What's the most annoying common grammar error, and why is it using apostrophes to pluralize words?

[BamaGuy44]

My absolute #1 pet peeve (among many LOL) is using apostrophes to pluralize words. I mean word's. I mean, why? And almost 100% of the time there will be other plural words in the same post/email without the apostrophe. I know people make mistakes, including me. But it breaks my brain wondering how someone decides to put it in some words and not others. Bizarre, amirite?

 

[Christine]

I agree!

 

[tvguy]

Technically punctuation not grammar, but there have been many posts recently that you no longer need to indent the first sentence of a new paragraph. YES YOU DO!

 

[Mle8308]

Using "your" instead of "you're". Drives me nuts!

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I have a few! People saying "I seen" is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Also, saying "would of/should of/could of" and the whole mix-up of your/you're and there/their/they're.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This one is very narrow, but I can't stand when people say "cache" when they mean "cachet."

 

[Jennasis]

Should of, could of, would of.

 

[Kennywood]

Don't make me flash my badge! Lol

 

[disney-inspired]

Not grammar but spelling - when people write 'loose' instead of 'lose'.

 

[sam_gordon]

Should of, could of, would of.

This is probably one of the most common. As well as the "they're, there, their", and "loose & lose"

 

[BrianL]

Not grammar but spelling - when people write 'loose' instead of 'lose'.

Only real loosers do that.

 

[lukemorenus]

"suppose to"

 

[bjscheel]

Kind of a niche peeve, but having been on a number of prom swaps, very surprised at how many people say "sequence" instead of "sequins". Even an actual bridal shop.

 

[Kennywood]

Seriously though, I tend to keep my grammar opinions to myself. Oh, I judge, but I won't say anything.

What truly makes me sad, though, is to read emails and memos from corporate executives. Long gone are the days when a secretary would catch any mistakes before something was sent. Nowadays, executives will send out things themselves. I cringe when I see the obvious grammar and spelling mistakes. These are people representing their company.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Borrow and lend

 

[BamaGuy44]

Seriously though, I tend to keep my grammar opinions to myself. Oh, I judge, but I won't say anything.

What truly makes me sad, though, is to read emails and memos from corporate executives. Long gone are the days when a secretary would catch any mistakes before something was sent. Nowadays, executives will send out things themselves. I cringe when I see the obvious grammar and spelling mistakes. These are people representing their company.

It's amazing to me how many really smart people are terrible with spelling and basic grammar. I think it just has to do with how our brains are wired. We all learned the same stuff, but some peoples' brains are just wired to notice things others don't. That's my super scientific theory.

 

[Mysterian]

Keep in mind, if someone’s typing too quickly on a tablet or phone, autocorrect or misplaced fingers garble things up quickly. I typically post via keyboard but today I’m on iPad and it’s frustrating. Revise revise revise!

 

[BamaGuy44]

Keep in mind, if someone’s typing too quickly on a tablet or phone, autocorrect or misplaced fingers garble things up quickly. I typically post via keyboard but today I’m on iPad and it’s frustrating. Revise revise revise!

I always try to make allowances for that when I'm silently judging people To look at my IM messages and texts, you'd think I can't spell at all. Because I'm a terrible and careless typist lol

But some things, like the dreaded apostrophe abuse, are definitely conscious choices.

 

[prairie_girl]

My new #1 is when someone pluralizes the word I. On these very boards I have seen someone write ‘my husband and I’s anniversary’.

 

[mrodgers]

Only real loosers do that.

You have to have some lose nuts and bolts rattling around in the head to think that.

That was surprisingly difficult to type. I typed and had to delete "loose" twice to fix it to make it wrong, LOL.