by Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia

Created on: April 10, 2010   Last Updated: September 04, 2011

It happens all too often. I'll be reading an article or a story and see a glaring grammatical error or a word used incorrectly. Nothing destroys a composition as quickly as an interruption in word flow caused by a mistaken word choice.

By far, the most common blunders I see being committed involve homophones. Just because words sound alike does not make them interchangeable.

There, they're, and their sound similar when spoken but have completely different meanings and uses. They cannot replace each other.

"There" denotes a location, as in the phrase "here, there, and everywhere."

"They're" is a contraction for "they are."

"Their" is a possessive pronoun, in a group with her, our, and your.

Similarly, you're and your are frequently the subject of confusion.

"Your," as stated above, is a possessive pronoun. Note that, with the removal of the letter y, you are left with the word "our;" this can serve as a handy reminder of which word to use when writing.

"You're" is a contraction for "you are." Note that 're replaces the word "are" in such cases as "they're" and "you're."

"Then" and "than" sound similar to some, and so have been used in place of each other with disturbing frequency. A simple way to remember which to use is to ask yourself if you're referring to a time, as in: When? Then. Than is used when comparing things, as in the phrases "greater than," "less than," or "other than."

Some use the word whom when who should be used. The simplest way to remember which to use, without being too pedantic, is to ask yourself how you would respond to the question you are asking.

For example, you would ask who is next in line, not whom. The reply would be that he/she/they is/are next in line.

Alternately, when asking to whom someone delivered a package, you would respond that you gave the package to him/her/them.

Another lapse in word choice involves a writer being uncertain or mistaken about the actual definition of a word.

Some words may sound like they'd have a particular meaning, but could mean something completely different. Keeping a dictionary and a thesaurus handy can help dispel such misconceptions.

Then there is the gaffe of using the wrong word within a phrase. Such missteps can completely change the meaning of the phrase.

Take, for example, "I could care less." If you could care less, this means you do care.

If you don't care at all, then you couldn't care less. It would be impossible for you to care any less than you do at that moment.

Do you see the difference?

The correct use and definitions for words and phrases is a skill that doesn't take very long to learn. Improving grammar and properly enunciating words when speaking can help the way you are perceived, especially in professional situations.

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