Grammar fascists are a bore it’s true. But bad grammar makes you look foolish. That’s fine if you’re 17, but if you’re writing and publishing a blog, e-book or anything else for that matter, basic good grammar will create a much better impression.
One of the most common mistakes I see on the web is the use of ‘your’ when the writer means ‘you’re’. It’s a real howler. But I’ve seen it from people who write really well, clearly, with virtually no other grammar faults. They’re clearly well educated and smart people but they seem to have a blind spot here.
There’s obviously some confusion out there, but the difference between the two is really quite simple to grasp.
‘Your’ is possessive: my apple, your apple, their apple, our apple.
You’re is the shortened form of ‘you are’: I am blogging, you are blogging, they are blogging, we are blogging.
This becomes: I’m blogging, you’re blogging, they’re blogging, we’re blogging.
Stumble it!
5 comments ↓
Hi Simon,
I just discovered your blog via StumbleUpon and I really like it!
For me as an English language blogger, although my mother tongue is German, your [was that right? ;)] site is really valuable!
Of course I subscribed to your RSS feed!
Best Regards!
Markus
Thanks Markus, glad it’s useful. I’m working on a blogroll which will link to some other good writing sites too.
wow! that’s cool ;)
I think I have this handled but we’ll see.
Is this right?:
“It’s your fault.”
“You’re the best.”
Is this wrong?:
“Your so cool.”
“It’s you’re turn.”
Tha-Flash, yes, the first one is right, and the second is wrong. You’ve got it.
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