Until this year, grammar was not my strongest skill as a journalist. I am a terrible speller and last semester I had to take a remedial grammar course. But whenever I write something, whether it's a text, paper or blog post, I try to at least get the little things right.
This semester I'm enrolled in a multimedia editing course that's weekly grammar and editing tests have given me the respect and passion for correct word use of a New York Times editor. This means that my daily Facebook and Twitter visits, text and email conversations, and even reading the bulletin boards in the residence hall I work at have started to make me judge my friends a little.
Now, unless they're fellow J-school students, I don't expect people to write with the accuracy of Grammar Girl, but I can't help but cringe when I come across common mistakes that no one with a high school degree or higher should make.
Here some of the most annoying mistakes I see every day.
Offense #1: Alot.
Alot is not a word. There is the word "a" and the world "lot" and the phrase "a lot," but alot does not exist in the English language.
I have a lot of homework to do? or I love Facebook A LOT!
A lot is used to describe how much you have, "a" modifies lot, as in "a" or "one" lot or load or homework.
Don't worry about the mechanics of the phrase, just know that a lot is two words.
Guess what. They're not the same thing and they're definitely not interchangeable.
The word "your" is possessive. For example...
They're your annoying friends. or I love your new profile picture!
However, "your" isn't the key offender. But it's used quite often in place for the word "you're."
You're means You are. (kind of like how don't means does not, or it's means it is.)
You're is used to describe people. For example...
You're such a noob. OR I think you're the coolest person I know.
Offense #3 Spelling errors.
My spelling has improved exponentially this semester. Why? Multimedia editing has spelling tests, and spelling and grammar check has been disabled in the Stauffer-Flint computer labs.
If you don't know how to spell a word, and aren't willing to take a few seconds to grab a dictionary and look up the word, then you should not be allowed to use that word.
Most internet browsers have spellcheck, but if your's doesn't and you don't want to, or have access to looking up a word, open up Microsoft Word, type it in and let the program do the rest of the work.
English grammar is confusing. The first response I heard to every groan I ever made in a foreign language course was, "English is the hardest language to learn." But there are some grammar sins that are unforgivable.
When you have to use spell check to correct a word, don't just right click and be done with it. Read the correct spelling and try to memorize it.
Grammar matters!
Today, potential employers like to use social media outlets to stalk... I mean check out job candidates. Every time you write a paper, send an email or update your favorite social media outlet, earn the respect of your audience by taking a few seconds to review your grammar. Never type and hit post. Take a few extra seconds to read through the Facebook comment to avoid judgement.
