Make the Correct Word Choices

As a middle school English teacher, I witnessed the students' collective confusion regarding certain terms. As teachers, we take the time to go over common errors and reinforce the correct choices with the boys and girls. It seems that these same words are often confused by adults as well.

a lot
A lot is always two words, yet it is so often incorrectly written as "alot." I teach it to students by writing on the board:
aboy
agirl
acat
adog
alot
I ask them what is wrong with what I've written, and they quickly see that 'a' shouldn't be connected to these nouns. I ask, "You don't write aboy, so why do you write alot instead of a lot?" They start to giggle, but they do remember.

1960s or 1960's?
Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries.
Correct: 1960s, 1800s
No apostrophe.

Confusion sets in because we do use apostrophes to make numbers plural.
Example: You mixed up your 2's and your 5's.

it's or its?
Simply put, if you can replace the word with "it is", then use an apostrophe.

Confusion sets in because we are used to using apostrophes to show ownership with nouns.
Ex. The car's tire is flat.
However, we don't use apostrophes with possessive pronouns.

Its tire is flat. Think: Could I say "It is tire is flat?"
No, so don't use the apostrophe.

The dog hurt its paw. Could I say "The dog hurt it is paw"
No, so don't use the apostrophe.

It's time to leave. Could I say "It is time to leave?"
Yes, so use the apostrophe.

than or then?
Than is used for comparison.
I am taller than my sister. (Comparing heights, use than.)

Then tells when.
If she is awake by noon, we'll leave then. (Tells when we'll leave.)
I tell students to remember 'then' and 'when' both contain the letter 'e.'

whose or who's?
Use the contraction who's, if you can substitute "who is."
Who's going to the movie with me? (Who is going to the movie with me?)

Whose shows ownership.
Whose report are we hearing today? (You can't say "Who is report are we hearing today," so don't use the contraction.)

your or you're?
Use the contraction you're if you can substitute "you are."
You're right on time. (You are right on time.)

Use your to show ownership.
Your work is excellent. (You can't say "You are work is excellent," so don't use the contraction.)

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