Proofreading Could Save You Money and Credibility

Admit it, the chances are good, even as an avid reader or writer, that you're not likely to describe someone leaving a comma out of their sentence by saying something like:

"Um... I think you should have placed a comma before your conjunction that introduces the independent clause."

If that quote does describe you, kudos! You have a firm grasp on English grammar, and want everyone to know about it.

For the rest of us: we may have a vague recollection of when we actually learned about grammar rules in elementary, or "grammar" school, but since, we've just developed a language use over time that works. Maybe we can't recite specific grammar or punctuation rules as lexical definitions, but we know what looks and sounds correct.

Recently, however, I'm noticing one specific grammar error that keeps popping up over and over again, and I'm starting to wonder if it's just me seeing what seems to be sloppy, or lazy, writing and editing, or if this is the beginning of a trend that will soon water down this long accepted grammar rule.

So, with these shameless attempts at getting most of you reading this to agree with me about not being grammar experts, and also being fully aware that I could possibly get some snarky comments of any grammatical errors I've overlooked in this article, (commas are my nemesis) I feel compelled to share what I've recently seen as the most common grammar mistake:

Misuse of the apostrophe:

The worst offender: using your instead of you're. Of course, this also applies to there, or their, instead of they're, and its instead of it's.

For those who may not know: An apostrophe is used to make two words into one contraction. Thus, you are becomes you're, they are becomes they're, and it is becomes it's.

It seems to me, without even bringing up any grammar rules and terms - although they're definitely good to know - you can remember to add an apostrophe, and make a contraction, if it could also be written as two words. But, of course, one would have to actually proofread their work to notice this, which is most likely not happening.

A quick disclaimer: contractions are commonly used in more informal writing - like email, or websites - so for those of you writing a formal document this shouldn't even be an issue; because you shouldn't be using contractions at all, (unless of course it's some weird style that finds it acceptable, or your professor said it was alright, or whatever; but I'm not even going to go down the winding road of style issues.)

While some of you may object to me getting irritated at all with such a minor writing error, especially with how language changes, and "evolves" over time, (i.e. 'shudder' text messaging) I think it makes people's communication look, at best, unprofessional, and, at worst, makes them look like idiots. Because when apostrophes are misused, there are often other glaring errors of spelling and grammar that are coupled with the writing.

For example: I recently, inquired about some writing work that requested "excellent English grammar" as a qualification. However, when the employer responded with some specifics about the project, their email contained the following gems:

"Is there any issue that cannot write something about ... I had one writer who cant ... content isn't against any of you principles ..."

Um...What?

Although I didn't take the job for other reasons, I'm not sure I would have wanted to anyway. If the person asking me to give them "excellent English grammar" can't even compose a decent email, what might they have "corrected" in my work, had I sold it to them?

Alas, aside from misunderstanding English because you don't live in the U.S. (I won't even touch the British, or other native English speaking countries) I believe the need for speed is the culprit behind this, and most other grammatical errors that occur today. People are in a hurry to crank out the copy. Email, websites, blogs all have to be done RIGHT NOW, because time is money.

But, ask yourself: Is saving an extra minute or two worth looking stupid over? Or loosing money over because you've now lost credibility in the eyes of the reader, or potential customer?

The next time you shoot off a quick email, or write an article on deadline, or post to that blog, take a moment to at least skim your work, and make any corrections. Don't just rely on your spelling and grammar checker. It will miss a lot of errors.

After all:

Ewe wouldnt want two look like your a moron when it come too making you're writing look grate.