Nothing is more frustrating to a reader than a good blog that’s rife with errors and difficult to read. Like everyone else, I sometimes have to double check grammar rules to be sure I’m compliant (I’ll share two of my favorite tools at the end of this post). There are a few structural, spelling, and syntax errors, however, that should almost be knee-jerk knowledge. Here are three grammar pet peeves that you should abolish from your blog posts (and other writing) at all costs.
Two. Too. To.
- Two is a numeral and means more than one, but less than three.
- Too means as well as or also.
- To expresses or identifies.
Consider the following sentence: Those two people are going to the store and the bank, too.
Your. You’re.
- Your is a possessive adjective.
- You’re is a contraction of you and are.
Consider the following sentence: You’re only as good as your word.
It’s. Its.
- It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
- Its is possessive.
Consider the following sentence: Taxes are increasing in the city and its suburbs.
One of my favorite grammar jokes: What do you say when you’re comforting a grammar snob? There, their, they’re.
Grammatically correct blog posts are important. It’s the framework for effective communication. Without proper attention to grammatical details, sentences might run on, clarity might get lost, and communication surely becomes confusing. Take time to proofread your blogs or ask a grammar snob friend (we all have at least one) to do it for you!
Helpful Resources: Take a look at Grammarly or Grammer-Girl. Grammarly is a robust grammar correcting software. Even its free version is powerful and robust. Grammar-Girl is educational and absolutely hilarious! Check them out and help your blog and other written work put its best foot forward.