Riley: Grammar Nazi Extraordinaire

[[ADMIN RILEY]]

I've noticed some people using incorrect words in some places and this isn't unusual even for seasoned writers to make a slip. However, sometimes people just don't know. The words in question are:

There
Their
They're
To
Too
Your
You're


and others I will mention when I notice them.

The there/their/they're rant: this is a very very common mistake, unfortunately, and it can lose you marks in so many different classes - not just English. When you're in higher level classes one slip of the wrong their/there/they're and you may lose half your marks.

So to start off:

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THERE.

THERE is a suggestion of a location, concrete or abstract. Examples of how to use THERE are:

It was over THERE, by corner of the building. (abstract)
It must be difficult to live THERE. (concrete)

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THEIR.

THEIR is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them. (a noun being a person, place, thing).
Examples of how THEIR can be used:

It's so sad, they lost THEIR tickets.
That blonde woman is his new girlfriend. THEIR happiness is evident!
The house was repossessed by the bank when they admitted THEIR debt.

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[/size]THEY'RE

THEY'RE is a combination of the two words, they and are. When using this there/their/they're in a sentence, always say, "they are" before the word after it. For example, in the sentence,

"The wind was shaking they're tent."

THEY'RE is clearly not the correct one to use, as

"The wind was shaking they are tent." makes no sense at all. The proper one to use is THEIR.

Some examples of THEY'RE used properly:

You can see it, THEY'RE so excited for tomorrow!
THEY'RE fighting again, the poor child of THEIRS must be frightened...
It's ridiculous, really, THEY'RE not as funny as they think they are.

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[/SIZE]TO

The use of TO suggests that an item, idea, or something else has been sent or is going TO somewhere. Some examples of how to use TO are: (one O)

I sent the letter TO Santa Claus last Christmas and got no reply!
My wife was tired of my laziness and so she moved TO Timbuktu.

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[/size]TOO

Using TOO is like saying "also," because it's suggesting that you did that "as well." For example:

I TOO wish I could go to the Medieval dance.
My mother was TOO upset to function after my dad passed away.
The stupid animal was like me then: TOO scared to move.

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[/size]YOUR

YOUR is much like THEIR except reversed; it is a possessive adjective referring to a noun as being somebodies item. For example:

YOUR sweater is so fuzzy, it must be very warm.
Oh sorry, I was just admiring YOUR hair.
I am in envy of YOUR sheer beauty.

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[/size]YOU'RE

YOU'RE is again like THEY'RE in the way that it is the combination of two words - you and are. If you cannot place you are in front of a word and have it sound proper, YOU'RE is not the one to use. Examples of how to use YOU'RE:

YOU'RE not very good smelling, take a shower!
When she undid his zipper, she gasped, "YOU'RE so big!" (LOL)
"YOU'RE no match for me!" shrieked the evil villain.

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PM me for mini "worksheets" to help perfect your use of homophones. For clarification, a HOMOPHONE is a word that has the same sound (identical) but a different use and meaning.

For each sheet you complete, you will receive money and Credits. English class with extra benefits!

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