How to Write With Correct Grammar

Let's face it. Standard English can be a challenge to write whether you are new to the language or grew up in the U.S. Here are some commonly misused words and grammar rules to remember them by.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lay or Lie? This is one of the greatest correct grammar challenges whether in writing or speech. The general rule that fits a vast majority of uses for these words is: People lie. Objects lay. You say, "I am going to lie down." You lay a book down. The common prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." is correct because the speaker is going to lay him/herself down like you would lay down an object. However, it is not common for us to say, "I'm going to lay myself down". Therefore, the correct word is "lie" when referring to ourselves or other people.

2. Its or It's? Many people use the apostrophe ( ' ) when they spell this word. Most often that is not the correct grammar. The only time you use "it's" is when you are writing the contraction for "it is". Otherwise, you spell, "its". "He said it's going to be a great day."

3. Your or You're? Most of the time I see people write "your" when they should have used "you're". To decide which one is the correct grammar, reread your sentence. If you are saying "you are", then you spell "you're". "You're my best friend" =You are my best friend. "I am your friend" is correct because you are not saying, "I'm you are friend." Here are more examples: "Yours truly." "You're (You are) the best." "This is brought to you by your (not you are) local artists."

4. Their or They're? This follows the same correct grammar rule as Your and You're. Reread your sentence. If you used the word, "They're" then read it as if you were writing "They are." "They're (they are) the only ones who received my email." If your sentence doesn't make sense with the word, "are", use the word, "their": "It is their choice to stay home."

5. You and I or You and me? To decide whether to write "I" or "me", reread your sentence without the pronoun (ex. he, she, you) or the person's name. For instance, "You and I are going to the store." Reread it without the pronoun, "You"----"I are (or am) going to the store" makes more sense than "Me am going to the store." ---Therefore, you would use the phrase, "You and I"--- Here's another correct grammar example using me: "Please give the pizza to Joe and me." Take out "Joe" Reread as "Please give the pizza to me."----- That makes more sense than, "Please give the pizza to I". Therefore, you would use, "Joe and me".

[ctgenie99]

on 2/5/2009 Very informative!