What To Do About SAYING ITS, IT’S, YOUR, and YOU’RE

2010 January 13
by Tim Mallon

What is our world coming to when we cannot get the basics of language? What is happening to the edumacation system in America? All around us we hear “your”, when it should be “you’re” and “its”, when it should be “it’s”. This epidemic is overtaking co-workers, neighbors, friends, and even family… family I tell you!!

Now, now. I realize many a mistake is made as you just happen to be typing fast and not paying attention to what you are typing. You are texting while driving and a stray “your” gets sent, when it should have been “you’re”. What’s that? You’re not sure when to use “you’re” or “your”? If you are able to read this right now then you’re well able to get it… and if not, then you are killing me.

It’s not so much a matter of seeing it, as it is a matter of saying it. It’s nice to pronounce contractions in your mind or read out loud in your mind. Do you ever do that? Read out loud in your mind? It’s like you are reading out loud, but you are not reading out loud… but in your mind you are reading out loud. If you practice, it’s its own therapy for your contraction ills. Did you like that last one? I thought so.

Well, I hope you’re on your way to a better understanding of when to say “its”, “it’s”, “your” and “you’re”. It’s high time I go now because Cari made us homemade pumpkin bread and its aroma is intoxicating.

Inspiration for this inspirational message was provided by Shanna at Food Loves Writing… and supposedly her co-worker as well.

from → Blogging, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous

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  • Thank you. Just... thank you.
  • Shelbyville
    So funny that you would write this article because Terry used your, in the wrong context, in a comment to me, and I was going to correct him but I stopped myself. What about their, there, and they're; that can be a problem too.
  • How's this? Shelby, you are killing me!...
  • ha... well played Terry, well played
  • Shelbyville
    You're still a good person, and we all still love you.
  • I noticed that : ). I thought about "their, there, and they're"... but told myself to k.i.s.s.
  • rdamstra
    Now, now. I realize many a mistake is made as you just happen to be typing fast and not paying attention to what you are typing. You are texting while driving and a stray “your” gets sent, when it should have been “you’re”. What’s that? You’re not sure when to use “you’re” or “your”?

    I'm not sure I get it. Do you understand and think it is excusable to make the mistake while typing fast, or do you think this kind of spelling mistake is inexcusable?
  • Well. First, I am just making the observation that many times we are texting or typing in a hurry and do not proofread to make sure we are texting or typing correctly. Sure I think we have to bear with each other in our spelling and grammar errors. If we wouldn't, then we wouldn't be very nice or fun people to be around now would we? But we are.

    Second, of course it is not excusable. There are no excuses!! Get it right. But. If you don't we will live with you in an understanding, sympathetic, and graceful way.

    Capisce? : )
  • rdamstra
    Ok, I understand that the correct usage of your and you're, etc., is useful but I must add that I think the whole Strunk & White militaristic stance, the NO EXCUSES! and the fact that people often condemn others of BAD GRAMMAR without knowing the ins and outs of the study of grammar--making people who are just speaking and writing the way they know how to feel bad is well... not good. I recommend the descriptivist language blog www.languagehat.com
  • rdamstra
    Oh, and the blog Language Log. Also very good. http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/

    (Also, I hope you don't take any offense to what I'm saying. I'm certain that you are very understanding of others... just puttin' my two cents in.) :)
  • Ha. Oh, I don't take offense to what you are saying at all... in fact... I am cracking up over here. I don't want to tell you... but I should tell you... that I am just teasing. It's a lot of tongue-in-cheek over here.
  • rdamstra
    Oh jeez. My fiance tells me I shouldn't open my mouth on the interwebs because I am The. Most. Gullible. person in the world. :)

    Can't tell you how many times I've gotten into a tizzy over a joke!
  • Haha... well then it's a good thing you have him : )
  • LOL. Nicely done.
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