Post by WickedElphie on Oct 6, 2008 11:30:43 GMT -5
This thread is a list of common spelling/grammar mistakes for authors to refrence when proof-reading either his or her own work or someone else's. Feel free to add any that either bug you, or you know you tend to use in your work.
My Achilles heel is homophones.
Here's some that I sometimes mix up:
effect/affect
"Effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb.
"The effect of the experiment was uncertain."
"The color of the feathers affected the chances of the bird finding a mate."
Hear/Here
"Hear" is what you do with your ears and "here" is a place.
I can hear the bells.
I can't find my earings. They were right here!
tale/tail
A "tale" is a story. A "tail" is what Mickey Mouse has on his backside.
I love fairy tales.
My pet bunny has a fluffy tail.
Than/Then
"Than" is used to compare things and "then" indicates a sequence of events.
My cat is bigger than his dog.
I went to the mall and then I ate lunch at McDonalds.
There/Their/They're. "There" is a place, "their" is the plural of "his"/"hers" and "they're" is a contraction of "they are".
No, I forgot. I left my earring over there.
Their class got to go on a fieldtrip.
They're going to the movies after school.
Threw/Through
"Threw" is the past form of "to throw" and "through" is going from one side to another.
I threw the ball.
Over the hill and through the woods/to grandmother's house we go...
To/Too/Two
"To" is what you use most of the time, "too" means the same as "also" and is used to describe excess, and "two" is the number.
I'm going to the mall. I know how to swim. etc.
I want to come too. I'm too old for that. There's too much food. etc.
My cousin is two years old. I want two scoops of ice-cream. etc.
Your/You're
"Your" is possesive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are".
I need your help. Can I borrow your pen? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.
You're being a pain in the neck. You're going out tonight?
My Achilles heel is homophones.
Here's some that I sometimes mix up:
effect/affect
"Effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb.
"The effect of the experiment was uncertain."
"The color of the feathers affected the chances of the bird finding a mate."
Hear/Here
"Hear" is what you do with your ears and "here" is a place.
I can hear the bells.
I can't find my earings. They were right here!
tale/tail
A "tale" is a story. A "tail" is what Mickey Mouse has on his backside.
I love fairy tales.
My pet bunny has a fluffy tail.
Than/Then
"Than" is used to compare things and "then" indicates a sequence of events.
My cat is bigger than his dog.
I went to the mall and then I ate lunch at McDonalds.
There/Their/They're. "There" is a place, "their" is the plural of "his"/"hers" and "they're" is a contraction of "they are".
No, I forgot. I left my earring over there.
Their class got to go on a fieldtrip.
They're going to the movies after school.
Threw/Through
"Threw" is the past form of "to throw" and "through" is going from one side to another.
I threw the ball.
Over the hill and through the woods/to grandmother's house we go...
To/Too/Two
"To" is what you use most of the time, "too" means the same as "also" and is used to describe excess, and "two" is the number.
I'm going to the mall. I know how to swim. etc.
I want to come too. I'm too old for that. There's too much food. etc.
My cousin is two years old. I want two scoops of ice-cream. etc.
Your/You're
"Your" is possesive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are".
I need your help. Can I borrow your pen? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.
You're being a pain in the neck. You're going out tonight?
