Today's Grammar Lesson

I'm sure that there are many others who are as dismayed about the improper use of words today as I am. Whether it be in email correspondence or on social media pages, there are days that I want to make corrections and send them back to the author of the email or post. Unfortunately it most likely would not be well received. So....here are a few things to keep in mind in choosing your words:

* They're - They are
* Their - Shows possession
* There - Specifies a location
* You're - You are
* Your - Shows possession
* We're - We are
* Were - Past tense of "are"
* Where - Specifies a location
* Than - A comparison
* Then - A point in time
* To - Where it's going
* Too - An excessive amount
* Two - The number 2

Also the proper word is ASKED - not axed! I don't know how many times I have heard someone say what sounds like "I axed him if he had .......?" Not quite sure what they are thinking, but....
Axed:  "transitive verb axed, axing. to trim, split, etc. with an ax; to cut off, remove, get rid of, etc.". 
Ask: "verb (used with object) 1. to put a question to; inquire of: I asked him but he didn't answer. 2. to request information about" .

For a friend who asked when we were on this subject: iterate and reiterate apparently mean the same thing. Reiterate is the synonym for iterate.
Iterate - verb (used with object), iterated, iterating. 1. to utter again or repeatedly. 2. to do (something) over again or repeatedly.
Reiterate (synonym for iterate) - Reiterate: to state or do over again or repeatedly sometimes with wearying effect. 
I learned something that I was not aware of a short while ago. Many of us are guilty of saying "irregardless" - there is no such word. The proper word is regardless :
1.  (adjective) having or showing no regard; heedless; unmindful (often followed by of).  
2. (adverb) without concern as to advice, warning, hardship, etc.; anyway: I must make the decision regardless. 
3. (Idiom) regardless of, in spite of; without regard for: They'll do it regardless of the cost.

"My bad" - in my mind this is not an acceptable phrase. It makes the speaker appear lazy or uneducated. The proper thing to say would be "I'm sorry", "My mistake (or error)", or "I apologize". I know many may not agree with me on this as I hear it all the time - even by those on the morning news programs.

I'm sure there are many others that should be mentioned, but these are the things that were on my mind today. Please feel free to send me your pet peeves on this subject, as I would enjoy finding out what drives you crazy.



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