Your or you’re?

One of the most common problems in the English language is the use of contractions. They are supposed to make life a little easier, but it seems that they don’t do much more than confuse. The case of your vs. you’re is a classic example.

I have said that the easiest way for me to remember the difference between two similar words is to focus on the meaning and use of one. If it’s not the one, then it must be the other. I’ll give you the meaning and use of both, and try to emphasize one to help you remember.

“Your” is possessive. When I use the word, I’m talking about something that belongs to you, or an attribute of you.

Example: Your cat is a beautiful calico.

“You’re” is a contraction. They say repetition is the key to memory: YOU’RE IS A CONTRACTION. That means we’re being lazy. We’ve dropped the letter “a” from the phrase “you are” and replaced it with an apostrophe.

Example: You’re going to need to buy me a new paper to replace the one your cat has destroyed.

See how “you’re”=”you are”? See also the difference between the two words in the same sentence? When I need to remember which word to use, I always say “you-apostrophe-r-e=you are.”

A note about “you’re”: Contractions (combining two words by dropping a letter or two and using an apostrophe) are always considered informal. If you are writing a paper for school (especially for English or certain non-writing teachers!), NEVER use contractions. It’s safer that way. Some writing teachers allow contractions occasionally because of the stated audience for the assignment.

Final tip: when in doubt, spell it out. You can’t spell out “your” because it is the whole possessive word. You can spell out “you’re” because you can write “you are” instead. If you spell it out, you’ll never go wrong.

“Your” is possessive. “You’re” is a contraction.

Its or It’s?

The difference between “its” and “it’s” is very important, but it can be hard to remember. Luckily for you, this diction problem is a pet peeve of mine. If you still have a question when you’re finished reading this post, I need to find a new hobby.

“It” is an impersonal pronoun for a thing. It is very useful when referring to the same thing multiple times in a short period. But what about when we’re talking about something that belongs to it? That’s when we use “its.”

Example: “It” is an over-ripe banana. I could say that “it is smelly,” or I could say “its atrocious smell is attracting rodents.”

“It’s” is always a contraction. Let me repeat that: “IT’S” IS ALWAYS A CONTRACTION. In other words, “it’s”=”it is.” Remember that the apostrophe is often used to represent a letter that has been dropped. To form this contraction, we’re dropping the extra “i.”

Example: Same over-ripe banana. I could say “It is going to become either banana bread or compost very soon,” or I could say “It’s going to become either banana bread or compost very soon.”

Note about “it’s”: Contractions (combining two words by dropping a letter or two and using an apostrophe) are always considered informal. If you are writing a paper for school (especially for English or certain non-writing teachers!), NEVER use contractions. It’s safer that way. Some writing teachers allow contractions occasionally because of the stated audience for the assignment.

How do I always figure out which to use? When I come to the word, I say “i-t-apostrophe-s=it is.” If I’m looking for “it is,” I use “it’s.” If I’m looking for the possessive form, I use “its.” I find it’s always easier to remember the difference between two similar words if you focus on the meaning and use of only one. If it’s not the one, then it must be the other.

Final tip: when in doubt, spell it out. You can’t spell out “its” because that’s the whole possessive word. You can spell out “it’s,” though, because you can write “it is” instead. If you spell it out, you can’t go wrong.

It is a pronoun. Its purpose is to reduce redundancy. It’s very common. And “it’s” is always a contraction.

When to use a colon

The colon is a very useful punctuation mark. It most often is used to replace the word “because.” In technical terms, the colon is used between independent clauses when the second is an explanation for the first. (A clause is a group of words that belong together; an independent clause is a group of words that have a subject and a verb.)

Example: “The colon is one of my favorite English tools: it helps keep my word count down and it organizes my thoughts.” Instead of ”The colon is one of my favorite English tools because it helps keep my word count down and it organizes my thoughts.”

The colon may be used to introduce a list. While it is not necessary to use a colon before a list, it often helps to make the list stand out. Make sure you never use a colon directly after a verb or preposition.

Bad Example: “A few of my favorite things are: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens.”

Better Example: “These are a few of my favorite things: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens.”

Sometimes the colon is used to formally introduce a statement or quote. More often these things are introduced with a simple “said,” (So-n-so said, “blah, blah, blah”). But sometimes formal writing requires a colon.

Example: “Benjamin Franklin once made this statement: ‘A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.’”

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

When to use a semicolon

The semicolon should be one of the strongest punctuation marks in the English language. It may just be my Grammarian Opinion, of course, but I think the semicolon is the least understood mark of all. What is the purpose of this cool little sign? When is it needed and when is it in the way? To understand the semicolon, you’ll need to understand independent clauses.

Hold the phone! “Independent clauses”?!? What is a clause? What’s an independent clause?? Why does English have to be so complicated?

To work our way backwards, English is complicated because it’s really an art and a skill. That, and it’s a rather old, rather widely used language with a fascinating history. An independent clause is a clause that could stand on its own: it has a subject and a verb. A clause is a group of words that belong together. There’s more to learn about clauses and independent clauses, but that’s another lesson.

