story, and there was a explanation point in it, to.
Actually there is a verb meaning of “effect” (to effect a change, for example, means to cause a change) and a noun meaning of “affect” (a word psychologists use to describe a person’s mood. If it were as simple as you say, spell and grammar checkers would pick it up.