To all grammar sticklers out there

[tibicensilvae]

My father recently asked me to compile a list of the ten most egregious grammar errors. I've been working on my list, but I'm interested in soliciting your opinions. What errors bug you the most? Split infinitives? Improper punctuation? Misuse of the apostrophe? Whatever makes your blood boil, let me know! Vent your frustrations!

Comments

[avmaster429]

I hate when people mess up their, there, and they're. Good luck!

[tibicensilvae]

Oooh good one! Thanks!

[sherbear419]

Oooh, fun. I totally agree with April, but I'll come up with one of my own and get back to you.

[minibab]

1. "Where's it AT?"
2. misuse of the word "itch." Unbeknownst to many, it is NOT a transitive verb. (e.g. "it itches me." WRONG!)
3. She don't/he don't....
4. omission of the apostrophe. My mom says that some think it's been outlawed.
5. "eachother" as each other, and "highschool" as high school
6. internet lingo in formal writing.

That is compiled from my mother and me. :) She also said, "I don't even want to think about it because they're all such assholes!" Can you tell she's a disgruntled English teacher? :P

[tibicensilvae]

Good ideas! 4 was the only one that I currently have on my list (it actually made #1 because when I started the list I'd recently seen bathroom signs that read "mens" and "womens" and I died a little). #6 is a huge pet peeve of mine. I've actually heard of (but fortunately never experienced) students putting emoticons in formal academic papers. I've been waiting about 5 years "Where's it at?" to go out of style. Alas, it survives. The misuse of "itch" has actually been bugging me since I was in first or second grade. Apparently grammar obsession begins at a young age . . .

Thanks for the help!

[dreamthrumusic]

my sister is even more annoyed about grammatical errors than i am, so i have answers from both me and her. :-)

me:
- their/they're/there, your/you're
- continuing to use a comma when the sentence just needs to end
- using comma when one isn't necessary
- when people miss the comma before quotation marks. (i.e. "Charles said, "Why do you use commas like that?")
- a lot - use a space!

my sister:
- using apostrophes for plural words (i.e. city's for cities)
- spelling "definitely" wrong
- in US, rule for commas before and is: "I'm buying milk, eggs, and cereal." Put a comma before "and"!
- overall comma rules
- effect/affect - there's a clear difference: learn it!

thanks for this - it was fun to vent! :-)