What grammar errors do you repeatedly make?

[wegs]

So, I was getting ready to send an email to a client yesterday, when a red line (using Outlook) that lets you know when you have a typo/misspelling/grammar error, appeared under a word that was in a list of other words. For example - We would like to know if you’ll be joining us for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Using this example, the word “lunch” would have been red lined; when placing the cursor over it, Outlook’s “suggestion”was to add a comma after “lunch.”

That wasn’t the exact sentence but just using it as an example. This is a common error for me, because I’ve always been under the impression that a comma before “and” is typically only used if either sentence on the opposite side of “and,” could stand alone as “independent” of each other, without “and.” That’s not the case with my example above (breakfast, lunch, and dinner - that’s not a sentence; it’s technically a list)

https://www.scribbr.com/commas/comma-before-or-after-and/

What grammar errors do you often repeat?

 

[Seattle]

I seen a video on grammar and I done memorized most of it so I ain't really one to make those kinds of mistakes.

Seriously, the issues I have is that I can type fast (I use a full size keyboard) and therefore my fingers are kind of on auto-pilot. I have to make a real effort to re-read and edit what I write, otherwise I will be posting something that I would never say.

When we had to use a typewriter for college papers this issue never come up because I would be very careful so as to not have to redo a term paper or use whiteout or whatever. I have no issue knowing when to use, "their" vs "there" vs "they're" but when my fingers are on autopilot I may use any of those or "these" "this" or "tier" or just gibberish.

 

[wegs]

I seen a video on grammar and I done memorized most of it so I ain't really one to make those kinds of mistakes.

Lol

“I seen” - that’s the absolute worst

Thanks for sharing the rest. Do you ever stumble on the same grammatical errors or misspell the same words?

 

[Seattle]

Lol

“I seen” - that’s the absolute worst

I just added to that post and you may not have read that part but yes "I seen" is cringe worthy.

 

[geordief]

I thought ,and write that a comma just reflects the way you would actually speak the sentence.(and any grammar autocorrect can shove it where the sun don't shine)

 

[Seattle]

Lol

“I seen” - that’s the absolute worst

Thanks for sharing the rest. Do you ever stumble on the same grammatical errors or misspell the same words?

No, it seems to be entirely random. That's not to say that I've never made a grammatical error. I'm sure I have but I'm pretty good in that regard, in general. I like forums or sites that allow you to edit comments at any time.

I will read a comment (usually) before I post and make any needed corrections. Later someone will respond and quote whatever I wrote and I'll see a mistake that I missed. At that point it's too late to correct it on some sites and on other sites you can always correct something (and I will).

If the words just don't flow well I'll go back and correct that.

 

[DaveC426913]

Using this example, the word “lunch” would have been red lined; when placing the cursor over it, Outlook’s “suggestion”was to add a comma after “lunch.”

This is a common error for me, because I’ve always been under the impression that a comma before “and” is typically only used if either sentence on the opposite side of “and,” could stand alone as “independent” of each other, without “and.” That’s not the case with my example above (breakfast, lunch, and dinner - that’s not a sentence; it’s technically a list)

That is not an error; it's a stylistic option.

It's called the Oxford comma. Some writers use that style, some do not.

As my editor friend said many times about almost everything in writing: you can go with almost any style you want - as long as you are consistent.

 

[DaveC426913]

My most recent foray into grammatical/linguistic fascism was seeing a restaurant sign that said "The Myriad of Spices". I was lucky to escape having a blood vessel burst in my forehead. I took a pic instead.

Myriad means "a bunch of", as in "There are myriad spices" which translates to "There are a bunch of spices."

So, "The Myriad of Spices" translates to "The the bunch of of Spices"

Argh!!

But before extracting their heart them on the public sacrificial altar that is Facebook, I checked up on this. Apparently, it is now OK to use "myriad" to mean bunch as in the restaurant sign.

I weep for the future.

 

[Seattle]

But before extracting their heart them on the public sacrificial altar that is Facebook, I checked up on this. Apparently, it is now OK to use "myriad" to mean bunch as in the restaurant sign.

The "them" is not needed, (Wegs made me say that).

 

[DaveC426913]

The "them" is not needed, (Wegs made me say that).

Haha. I knew I would.

I never make grammatical errors, but I do make typos.

(That one comes from second-guessing and editing.)

 

[Seattle]

Haha. I knew I would.

I never make grammatical errors, but I do make typos.

(That one comes from second-guessing and editing.)

Haha...I'm the same way.

I've even made a post like this giving someone a hard time only to see that I had a typo in my own post. I've made them from editing also where I left part of the old edit in.

 

[wegs]

The "them" is not needed, (Wegs made me say that).

Haha. I knew I would.

I never make grammatical errors, but I do make typos.

(That one comes from second-guessing and editing.)

Linguistic karma.

 

[sideshowbob]

I still wrestle with "affect" and "effect". I know what the difference is but I still struggle when I have to choose. I wish there was a simple "i before e except after c" for it. I ususlly wind up using whichever sounds better.

 

[Seattle]

I still wrestle with "affect" and "effect". I know what the difference is but I still struggle when I have to choose. I wish there was a simple "i before e except after c" for it. I ususlly wind up using whichever sounds better.

I think I usually use them correctly but I probably slip up sometimes as well. "Affect" relates to emotion and "effect" is like cause and effect.

The beauty of the night sky has a calming effect on me. I'm affected by that beauty.

 

[DaveC426913]

I still wrestle with "affect" and "effect". I know what the difference is but I still struggle when I have to choose. I wish there was a simple "i before e except after c" for it. I ususlly wind up using whichever sounds better.

And just to mess you up, both can be nouns or verbs:
Has an effect.
To effect a change.

The patient showed normal affects.
Rain affects traction.

 

[wegs]

That is not an error; it's a stylistic option.

It's called the Oxford comma. Some writers use that style, some do not.

As my editor friend said many times about almost everything in writing: you can go with almost any style you want - as long as you are consistent.

Good to know, and I’m going to ignore that “red line” suggestion, from now on.


Do any of you confuse these two?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/ie-vs-eg-abbreviation-meaning-usage-difference

 

[DaveC426913]

Do any of you confuse these two?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/ie-vs-eg-abbreviation-meaning-usage-difference

not me.

 

[exchemist]

Good to know, and I’m going to ignore that “red line” suggestion, from now on.


Do any of you confuse these two?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/ie-vs-eg-abbreviation-meaning-usage-difference

Nor me. They seem fairly easy to distinguish. But it may be one of those occasions where a bit of recollection of Latin helps.

I find use of q.v. and cf. a bit more challenging. I don't really use q.v. but I do sometimes use cf. , helped by memory of a spelling correction made on a fellow pupil's physics homework when I was at school. This pupil had misspelt "vertical" as "verticle". The physics master had underlined it in red and written in the margin, "cf. testical".

 

[DaveC426913]

Principle v. principal

The principal is your "pal".

 

[wegs]

Nor me. They seem fairly easy to distinguish. But it may be one of those occasions where a bit of recollection of Latin helps.

I find use of q.v. and cf. a bit more challenging. I don't really use q.v. but I do sometimes use cf. , helped by memory of a spelling correction made on a fellow pupil's physics homework when I was at school. This pupil had misspelt "vertical" as "verticle". The physics master had underlined it in red and written in the margin, "cf. testical".

lol!

I’ll have you know, I thought of you when posting this because your use of these is always correct.