While surfing through one of my favorite websites, Sharp Words, I came upon this really funny graph that nailed many of the most common grammatical errors that drive me up the wall:

more graph humor and song chart memes

One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to writing is the incorrect use of “your” and “you’re”. I see this often in chatrooms and blogs, though I’m now jaded enough not to expect the best of prose online. If it’s just a momentary mental lapse then that’s fine. Everybody makes mistakes, especially me on a zombie day.

The problem, though, is that many aspiring writers really don’t have a clue at all when it comes to “your/you’re” and other similar homonyms. Though these errors are not technically “homonyms” (since homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings), it’s the most commonly used term to describe such pairings. I won’t try to confuse you with linguistic jargon, so let’s just call them homonyms for sanity’s sake.

Though even the best fall prey to these common errors (the mind doesn’t always cooperate), it’s important to remain vigilant, especially when working on professional articles or resumés. Errors reflect poorly on the writer, no matter how “understandable” they are.

Here then are some of the common homonym “problems” that writers encounter:

Your vs. You’re

“Your” is a possessive pronoun, similar to “hers”, “ours”, “mine”, etc. “You’re”, on the other hand, is a contraction of “you are”. If you’re confused as to which one to use, try substituting the word with “you are” then re-read the sentence to see if you’re on the right path.

They’re vs. Their vs. There

Triple whammy! “They’re”, like “you’re”, is a contraction. It’s just a shorter way of saying “they are”. “Their” is a possessive pronoun (e.g., “their clothes”), and “there” indicates location. Take care not to get tripped up with these three words. Think thoroughly about what you’re trying to say, then use the correct word.

Write vs. Right

I don’t see a lot of people committing this error, but I have to mention this as part of my full disclosure. Yes, I am guilty of this. I always get the two mixed up, although the name of this site is not an error. It’s a deliberate play on words, though I think it might have exerted some subliminal influence that led to my mind’s lapses when it comes to “right” and “write”.

It’s vs. Its

The concept here is similar to “your” versus “you’re”. “It’s” is a contraction of “it is”, while “its” is a possessive pronoun. Here is an example: “It’s difficult to understand its meaning”. To be safe, use “it is” with your sentence to see if you’re using the correct term.

Sight vs. Site vs. Cite

Simple error, you just need to re-align your brains a bit. “Sight” can mean either the ability to see, or a beautiful view/image to behold. Site is a location, and cite means you acknowledge the source of your data or statements.

Complement vs. Compliment

The spelling gets a lot of people confused. “Complement” means to match, supplement or complete something. “Compliment” means praise.

To and Too

A very common error (one that, unfortunately, really riles me), it’s actually very easy to identify which one to use. “To” is a preposition (e.g., “from me to you”), while “too” is used to indicate excess (”too much” or “too many”) and as a synonym for “also” (”I’m hungry, too” instead of “I’m also hungry”).

Lose vs. Loose

Yep, guilty, too. I sometimes get these two mixed up, and not because I don’t know the difference. Sometimes the fingers type independently of the brain. In case you’re confused, though, “lose” is the opposite of win. It’s also the term to use when you want to express loss, e.g., “lose control”. Loose means one thing: not tight.

These errors are common and a lot of professionals and professors have no patience and understanding when dealing with people who commit them. True, to err is human, but that’s what proofreading is for. Read, re-read, and have a diligent friend re-read. Making mistakes is normal, but it doesn’t make grammatical errors acceptable. Sloppiness is never a sign of professionalism, so be vigilant.

XOXO,