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10 silly grammar mistakes smart people

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May 11, 2017 09:51 IST
Think you are a grammar whiz?
Then you should not be making these silly mistakes, says Anita Aikara.

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Even the best can make silly mistakes when it comes to grammar.
Microsoft recently revealed a list of the silliest grammar mistakes people make. The list was Why Iyer wasn't
thinking about his
complied using the data from millions of its subscribers using Microsoft Word, Outlook or both. century...
Wonder what these mistakes are? Read on...

1. Too many blank spaces between words

Why did 25 CRPF
This is a mistake that most of us commit almost every day! Especially when you are typing in a jawans die in
hurry. Sukma?

At times, we are in such a hurry to send off important e-mails that we don't bother to check for
the blank spaces left between words.
Can brisk walking
2. Missing commas help you lose
weight?
Did you know that missing a comma can actually change the meaning of a sentence?

A lifestyle magazine carried this headline and people were flabbergasted: Rachael Ray finds
inspiration in cooking her family and her dog.
Champions
League: Real
Now let's see how punctuation can change the meaning of this sentence. survive Atletico
onslaught to reach
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11/05/2017 10 silly grammar mistakes smart people make! - Rediff.com Get Ahead
Rachael Ray finds inspiration in cooking, her family and her dog. onslaught to reach
final
English Quiz: How comma-savvy are you?

3. Missing a comma after an introductory phrase

Introductory phrases are first of all, in order to, in other words, not to mention, to say the least, 'It is done, and I'll
be fine'
etc.

Often, people miss using commas after an introductory phrase.

Example: First of all children should obey their parents.

Woman killed in
The correct way: First of all, children should obey their parents. Pakistani shelling
in Rajouri
4. Missing hyphens

People get extremely confused when it comes to using hyphens.

Wrong:
Stars spotted! What's this?

Three year old son Spotted: Suriya in Chennai

Reader J Venkatesan sends us a
A year and a half ago photograph.
More stars spotted
Girl next door
Met a celebrity?
Email us photos & videos
Correct:

Three-year-old son
A year-and-a-half ago
Girl-next-door

5. Incorrect subject-verb agreement

Read this sentence: The dogs eats well.

It is important to use the singular verb with the singular subject and plural verb with plural
subjects.

Correct: The dogs eat well.

English learners often make mistakes in forming plurals.

'Can you give me some informations about the course?'

'Information' is an uncountable noun and hence, doesn't have a plural form.

Correct: 'Can you give me some information about the course?'

10 English mistakes Indians make

6. Incorrect use of capital letters

Capital letters should be used sparingly and wisely.

Wrong: I was to leave for Delhi tomorrow, But the plan got cancelled.
Correct: I was to leave for Delhi tomorrow, but the plan got cancelled.

Wrong: The people were yelling anti-National slogans.

Correct: The people were yelling anti-national slogans.

7. Mixing up commas (and apostrophes)

The most common mistake that people make is mixing up it's and its.

Wrong: Its a big school.

Correct: It's a big school.

People get confused on where they should be placing the comma.

Wrong: Her sisters son goes to college.

Correct: Her sister's son goes to college.

Quiz: Mind your apostrophes

8. Incorrect agreement with noun phrases

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11/05/2017 10 silly grammar mistakes smart people make! - Rediff.com Get Ahead
Read this sentence: Ashish is working for the blinds.

Words like blind are always plural.

Then the correct way of saying it is: Ashish is working for the blind.

Wrong: My mother bought two dozens apples.

Correct: My mother bought two dozen apples.

Wrong: We need to help the poors.

Correct: We need to help the poor.

9. Commonly confused words

It's easy to get confused when using similar sounding words.

Do you know the difference between 'their', 'there' and 'they're?

Although they sound similar, each of these words has a different meaning and usage in a
sentence.

Examples:

Breathe and breath

Lose and loose
Their and there
Hear and here

Wrong: The children could sea the see from there bedroom.
Correct: The children could see the sea from their bedroom.

Take the Spelling Quiz!

10. Incorrect verbs

People often get confused between sit and sat, eat and ate, etc.

Wrong: I sit down.

Correct: I sat down.

Wrong: I eat lunch.

Correct: I ate lunch.

Lead photograph: A scene from The Parent Trap. Published only for
representational purposes.

Anita Aikara / Rediff.com

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