Grammar Peeves: Tips for Keeping it Clean

Like with many writers, language and grammar are important to me, but that doesn't make me an expert. I try to keep my writing free of errors, even when taking a casual tone or while using social media, but I've caught my own carelessness plenty of times. Here are a few commonly misused words, along with some general tips for remembering how to avoid future mistakes:

1. Affect and effect. 
Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun. 

If you can use "the" in front of the word you're trying to use, you probably mean to use the noun, "effect". If this is troublesome for you, think of "the sound effect", which is a noun.

2. Lay and lie. 
Lay is the action of putting something down. Lie is the action of reclining.

This is a tricky one! I keep in mind that chickens lay eggs, so I can't lay down unless I'm laying down an egg, or some other object. Translate that to all the conjugations, and you'll think twice about saying that something is laying on the floor. Unless it's laying eggs.

3. Passed and past.
Passed is a conjugation of the verb pass. Past relates to a period of time that has already happened, or sometimes a location beyond a defined point.

"Past" can be a noun, adjective, adverb, or preposition. Because "passed" is generally used as a verb, the simplest way to check your usage is to see if your sentence still makes sense using a different verb tense.

-She passed/past a finely dressed gentleman. (Switch test: She passes a finely dressed gentleman. Passed is correct!)
-She brushed passed/past a finely dressed gentleman. (Switch test: She brushed passes a finely dressed gentleman--huh? Passing doesn't work, so it must not be "passed".)

4. Should've and should of.
Should've is the contraction for "should have". Should of is just plain wrong.

Moving on...


5. Then and than.
Then is used in reference to time. Than is used to compare.

There are a lot of ways to use "then", but the word "than" is pretty much only used for comparison. One quick way to check if you're using the wrong word is to check if you're comparing anything; if you aren't, you know you should be using "then".

Flash Round: Mistakes I Make That Leave Me

Gnashing My Teeth Because I Do Know the Difference!

Its and it's

Your and you're

Too, to, and two

Their, they're, and there

What are your worst grammar peeves? Are there grammar mistakes that leave you gnashing your teeth at the offender--even if it's yourself?

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Diana Paz is the author of TWISTS OF FATE (Rhemalda Publishing, April 2013). She writes books for teens about magic, adventure, and romance. Born in Costa Rica, Diana grew up on Miami Beach, moved to Los Angeles in high school, and went to college in San Diego. Basically, she’s a beach bum. Diana graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She loves thunderstorms, warm chocolate chip cookies, and reading a good book. Preferably at the same time. Find her at her blog:dianapazwrites.blogspot.com or on Twitter @dianapazwrites