English 101

(Internet Photo)

Maybe it's because my mother corrected me all the time while growing up.

Maybe it's because I work for a perfectionist that loves the English language.

Maybe it's just because I'm a whiny bitch.

The fact is - I love email / texting / Twitter / Facebook, but it drives me NUTS when people use the wrong word.  For me, reading the wrong word in a sentence is very much like the sound of fingernails scratching across a blackboard.  It makes me cringe!  Maybe they were in too much of a hurry at the time and really know the difference.  That happens to me sometimes, which REALLY drives me nuts.  But when the mistake happens over and over and over again, I suspect some just don't know any better.  They made their way through school and no one cared enough to tell them that using the wrong word makes them appear... less than smart. 

Let's review a few words and their correct usage:


TO
I love to swim in the summer.

TOO
I have too much to do.

TWO
Susie has two kittens.

THERE
Let's go over there to sit.

THEY'RE
They're going to the beach.

THEIR
Do you want to know their secret?

WANT
I didn't want to go.

WON'T
She won't eat cake.

YOUR
Do you want the rest of your dessert?

YOU'RE
You're going to pay for that!

QUIT
He quit smoking.

QUITE
I'm not quite sure that is correct.

QUIET
Please be quiet while the baby is asleep.

THEN
If I knew then I would tell you.

THAN
I would be more than happy to help!

THEM
Don't talk to them!

WOMAN / MAN
That woman/man just sneezed.

WOMEN / MEN
Those women/men just left.

PAST
We just drove past your house.

PASSED
Judy passed away last night.

ONE

I want one cookie.

WON

They just won the game!

SEEN

Have you seen Betsy?

SAW

I saw Betsy on Tuesday.

NO

No, you can't have my drink.

KNOW

I don't know what to think!

ROAD

She is on the road to recovery.

RODE

Jerry rode his bicycle to work.

THREW

Casey threw the ball.

THROUGH

I hate that you had to go through all of that.

THRU

(This isn't actually a word but is informally acceptable instead of "through.")

BY

I need your response by tomorrow, please.

BUY

I would like to buy those earrings.

I know that my grammar isn't always correct, but I do think that using the correct word is important.