Stoopid Grammar Mistakes

Posted by george on March 17, 2010
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: . 33 comments

From: Break.com

As I write this, I’m really hoping that none of these apply to you.  I also hope that if any do, you take notice and do something about it.  Spelling, improper word usage, lazy sentence structure – choose your poison.  The end result is the same.  If you are blogging or otherwise making your living though through the written word then you owe it to your readership to get on the right track.

Stoopid

  • It’s too when you mean “also”.  It’s also too when you (know that) all of these grammar mistakes are too much.  It’s not “to” and God forbid, it certainly isn’t “two”.
  • Your is possessive. Like, it is your turn.  You’re is a contraction of you and are.  As in, “Surely, you’re not making all of these stoopid grammar mistakes.  Of course, maybe they ARE your mistakes but nahhh, I don’t really think so.
  • It’s tough to get this one right.  Took me forever, as a matter of fact.  See, we add the apostrophe s when we mean to contract “it” and “is”.  That’s all.  The confusion comes in because we are used to using the apostrophe s with other words to indicate possession.

Sooper Stoopid

  • I’ve had to think long and hard about what kinds of things may fit into the sooper stoopid category and what I’ve decided is that while a great many things could possibly fit into this area, very long run on sentences could certainly fit because they tire the reader and provide way too much information to digest at once while usually saying with one hundred words what could be said with maybe a dozen or so.  (Phew!)
  • Making your prose damn near unreadable because you are trying to stick to some silly rule.  Grammar is supposed to be for clarity.  And I think this means that sometimes I can start a sentence with “and”.

Okay, blech. The inspiration is gone and I’ve decided I’ve had enough of this post.  Enjoy what there is.

33 comments on “Stoopid Grammar Mistakes”

  1. Haha! I found this quite amusing George. I am sometimes guilty of the same and yet when I see them on other people, it annoys me too, so I just ignore it. Haha. No sense going crazy over it if I am the only one affected. Hehehe.

    But I’m glad to know *someone* is more affected than me. Haha!

    I also found it amusing how you ended this post. This happens to me a lot too, hence my numerous blogpost drafts. Haha!
    .-= reyjr´s last blog ..Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey results: Pacquiao victorious! =-.

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  2. One of my pet peeves is when bloggers use viola instead of voila as an interjection. Is it stoopid enough in your book? Not sure, but I surely find it irritating.

    Reply

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  4. It’s funny, I catch errors that people make all the time, but I’m just as guilty. I tend to forget to pay attention sometimes. Especially the “your” and “you’re” thing. I’m trying to remedy that though.

    A friend of mine and a couple other people online write their blogs (informal, like myspace) with no periods. I’m trying to read these things and find myself holding my breath. It just goes on and on lol.
    .-= Christopher´s last blog ..Rich Dad Poor Dad Review =-.

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    • Hey Chris,

      My little bro (God Love him) kills me with his emails or messages from Facebook. He will USE CAPITALS!!!!!!!!!! Alot!!!! And Exclamation points!!!! I’m not KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      I’m not even stretching it here, bud. Sends me into seizures

      George

      Reply

  6. I caught one in your own article – “It’s also too when you all of these grammar mistakes are too much.” I’m assuming you meant, “It’s also too when you know all of these grammar mistakes are too much.”

    Reply

    • Monica,

      Heh. I can’t spell statistics (cripes I misspelled it just then too!) I have to literally stop, hunt and peck each letter. Not sure what the mind block is.

      George

      Reply

  9. Hi George,

    Great article! I cowered when I saw the first of your Sooper Stupid examples. That’s me — no doubt. I’ve been working a lot on that, though. Thanks for the reminder.

    Something to add? That’s easy for me — I shudder when I see improper use of the ellipsis (…). It’s ingrained in me to only use them when quoting someone and leaving out part of his or her quote. But, they’re all over — run for cover!
    :)
    .-= Lori (JaneBeNimble)´s last blog ..Righting Time =-.

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  11. Oh boy, George, now you’re in MY territory as far as peevish writing!

    As a professional short story writer, I literally sleep with my style guides and harp on every would-be writer to buy “30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary” which I used in high school college-prep English. Failing that, just look how REAL journalists handle these knotty things in your local newspaper. You’ll be surprised.

    Here are a few more that are often butchered:

    website S/B Web site
    lightening S/B lightning
    internet S/B Internet
    drive slow S/B drive slowly
    try and S/B try to
    Canadian geese S/B Canada geese
    Luthern S/B Lutheran
    email S/B e-mail
    focussed S/B focused
    “EYE-rak” S/B pronounced i-RAK’
    realator S/B realtor
    Xmas S/B Christmas

    In my “book” bloggers should always use correct grammar. Anything less makes one a poser. I also have no problem with talking “street” when it is used properly to make a point or bring realism to scenes or characters.

    I am also all for inventing a new expletive! The one we have now is so “old school” and should be retired. Heck, I hear grade schoolers using it in Wal Mart. Do Dick and Jane talk like that?

    Reply

    • Wayne,

      Oh man. Great additions. How’s nuc-u-ler grab ya? That gets me. Grade schoolers dropping F bombs? Heck when I was a kid, F-bomb meant you didn’t study for your spelling test!

      I’m all ears when you come up with a new one, buddy.

      George

      Reply

  13. Okay All. before I respond to some of the individual comments I need to make a statement.

    It would be tres easy for me to say that I planted those grammar faux paux items in the post to see if my astute readership would pick them out.

    Alas, ’tis not my nature to be such a fibber. As my last sentence of the post indicates, I was damned tired of looking at the thing in my WP interface and having it go nowhere. Soooo, tired and frustrated, I said F it. I’m done. Pressed “Publish” and I didn’t even proof the thing.

    Therefore, I’m thinking the “stoopidest” grammar mistake is to not proof your work.

    Thanks for all the great comments.

    George

    Reply

  14. This is such a fun one, George! I make these mistakes sometimes – mostly when I’m writing or blogging in the wee hours, or when I’ve written too long without a break and everything just runs together and my mind starts confusing words.

    Of course, I always try to go back and fix everything. Sometimes it’s already been published and sometimes I get to edit it before anyone sees it. When stuff like that happens on my blog and I notice after it’s already been published, I fix it as soon as possible.

    You’re right, though. We definitely need to get ‘em straight! ;-)
    .-= Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl´s last blog ..Oats in a (Nuttzo!) Jar =-.

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  15. I love starting sentences with and or but! I know it’s not technically correct, but it’s up to the writer to make that decision based on audience, tone, etc. It’s just another example of how language evolves over time.

    Reply

    • Hi Natalia.

      I start sentences all the time with words that sound good in my head. I figure it is part of my natural voice, and anything else would sound well, unnatural!

      Thanks for coming by and commenting

      George

      Reply

  16. You’re post is entertaining as well as informative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally I understand why all the poorly grammared masses & president confuse you’re & your.

    I’d like to add to you”re list. I’m a long term peevant of gerund abuse. It seems that teaching gerunds may have been left behind. But I contend this is not a sufficient excuse for anyone abusing them.

    You are post reminds me I’m thankfull for what a great education I had before I was gradated.

    Cate

    Reply

    • O Cate,

      You are a hoot! Feel free to come by and comment anytime. Someone obviously so clever deserves a place in me blogging heart.

      Cheers

      George

      Reply

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