Fixing Common Grammar Mistakes: Homophones and More

The English language is filled with homonyms, homophones and other confusing parts of speech. Learning to use English properly is something that does not always happen in school.

Unfortunately, I am one of those people that notices spelling and grammar errors to a fault. I try not to let them bother me, but grammar errors can be distracting at times and even take away from a point a writer is trying to make. I have settled on a few common grammar mistakes and focused on trying to rid the world of them without being abrasive or seeming like a know-it-all. This article is one attempt.

Two, to, and too. Simply enough, two is a number and is used for nothing else. 'To' is a preposition and indicates directionality. I go to the store. I try to improve. 'Too' means in addition or also. I love that too. There are too many grammar mistakes.

Their, there, they're. I was at a bookstore and above one of the shelves was a sign, on which was written 'get them while there hot.' Some grammar guru as annoyed as I was had gotten a pen out, crossed out the offending 'there' and replaced it with 'their.' Finally, someone who was probably as amused by that irony as I was crossed out 'their' and replaced it properly, with they're. 'Their' indicates possession. Their books are heavy. I am going to see their play. 'There' refers to a place. I would rather go there. Driving there takes a long time. 'They're' is a contraction of the two words they are, so this word is used to replace 'they are.' They're a nice couple. Get them while they're hot.

Loose and lose. 'Loose' refers to something that is not tight. 'Lose' is a verb and is what happens when you no longer have something that you once did. When you lose weight, your jeans become loose.

Your and you're. 'Your' indicates possession. This is your book. Your tie is ugly. 'You're' is a contraction of the two words you and are. You're funny.

Through and threw. 'Threw' is a verb, and is used when referring to something projected away. 'Through' indicates where something goes. He threw the ball through the window. People do not go threw a crisis, they go through it.