The semicolon is most often used to join two independent clauses. All punctuation is a substitute for a small group of words that could get redundant and annoying if left unsubstituted. The semicolon is used to substitute coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet) and the comma before them.

Example: “Walking is great exercise; I can’t seem to hit the treadmill after a long day.” Instead of “Walking is great exercise for the heart, but I can’t seem to hit the treadmill after a long day.”

Another time you might use the semicolon is if your clauses (independent or not) have commas in them.

Example: “Some of the best exercises are easy and fun: walking, running, or biking; swimming, either in a pool or a pond; rowing a boat, or using a paddle boat; even walking the dog.”

One very important thing to remember: the semicolon is a strong, meaningful punctuation mark. If you are not sure whether you should use it, don’t. It has the potential to change the message you mean to give.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

The Reason is Because

The word “reason” has fallen victim to redundancy. When we say “the reason is” we are about to state the cause of something, right? When we start the explanation with “because,” we’re doing the same thing. In fact, Merriam Webster uses the word “reason” to define “because.” So why do we often start our explanations with “the reason is because”?

The reason is because (oops!) that someone along the way forgot the meaning of the words and felt it was necessary. And because everyone will pick up the verbal habits of the people they talk to, the redundancy spread across the English speakers like mosquitoes in stagnant water.

To avoid redundancy, stick to either “the reason is that” or “because.”

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

“And me” or “and I”?

When you’re making a list of people in a sentence, and you want to include yourself, do you say “and I” or “and me”? It depends. Here’s the easy way to figure it out: drop the other people.

Example

Sounds Bad: My husband’s favorite cooks are: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and I.

Drop the people: My husband’s favorite cooks are: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and [is:] I.

Sounds Better: My husband’s favorite cooks are: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and me. (or myself)

****

Sounds Bad: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and me are going out for coffee. (I wish!!)

Drop the people: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and me [is]are going out for coffee.

Sounds Better: Rachael Rae, Chef Ramsay, Paula Dean and I are going out for coffee.

****

Ps. About my list style note: here’s one time when it’s better to list the single-syllable word last. When you include yourself, list yourself last.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

Prepositions

Prepositions are little words that show the relation of two words. They’re the links in the chain-link fence. Example: When we go to Granny’s house, we go over the river and through the woods. But when we go home again, we go along the river and around the woods.

The English language sports well over 100 prepositions. Here are 48 of the most common ones:

aboard  |  about  |  above  |  across  |  after  |  against  |  along  |  amid  |  among
around  |  at | before  |  behind  |  below  |  beneath  |  beside  |  between
beyond  |  but  |  by | down  |  during | except | for  |  from | in  |  into | like | near
of  |  off  |  on  |  over | past | since | through  |  throughout  |  to | toward | under
underneath  |  until  |  unto  |  up  |  upon | with  |  within  |  without

The “i and e” rule

“I” before “E,” except after “C,” and when sounding like “A,” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.”

The Basic Grammar Terms

Sometimes we Grammarians speak a language all our own. Here is a quick translation for the most common terms:

noun: person, place or thing (sister, Sydney, plane)

verb: an action word (flew, visited, toured)

pronoun: a replacement for a noun (he, she, it)

adjective: a word that describes a noun (blond, hot, stuffy)

adverb: a word that describes a verb (quickly, happily, intently)

preposition: a word that shows the link between two words (to, toward, against)

conjunction: a word that joins words or ideas (and, but, or)

article: three specific adjectives. Also the most commonly used adjectives. (ONLY: a, an, the)

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

Ending Punctuation and Quotation Marks

Using ending punctuation with quotation marks can be very confusing. It can also be easily explained. There are four possible ending marks you can use with punctuation: the period, the ellipsis, the question mark, and the exclamation point. The first two ALWAYS go inside quotation marks. The last two SOMETIMES go inside quotation marks. Let me expound a bit.

ALWAYS INSIDE

The period always goes inside the quotation marks. It looks better that way. The period is so small and insecure that feels awkward just hanging out on its own. See “Yes.” looks better than “No”. Inside the quotation marks, the period is safe and secure. Outside, he looks like he might just fall off. A word of advice: “Don’t separate the poor period from his letters.”

The ellipsis always goes inside the  quotation marks. Consider the purpose of the ellipsis: to indicate missing sections of a quote. If the ellipsis belongs in a quote, it should never be outside the quote. One thing to remember: “If the ellipsis is at the end of the quote, there should be four dots….”

SOMETIMES INSIDE

The question mark and the exclamation point go inside the quotation marks only when they are part of the quote. These two punctuation marks are the party crashers, the emotional marks, the fair-weather friends. When they can be applied to the quote, they’ll jump right in. When they apply to the overall sentence, they prefer to stand out. If left inside, no further ending punctuation is needed.

Examples: Who said, “Punctuation is easy”? I’d say, “Punctuation is frustration!”

When you get to know your ending punctuation, you might say “I never knew punctuation could be so moody.” But then again, maybe you did know.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!