If you had to pick one grammar mistake that drives you up the wall when you see it, what would it be? I'll give you a few minutes to decide, but I already know what mine is. For me, it's when people misuse your and you're.
Honestly, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't see someone confuse the two in a business document, blog, website page, text message, social media post, etc.
Case in point, just before I typed this sentence, a good friend of mine who shall remain nameless wrote this in a Facebook post:
"If you’re company, charity, or organization needs a niche publication, give us a call!"
Obviously, it should be "If your company ..." Or, it could be, "If you're a company, charity, or organization that needs a niche publication, give us a call!"
The hilarious part is they correctly replied to someone in a comment on the same post:
"Thank you for trusting us with your tabloid."
I published a similar grammar post on the difference between your and you're in 2017. A few weeks ago, I went so far as to do a contest on Facebook where the only way you could enter to win is if you correctly replied using your and you're in a sentence. My wife thinks I'm a tad obsessed, but all I want to do is educate people – so they stop. :)
Your vs. You're – What's the difference?
Your shows possession. Use it when talking about something that belongs to someone.
* Is that your cat?
* Can I borrow your truck?
* Your blogs are funny and informative!
You're merely is an abbreviation of you are.
* You're making me mad!
* I know what you're thinking.
* I think what you're doing is great.
Call Edit This in Denton, TX for all your writing and editing needs
It's fun to tease friends on Facebook or point out errors in written copy, but any spelling or grammar error in business writing – brochures, advertisements, your website copy, blogs, press releases, newsletters, a postcard, etc. – wreak havoc on your company's image.
In fact, studies consistently show that when choosing between two companies, most customers prefer the one with clear and error-free written communication.
If you're interested in having Edit This® handle your company's content writing and editing needs, give us a call today! We can write copy from scratch or spruce up what you already have. Bottom line, when it comes to grammar, everyone could use an extra set of eyes.
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.