Mistakes That Spell Check Won’t Find

When I ran into one of my friends last week, she suggested that I use my writing skills to help guys create presentable online dating profiles. She told me that most of the ones she’s read are full of typos, and she is turned off by anyone whose first obvious trait is poor writing skills. Whether you’re trying to get a date, writing a report for work or school or sending an email, taking the time to correct the errors can make a big difference in the way your reader perceives you. Even if you have edited carefully, be on the lookout for these common errors, which spell check won’t detect.

Desert or dessert? 

You’re vs. your

You’re is short for you are. Example: You’re going to win.

Your is possessive. Example: I have your jacket.

S or ’s

Add an s to make it plural. Example: The dogs are outside.

Use an apostrophe followed by s for a possessive. Example: The man’s jacket is on the chair. 

An apostrophe followed by s is also used as a contraction for a noun followed by is. Example: The girl’s going out.

Another point of confusion is how to form the possessive of a family name. For example, if you are going to give the Smith family a sign for their new home, it should say The Smiths’ and not The Smith’s because The Smith’s means that the house only belongs to one person named Smith.  

Its vs. it’s

While the above rule tells you to add an apostrophe and s to a noun to make it possessive, its is an exception. Therefore, you would say that the house lost its roof. 

It’s is short for it is. Example: It’s going to be a great day. 

Whose vs. who’s

Who’s is another exception to the rule that calls for apostrophes for a possessive. Who’s is a contraction for who is. Example: Guess who’s coming to dinner.

Whose is possessive. Example: Whose life is it anyway?

There, their or they’re

There is a preposition. Example: There is a place I love to go. I often go there.

Their indicates possession. Example: I like to go to their house.

They're is short for they are. Example: They’re going with us.

Too or to

Too means also or excessive. Example: I am going, too. That is too much.

To has several meanings. It refers to a direction, as in I’m going to the store. It also refers to a limit, as in six to nine hours. To is also used as part of an infinitive, which is the basic form of a verb. Example: I am going to run in the race.

Loose or lose

When did mixing up these two words become the norm?  Lose is the opposite of win. If you forget whether it's one o or two, remember that it is the same as the past tense, lost.  

Loose is the opposite of tight.

There are several other words that have similar spellings, but have completely different meanings, such as dessert, which you eat after dinner, and desert, which is a dry area, like the Sahara.

When in doubt look it up. It could mean the difference between a hot date and a being stuck home alone watching reruns.