12 regular grammatical errors that are the worst nightmares of any grammar nazi
1. Reply – Revert
Reply: say something in response to something someone has said.
Revert: return to (a previous state, practice, topic, etc.)
Yes, people! Reply and revert are completely different things. You just cannot “revert” to a mail. You have to “reply” to a mail. Though you can “revert” to not being a chain smoker!
2. Beside – Besides
Beside: at the side of; next to.
Besides: in addition to; apart from.
“Sit beside me, I’ll tell you the difference between beside and besides; besides, we can have a coffee later.” ;)Source
3. The “looking forward to” mishap!
We can use either to + verb (“I like to sing”) or verb + -ing. (“I like singing”).
Whereas, it should be “I’m looking forward to hearing from you”, and not “I’m looking forward to hear you.” This is because the ‘to’ in ‘looking forward to’ is a preposition. We use –ing after both the preposition to and other prepositions such as in, on, for and so on.
4. Lay – Lie
Lay: put (something) down gently or carefully.
Lie: (of a person or animal) be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface.
“You can lay down the mattress while lying on your floor.”
5. Intimate – Intimation
Intimate: closely acquainted; familiar.
Intimation: an indication or hint.
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but no, ‘intimation’ isn’t the noun form for ‘intimate’, ‘intimacy’ is!
“You guys are intimate, so you should be the one to give an intimation to him.” :D
6. In – Into
In: expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.
Into: expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.
To put it simply, “Be nice in your school, or else you’ll end up into trouble!”
7. Your – You’re
Your: belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
You’re: You are
See? It’s totally different! One should simply never misplace these two. “It’s all about knowing your mess and you’re a mess!”
8. There – Their – They’re
There: in, at, or to that place or position.
Their: belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
They’re: They are.
Seriously, people, it’s no rocket science. “They’re leaving for their home early as there is a massive traffic.”
9. Then – Than
Then: at that time; at the time in question.
Than: introducing the second element in a comparison.
“And then there was a brief silence between them, deeper than the seas.”
See? These things make a huge difference.
10. Effect – Affect
Effect: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
Affect: have an effect on; make a difference to.
Normally, affect is a verb and effect is a noun. “The effect of your stupidity does not affect me!”
11. Its – It’s
Its: belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
It’s: It is.
Trust me, there could be nothing as irritating as a misuse of these two. “It’s so evident, its battery life is much more than yours.”
And in its remembrance, I’m off to eat a chocolate.
12. Loose – Lose
Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached.
Lose: be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something).
You do not loose your weight, and you do not wear lose pants.
Got any other grammatically unacceptable mistakes which people make, apart from “mah lyff, mah rullez, i m kewl n so r mah frendzz”? Let us know in the comments section below!