A Couple of Spelling Tips I have GOT to Share
Not only am I a Virtual Assistant who specializes in proofreading and editing , but I have also always excelled in spelling and grammar since grade school and later in high school.
I have a hard time reading a book for pleasure or enjoying a blog post because I can NOT turn off the part of my brain that sees the spelling, grammar and word usage errors. That is honestly a downer in my personal life but a big plus in my professional one.
Today, I am going to share three of the most common spelling or usage errors I constantly see both on the net and offline. These are on even the biggest famous name web sites and often in the biggest famous name print books. I am hoping that someone who reads this post might actually learn and benefit from these tips.
Number ONE
The number one, most often mis-used word I find both on the net and off is it’s and its. As a matter of fact, in the 10th grade, I LOST a city wide (St. Louis public schools) spelling bee over this one! I had managed to out-spell hundreds of other straight A & Honor roll students to get to the spell-off between one other student and ME, and with some of the hardest words you can imagine, and then LOST with its versus it’s!
Its is the POSSESSIVE. Something belongs TO IT.
An example would be: The dog wagged its tail when it saw its owner.
It’s is a contraction for the words it and is.
An example for this would be: The dog is wagging its tail because it’s happy to see its owner.
The second most common one I see AND the one I edit the most is the usage for these: your and you’re.
The POSSESSIVE for this one is your, as in:
Your dog is wagging its tail because it is glad that you’re its owner.
Likewise, you’re is the contraction for you and are.
Your dog is wagging its tail because it is glad that you’re its owner.
Number three is the there, their and they’re usages.
There are three ways to spell this word that sounds the same but they mean totally different things and they’re always ready to mix up their users.
Their is the POSSESSIVE form of this word. If it belongs to them, it is theirs.
They’re is a contraction for they and are.
There are lots of other usage errors out there but these three are the ones I see the most.
Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing , proofreading and
transcription assignments!
Jan Tallent
Tallent Agency Virtual Assistance
573-775-4520 jan@tallentagency.com
Tags: assignments, Editing, errors, fixes, grammar, learning, niche, Proofreading, spelling, virtual assistant
March 1st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
This is a HUGE problem now with texting so popular. You can’t go to a social networking site without seeing blatant errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. I don’t think the “younger” generation fully understands these simple grammar rules. I also love proofreading and editing and mistakes like these drive me bonkers!
March 1st, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for the tips Jan!
As you know, its and it’s has always been a bugger for me.
Or is it it’s and its? Either way, nine times out of ten I get it wrong. LOL
Sharon McPherson´s last blog ..Free St. Patrick’s Day Mini-Site Template & Graphics
March 1st, 2010 at 4:31 pm
You are welcome, Sharon and it’s my pleasure to share the tips. Believe me, with the way the its and it’s affected MY life, I am not apt to forget them!
March 1st, 2010 at 4:35 pm
thanks, Sheri. Actually, it was hard for me to USE twitter, for example, because OF the shorthand words, etc. and purposely misspelling things to make them fit but the spelling and grammar ON places like twitter do not bother me, it is more in the so-called professional books, web sites, blog posts and documents that I mentally CRINGE! LOL!
I have always used my own shorthand for my own notes, grocery lists, etc. so twitter came easy to me once I “got it’ that this is the one place we can really relax and let go BUT yes, I have to agree, with so many kids texting, etc. – they do not seem to even KNOW how to spell the real words … sigh.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I’ve had no problem with it’s, the contraction of it is.
It’s remembering what the proper usage for its is that gives me problems. But from now on I will remember that it is POSSESSIVE, meaning something belongs to it.
Sharon McPherson´s last blog ..Free St. Patrick’s Day Mini-Site Template & Graphics
March 1st, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Well, hopefully my little cheat sheet will help
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Hey Jan!
Amen on this one sister! I too have a hard time reading anything sometimes. It’s as if my proofreading mind will not turn off, like yours. I come across so many spelling errors on websites and I am SO tempted to leave a comment and point it out. Isn’t that horrible? Just can’t help myself.
Thanks dear, enjoyed your post.
Deb Lamb
Freelance Writer
Deb Lamb´s last blog ..
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:54 pm
It’s amazing how many spelling errors appear in print and online. You’ve listed the most common ones. Here’s a few more: where and wear; or and ore; to and too; here and hear.
I agree that texting can impact a person’s spelling competency. It’s easier to text a few characters. Of course, there’s no excuse when it comes to email.
Rebecca´s last blog ..Are You a Special Freelance Writer?
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thanks so much, Deb. I know, I was just reading an Ann Rule true crime novel today and was actually mentally cheering on her editing staff, etc. because in over 200 pages, I have only found ONE typo and that is RARE!
I actually do email bloggers and webmasters privately and first tell them what I like about the page in question and then nicely give them a tip or two on fixes needed – strangely enough, the few who have bothered to write me back and say “thank you” have also hired me to do a more detailed proof and edit, and the rest I have not even heard back from.
I appreciate it when someone gives me a heads-up so that I can fix an error before the whole net world sees it but some do not seem so inclined. Oh, well, we can only do what we can do. I appreciate your reading and your post, Deb, thanks so much!
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:27 pm
hi, Rebecca. Thanks so much for reading and posting. I am appalled at how few bloggers and webmasters seem to CARE about these things on their pages, documents, etc. and am saddened by how few of their visitors probably notice.
I had not thought of or and ore but am saving a few like here and hear and where and wear, etc. for a later post. I am NOT a writer and happily admit to that fact so can only ramble on about the few things I DO know, lol.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Hi Jan. My 22 yr-old daughter tells me that “prescriptive linguists” are a dying breed. I tell her, not on my watch! Yesterday I was checking out a professional copywriter’s site and saw, “…like they never have before!” When I politely brought to his attention that it should be “as”, he said that being grammatically correct can actually work against you in the biz. He has a point. But meanwhile, I still admire the few stores, like Whole Foods, that have an express checkout for FEWER than 10 items and the few items with FEWER calories!
Write on!
Susie
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Meanwhile, is anyone else disturbed by the comma splice in, “Leave a comment, it will be posted after it has been approved.” ?
susie sullivan´s last blog ..angels in the outfield. where else?
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:59 pm
So I guess the only ones in the future who will care will be us proofreaders, lol. Oh, well, all I can do is my little bit to help clean up the net and the books, etc. so when those of us who DO care are reading, we do not have to cringe and almost feel ashamed of the masses that do NOT care. Thanks so much for commenting.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:01 pm
hmmmmmmmmmmm, is that wrong? If it is, you got me on that one, I would not have corrected it while editing, lol