Common errors - Writers Forum

Olly Buckle · 03-30-2008, 10:39 AM

There are certain errors that crop up time and again, not always with the same writers, it is not quite that bad. Here are a couple I have noticed. I expect other people can add to the list.

To, too and (less frequently) two get confused
To goes with a verb, a doing word.
Too is too, as well, also
Two is the number
So:_ I am going to the dance , my brother is going too so that’s two of us going.
You can see the importance of getting it right. He is going too (as well). He is going to (he will), sometimes the context doesn’t show the meaning

Your and you’re
This is nearly always people using your for you’re, I don’t think I have ever seen it the other way round.
Your means belonging to you
You’re is a contraction of you are (that little ‘ can show that something belongs or some letters are missing)
Is that your one or John’s? You’re sure of that?
The positioning of that little ‘ can vary if it is possessive eg. St Thomas’ hospital where they fixed my broken leg, not as you might expect St Thomas’s.

NightOwl · 03-30-2008, 11:01 AM

The most common one I notice is its and it's:

it's - a contraction of it is (or it has)
its - belonging to it

eg. It's been a while since I cleaned my car. It's filthy: mud all over its bonnet.
This is an exception to the rule about an apostrophe being used to denote a possessive.

When I was doing my English degree, on 3 or 4 occasions, the lecturers began with a lesson on the use of 'its' and 'it's' because they had been reading essays the night before that repeatedly used them incorrectly!

Necromortis · 03-30-2008, 11:35 AM

Olly, you forgot to mention that 'too' can also denote an excess quantity - as in 'I have too much soda in my fridge, I'm going to donate it to a local school.'

~Christian

JosephB · 03-30-2008, 12:03 PM

I know better, yet I continue to make these mistakes. Until I print something and start applying red ink, they are invisible to me.

There are words I misspell, letters I transpose -- over and over. There are other things I do repeatedly, like leave off tags in dialog. And I'm a horrible speller in general.

I just see what I think should be there, not what is there. It just takes extra effort on my part to catch these errors. But I do it, because I hate it when someone else does. It's embarrassing to me.

Ilasir Maroa · 03-30-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightOwl

The most common one I notice is its and it's:

it's - a contraction of it is (or it has)
its - belonging to it

eg. It's been a while since I cleaned my car. It's filthy: mud all over its bonnet.
This is an exception to the rule about an apostrophe being used to denote a possessive.

It may seem like an exception, but really, it's following an entirely different system all together. As a pronoun, the gentive/possessive is denoted through inflection.

Her- hers
Him- his
It- its
You- your
Me- my
Us- our
Them- their

So rather than an exception, it's a rule.

omginternetlord · 03-30-2008, 12:52 PM

How is "to" a verb?

I am going to the park.

I am going to eat.

It's a preposition.

to - Definitions from Dictionary.com

NightOwl · 03-30-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilasir Maroa

It may seem like an exception, but really, it's following an entirely different system all together. As a pronoun, the gentive/possessive is denoted through inflection.

Her- hers
Him- his
It- its
You- your
Me- my
Us- our
Them- their

So rather than an exception, it's a rule.

Good point! Well done for spotting the deliberate mistake! (*cough*

)

I think people often want to put an apostrophe there because it is the only case where you add an s to a pronoun to denote ownership when it is followed by a noun, as you would with a name, eg. John's thing. (With 'her' you add an s, but you would say 'her thing' or 'the thing is hers', not 'hers thing'.)

It helps me to think of it as an exception, but you are right that technically it isn't.

Olly Buckle · 03-30-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omginternetlord

How is "to" a verb?

I am going to the park.

I am going to eat.

It's a preposition.

to - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Another common error is making a fool of myself when pontificating, Qwerty man may remember tel and tell or how I spelled qwerty.
Or as they seem to say round here
Oops

RomanticRose · 03-30-2008, 06:14 PM

*There -- indicating location
*Their -- indicating ownership
* They're -- contraction for 'they are"

They're driving their car over there.

Ilasir Maroa · 03-30-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omginternetlord

How is "to" a verb?

I am going to the park.

I am going to eat.

It's a preposition.

to - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Olly never said it was a verb, or that it wasn't a preposition, so your whole argument is baseless.

Olly- don't be so quick to give in.

omginternetlord · 03-31-2008, 06:57 AM

He edited his post...

Olly Buckle · 03-31-2008, 04:53 PM

Thank you for leaping to my defense, Ilasir, but it is true, I edited it out, must not leave errors standing once they are pointed out.

Sam Winchester · 03-31-2008, 05:04 PM

I feel it is my duty, then, to point out another error to you, Olly. When talking to someone and you say their name, a comma goes before it.

i.e. - How are you doing, Olly?

This is to differentiate from stuff like this: We know Sam is going to be there.

Do you see the difference? It avoids confusion.

Sam.

The Backward OX · 03-31-2008, 07:27 PM

(no comma)How am I doing Olly? There's one or two mind-boggling and globe-encircling replies that might fit, but then I'm not a wooftah.

And if I knew Sam was going to be there - sheesh, include me out.

Swamp Thing · 03-31-2008, 10:16 PM

I would love for you, Olly, to tell me how I should use numbers and letters in stories.

For instance - The pier cut an L into the marsh.

and - there were 7 of them on the lake.

Help or point in the direction. This is my big weakness.

Thanks