Then, than, their, there, they're ...

Design Discussions general design discussion
1

English is often confusing, especially if it is not your native tongue, but when I read “professional” communications with these grammatical errors it drives me nuts. I view Core posts as communications between professionals.

Than: a comparison
Then: a description of time
Examples of Than: A comparison

Even at the age of twelve she was taller than I.

She is a better singer than he.

Tillamook cheese is much better than Kraft.

Definition: Than

Used after a comparative adjective or adverb to introduce the second element or clause of an unequal comparison: She had better grammar than I.

Used to introduce the second element after certain words indicating difference: He sang at a lower octave than she.

Examples of Then: A description of time

I want to go to a restaurant then to the party.

I loved the movie Open Range, but then, I love cowboy flicks.

Then, out of nowhere, she started to dance.

Definition: Then

At that time: Come over to my house, I’ll show you then.
Immediately following: First I will get a haircut, then I will get a manicure.
In addition: She wanted $100 and then interest too.
As a consequence; therefore: She wants to be a star, then, she does the work.
In that case: If you want my money, take it then.
Used after, but to qualify or balance a preceding statement: He was a star, but then he always worked so hard.
Used in “if…then” statements: If you study hard in high school, then you can get into a good college.

There

Use > there > when referring to a place, whether concrete (“over there by the building”) or more abstract (“it must be difficult to live there”).

Also use > there > with the verb BE (is, am, are, was, were) to indicate the existence of something, or to mention something for the first time.
There is a picnic area over here, and a monster and a campground across the river.
“I see there are new flowers coming up in your garden.” “Yes, they are the ones my grandmother gave me last year.”

Their

Use > their > to indicate possession. It is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them.

My friends have lost their tickets.
Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly.


What’s the difference between > theirs, their’s, and there’s?

Theirs> : > theirs > is the third person plural possessive pronoun - it replaces “their” + noun.
Is this yours or theirs?
He found a book - is it theirs?
I can’t find my keys, but theirs are on the table.
Theirs is a better idea.
Theirs is over here.

Their’s: > though you may see their’s written even by native speakers, it is incorrect. Theirs should never have an apostrophe.
It’s just one of those “english” quirks… accept it.

There’s> : there’s is a contraction of the words, > there and is

They’re

Remember that > they’re > is a contraction of the words > they and are> . It can never be used as a modifier, only as a subject (who or what does the action) and verb (the action itself).

Hurry up! They’re closing the mall at six tonight!

I’m glad that they’re so nice to new students here.

Recap

Wrong: Their is no one here.
Wrong: Shelley wants to know if there busy.
Wrong: The dogs are happily chewing on they’re bones.
RIGHT: I can’t believe they’re leaving their children there, alone!

To

To > has > two > functions. First, as a preposition, in which case it always precedes a noun.

I’m going to the store
He went to Italy
This belongs to David

Secondly, > to > indicates an infinitive when it precedes a verb.

I need to study
We want to help
He’s going to eat

Too

Too > also has two uses. First, as a synonym for “also”:

Can I go too?
He went to France too
I think that’s Paul’s book too

Secondly, > too > means excessively when it precedes an adjective or adverb.

I’m too tired
He’s walking too quickly
I ate too much

Two

Two > is a number.

One, two, three…
I have two cars.
She ate two pieces of pie

The Bottom Line

The confusion between to, too, and two occurs because the three words are pronounced identically.

One: If you’re able to replace the word with “also” or “excessively/too much,” use too. Two: If the word is a number, use two. Otherwise, you’ll want to use to.

Take a brake and post any others that you can think of… :wink:

2

I see what you did there.

3

u so kray kray gurl.

4

slow…clap

This really needed to be put together. Thanks.

5

Did it?

I used to get all worked up over grammatical errors, when, in reality, there is no reason to get uppity about it. I’m (usually) smart enough to know the context of what the author means.

6

I’m not worked up about it either ip, but then I’m not trying to land a job with a poorly written resume.

I’m (usually) smart enough to know the context of what the author means.

You just never know what pushes someone’s buttons when they’re reading a cover letter. Or a bid proposal. Besides, it’s sloppy, and doesn’t say much about one’s attention to detail.

edit - hears some more http://empressfelicity.hubpages.com/hub/use-of-apostrophe-rules-spelling-grammar-pet-peeves
edit - correction; hear’s some more… … :wink:

7

+1. Grammar issues really bother me as well. I can take it in a forum post most of the time but it does make me question the author if they can’t string together a coherent sentence.

