My wife loves to tease me for being a Grammar Nazi.
But am I really?
I mean sure, it unnerves me every time someone mixes up your and you're in a text message or on Facebook, and I feel like I'm breaking out in hives when families think using an apostrophe makes their last name plural on a holiday card (it doesn't, folks).
And yes, I'm usually the one who corrects them first. I admit that.
But to be a true Grammar Nazi, that would mean I'm infallible when it comes to the English language. Or at least, I would have to believe I am. I would also imagine most Grammar Nazis earned that moniker because they're downright rude when they correct someone. I take a great deal of pride in being none of these things.
Granted, I own my own writing and editing company, Edit This®, and I'd like to think I know my way around the English language. But at my core, I'm just a grammar nerd who loves words and wants to educate people – not tear them down.
Below are several educational blog posts I've written over the years about grammar and how to make written content more readable and interesting.
One means to relinquish rights to something, while the other refers to steadily moving back and forth. Do you know the difference?
Would you like me to pour you a cup of coffee, or pore you a cup of coffee? Or is it poor? You should really read this blog post to learn more.
Buy typically refers to when we acquire or purchase something with money. But what about by or bye? Do you know the difference between this trio of words?
Do you find yourself getting tripped up on the differences between these three words? Don't worry because you're not alone. Read this blog to catch yourself up to speed.
Are you showing up door to door and peddling a new product or service? Do you pedal a bike? Read more to find out.
Let's cut to the chase and eliminate alot from the conversation. It's not a word, even though the correct spelling (a lot) sounds like it should be one word when you say it.
Here are a few of the funny memes and pictures I found online. And, of course, they all have to do with Christmas and grammar.
Into vs. in to – what's the difference? Knowing which one to use in a sentence can be a sticking point for many people – even the most veteran of writers.
It is very easy to confuse the words there, their, and they're if you aren't careful. Slow down, read this blog post, and then try again.
This blog post is a lot further down on the list than I'd like it to be, but I'm just following the order in which I've posted them online. This is important for EVERYONE to read.
Even after all these years, there are more words out there that I stumble on than I care to admit. It often takes slowing down my typing or even spelling the word out loud as I type to make sure I get it right. Here are 15 that tend to trip most people up.
One is a polite expression of praise or admiration, and the other one is not. Do you know the difference? Whether you do or not, here is a quick refresher.
You should pay close attention the next time you need to use one of these two words in a sentence. There is a big difference, one that will alter the meaning of the sentence.
These flubs tend to pop up more during the holidays, as families rush to get their Christmas cards in the mail on time. They don't think anything of it when they write, "Merry Christmas from the Butler's!" But they need to because it's incredibly wrong.
Use of proper grammar often goes out the window when we talk to our children, and as parents, we really need to be mindful of that. Use proper grammar at all times, because those little eyes and ears are watching and listening.
Anyone who has paid attention over the years to our Facebook page has probably seen a few posts here and there with pictures of unfortunate misspellings or punctuation issues found in everyday life. I put the majority of them into this blog post.
Thanks for reading! As always, we are at your disposal for all your writing and editing needs. If you need an extra set of eyes to look over that term paper, blog, novel, or newsletter, don't hesitate to give Edit This a call.
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, LLC, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.