The deeper explanation: The reason people confuse these is not ignorance — it is speed. When we type quickly, our fingers go on autopilot. The brain processes meaning, not spelling.
Every time you write you're, say the words "you are" in your head and replace it. If the sentence still makes sense, it is correct.
That tiny mental pause will save you from embarrassment every time.
Three words. Same sound. Three completely different meanings.
There contains the word here — both are about place. · Their contains heir — both show belonging. · They're has an apostrophe — always say "they are" and check.
Write these three keys on a sticky note. Within two weeks, you will never confuse them again.
Apostrophes cause more arguments than almost any other punctuation mark. People put them everywhere — especially where they do not belong.
This third use is one most grammar books forget to mention — but it matters greatly in academic and professional writing. When writing the plural of a single letter, number or abbreviation, the apostrophe prevents confusion:
However, modern style guides are divided. Some now accept As, 9s, PhDs without apostrophes. The safest rule: when leaving out the apostrophe causes confusion, keep it in.
Apostrophes never — ever — make an ordinary word plural.
The confusion with its and it's deserves special attention:
If in doubt, say "it is" out loud. If it sounds right, use the apostrophe. If it sounds wrong, leave it out.
"Me and John went to the market." — You have heard this. You may have said it. It feels natural because in conversation, we always mention ourselves first. But grammatically, it is incorrect.
Remove the other person and read it aloud. "Me went to the market" sounds wrong. "I went to the market" sounds right. So it must be: "John and I went to the market."
In correct English, you mention yourself last — not first. It is considered both grammatically accurate and polite.
"10 items or less" — this is on supermarket signs everywhere. And every time, it should say "10 items or fewer."
If you can put a number in front of it, use fewer. You can say "three students" — so it is "fewer students." You cannot say "three patience" — so it is "less patience."
A dangling modifier is a describing phrase attached to the wrong subject. The result can be absurd.
Read your sentences aloud. If something sounds unintentionally funny, a dangling modifier is usually the culprit.
"Very" is a lazy word. It tells the reader something is more than it seems — but does not show them. In good writing, showing always beats telling.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Very tired | Exhausted |
| Very happy | Delighted |
| Very cold | Freezing |
| Very angry | Furious |
| Very big | Enormous |
Find the stronger, more precise word. The writing will immediately feel more confident and more intelligent.
Remember — Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun. Say it three times. RAVEN. RAVEN. RAVEN.
A run-on sentence happens when two complete sentences are joined with no proper punctuation — just a comma or nothing at all — the result is a breathless, confusing rush of words that exhausts the reader and loses the meaning somewhere along the way.
Did you notice what just happened? That paragraph above was a run-on sentence.
Short sentences are powerful. Do not be afraid of them.
Passive voice is not wrong — scientists use it constantly. But in everyday writing, active voice makes your words come alive.
If you can add "by zombies" to the end of your sentence and it makes sense, you have written a passive sentence. "The letter was written... by zombies" ✅ Passive. "Sarah wrote the letter... by zombies" ❌ Active.
Nobody becomes a good writer by memorising rules. Good writers read widely, write often, and care about their words.
These ten mistakes are not signs of poor intelligence. They are signs of a writer who has not yet been shown a better way. That changes today.
The next step is yours.
10 questions. Select one answer for each question, then submit to see your score. You can retake the quiz at any time.