Looser, brake, affect, their are some of the worst.

R

8

Lew: I always confuse it’s, its and its’

On a side note, as a french as a second language speaker, I often wonder if my cover letters lose me interviews. I hope that people are open minded enough to consider that it maybe my second language and give me a break.

9

Sh*t Ray… my German is sehr rostig. My French… … . inexistant :wink: With “texting” becoming more, and more, prevalent, I’m not sure it does make a difference. English is such a specific language that there is not much need to “re-invent” words. I’m probably splitting hairs… last of the “English” students perhaps?

It’s
It’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”

It’s time to go.
Do you think it’s ready?
I read your article - it’s very good.
Do you know where my purse is? It’s on the table.
It’s been a long time.

Its
Its is the possessive form of “it.”

That’s an interesting device - what is its purpose?
I saw Les Misérables during its initial run.
This stove has its own timer.
The bird lost some of its feathers.
Where is its head office?

The Bottom Line

The confusion between > it’s > and > its > occurs because on virtually every other word [> 's> ] indicates possession, so English speakers naturally want to use > it’s > to mean > “something belonging to it.” > But > it’s > > is only used when it’s a contraction > of > it is > or it has.

10

I think there is a distinction between communication between professionals, and a professional communication. Most of us here are professionals, but it is (I think) a casual environment.

When I write professional communications, I avoid contractions entirely because they are not formal.

I’ll (<-contraction) be damned if I had to maintain that standard on message boards, be them industry related, or not.

11

I heard a story a year or so ago on NPR about people (I guess parents, teachers and the government) concerned about how youths have adapted text grammar. But the linguists say in fact kids today use more language then ever before in history, and in fact it’s impressive how they are able to know when to properly use correct grammar. Teachers say they almost never get reports or papers in this type of “text” grammar. Kids today read more, type more, write more then ever before. Now, yes there is some horrible grammatical errors out there,their,they’re but for the most part it doesn’t bother me. If you want to see horrible grammar, look at user comments on news stories online. Nothing scares me more then reading those comments.

Please forgive me if there are any errors in this post.

12

The scum of the Earth lies in the comments of online newspaper opinion articles. Especially anything even remotely political.

13

Nothing scares me more then reading those comments.

Nothing scares me more than reading those comments. [<- a comparison]

you’re forgiven…

I think there is a distinction between communication between professionals, and a professional communication. Most of us here are professionals, but it is (I think) a casual environment.

Casual, or formal, what’s the difference? Meaning, is meaning…

Either improper grammar bothers one, or it does not. I intended this post this as a courtesy, not a criticism.

14

The scum of the Earth lies in the comments of online newspaper opinion articles. Especially anything even remotely political.

For years our local newspaper has required that Letters to the Editor be signed, and street address and city provided (there are eight small communities in the area) just to keep discussion civil. They also maintain a strict policy of publication; right to edit for length, clarity, and “taste”, and no personal attacks.

However, on their On-line comment pages that accompany articles, it’s no holds barred … completely incongruous. With the typical result. You do have to register to post, but no personal identification is required to do so.

15

I used to get all worked up over grammatical errors, when, in reality, there is no reason to get uppity about it. I’m (usually) smart enough to know the context of what the author means.

Jon, not picking on you, your comment reminded me of this…

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 out of 100 plepoe can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

16

Bad habits.

Most of my work emails go to factories in China. Sometimes I purposely write incorrectly because I think they understand it better. Basically I write to them how they write to me.

17

Context. If I show up at a black tie event in sweat pants, it is (<-formal) offensive. If I show up at a track meet in a tux, it’s (<-casual) ridiculous.

On a formal professional document, such as a resume, there is no place for anything but the most proper and formal grammar. On an online forum? Get over it.

We’s just be hangin’ out. Or maybe I’m wrong. Won’t be the first time.

18
19

great spin off… +2

20

My fiance is a high school teacher at a fairly affluent NY school district, and some (not all) of the papers she gets are definitely written like they were a Twitter update. I’ve seen a student write “and when you brought in Mrs. xxxxxx as a guest speaker I was like OMG LOL!” :open_mouth: