The way you express yourself matters. Particularly in professional contexts. Some might view grammar as a minor technicality. It can be seen as a detail of speech and writing not worth much attention.
However, the way you use language is important. It reveals a lot about you and your thought process. It is especially significant in professional environments. Read on for easy grammar and usage mistakes people make. Whether composing an email or chatting with colleagues, you can polish your comms.
"It's" and "its"
An apostrophe often denotes possession.
For example, "I took the dog's toy." However, an apostrophe can also indicate the omission of letters, as in "don't" for "do not."
This is where "it's" and "its" can become confusing. Use "its" as the possessive pronoun. For example, "I admired its colour." For the contraction of "it is," use the form with the apostrophe. For instance, "It's rather chilly today." If you find these perplexing, consider avoiding the contraction "it's" altogether and writing "it is" instead.
Tip
If you're unsure, try reading your sentence with "it is" or "it has" in place of "it's." If it makes sense, you need the apostrophe.
"Fewer" and "less"
This one is a classic. Employ "fewer" when referring to countable items.
For example, "He ate five fewer biscuits than his companion." Use "less" for things typically not counted, such as duration. For example, "It took me less than three hours to skim read the entire book."
“Affect” and “effect”
"Affect" is usually a verb, meaning to influence something.
For example, "The weather will affect our plans." "Effect" is usually a noun, meaning the result of something. For instance, "The new policy had a positive effect."
However, "effect" can also be a verb meaning to bring about. For example, "They worked hard to effect change." And "affect" can be a noun in psychology, referring to emotion. But in most everyday writing, remember the key difference. It’s verb (influence) for "affect" and noun (result) for "effect."
“Your” and “you’re”
This is another very frequent mistake. "Your" is the possessive pronoun, showing ownership.
For example, "Is this your coat?" "You're" is the contraction of "you are". You’d use it to say, "You're going to be late!"
Follow the same tip as the contractions point. If you can replace "you're" with "you are" and the sentence still makes sense, that's the one you need.
"Then" and "Than"
The distinction between these two words is relatively straightforward. "Then" is all about time sequence. For example, "We finished the meeting, then went for lunch." Note that if you’re doing creative writing, it is easy to overuse the word “then” when listing a series of events.
"Than" is used for comparisons. For instance, "This cake is much better than the last one I baked." Getting these two mixed up is a very common error. Check your work carefully, because confusing these can make a poor first impression.
"Me," "myself," and "I."
When determining whether to use "me," "myself," or "I," you are again dealing with subjects and objects. "Me" functions as an object. "I" as a subject. Typically, "myself" is used only when you have previously referred to yourself within the sentence. It is termed a reflexive pronoun.
For example, "I made myself a cup of tea" is correct, but not "My colleague and myself completed the report." Instead, "My colleague and I completed the report" would be correct. To ascertain correct usage, take the example of this sentence. “The manager thanked Sarah and ["me" or "I"]”. Remove Sarah from the sentence. Then you have "The manager thanked I" or "The manager thanked me." By now, it should be clearer which is more appropriate. "Me" is correct here. Therefore: "The manager thanked Sarah and me." This error often arises from overcorrection, so it is understandable if you’ve made this mistake.
The role of spelling and grammar in readability
Beyond avoiding errors, accurate spelling and grammar contributes to readability. This improves reader comprehension.
Consider the impact of frequent misspellings or grammatically incorrect sentences. They disrupt the reader's flow and can obscure your intended meaning. Correct spelling and grammar act as a framework that allows your message to be conveyed clearly and efficiently.
- Clarity of communication. Precise grammar ensures that your sentences are structured logically. This reduces ambiguity and the potential for confusion. A misplaced comma or an incorrect tense can alter the meaning of a sentence entirely.
- Professionalism and credibility. Attention to detail in spelling and grammar reflects a level of care and professionalism. Errors can detract from your credibility, suggesting a lack of thoroughness. Well-written communication conveys competence and authority.
- Reader engagement. When text is free of errors, readers can focus on the content rather than being distracted by mistakes. This leads to a more engaging and positive reading experience. Grammatical errors can create a jarring effect, hindering the reader's connection with the material.
- Preventing misunderstandings. Inaccurate grammar can lead to significant misunderstandings. Particularly in formal or critical communications. Clear and grammatically sound writing minimises this risk. It ensures that your message is received as intended.
Building writer confidence. A strong command of spelling and grammar fosters confidence in your writing abilities. Knowing that your work is accurate allows you to communicate your ideas more effectively and without hesitation.
While meticulous attention to spelling and grammar might seem like a minor concern to some, it plays a vital role in the clarity, professionalism, and overall effectiveness of your written communication. By prioritising accuracy, you enhance readability and ensure that your message is conveyed with precision.
Use Readable for better spelling and grammar
Readable provides insights into your spelling and grammar. Beyond flagging mistakes, we also highlight any inconsistencies in your English usage. For instance, if you switch between spellings like ‘colour’ and ‘color’, we'll point out this variation. This is because such shifts can be noticeable to your audience.
Although Google does not necessarily penalise spelling and grammar as far as your SEO is concerned, it indirectly impacts it. This is because using polished spelling and grammar boosts your website’s authority. A better first impression on your audience makes them less likely to click away.
We've got a full range of free grammar resources.
Check out our full list of features in our unrivalled readability scoring.
