English: Precision Matters

By Daniel Miessler on December 21st, 2006: Tagged as English | Language

Those of you who visit the site often know that I can be a bit pedantic at times, and one’s use of English is one area that brings this out in me. Below is the simplest guide I can put together to help those that I think will listen.

I’m going to send it to friends when I see them commit the errors. I used to not do so for fear of offending them, but upon re-thinking it I think it’s more important to keep them from embarrassing themselves.

  • Its vs. It’s If you can substitute the words “it is”, or “it has”, you need to use it’s, otherwise use its.
  • There vs. Their vs. They’re Their is for possession only. They’re is a contraction for “they are”. All other places require there.
  • http://zhasper.com Zhasper

    I’d have added your/you’re(/yaw/yore) as well. Also, the fact that ‘ve is short for have, not of (eh, should’ve = should have, not should of).

    But yes, the two you highlighted are the two most annoying.

    Well, those, and butcher’s apostrophe’s.

  • http://slashback.org Tim

    I often get annoyed at people that mix up lay (transitive verb, as in setting something down) and lie (intransitive verb, as in to lie down). The only really tricky part is that the past tense of “lie” is “lay” (I lay in bed yesterday).

    Charlie’s been hurt. Lay him on the bed. Lie down, Charlie. Charlie now lies on the bed where I lay sleeping last night.

  • Atticus Stount

    Starting a paragraph with “but” is not the most dazzling sign of proper grammar.

  • Atticus Stount

    Starting a paragraph with “but” is not the most dazzling sign of proper grammar.

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