Typos and grammar mistakes on a corporate website could cost a company millions in lost sales according to a study conducted by one online entrepreneur. While the entrepreneur hasn’t shared the details behind his findings, it’s not hard to imagine how a typo can drive website visitors away. Grammar mistakes on your website can:
- Ruin your credibility
- Make your company look unprofessional
- Raise concerns of security and legitimacy
- Bring into question the quality of products and services
All of which can cause potential customers to bounce from your website and take their business to a competitor. Avoid these costly mistakes by mastering a few of the most common grammar hang-ups.
Affect vs. Effect
Affect is a verb. Use affect when one thing influences another.
The rain will affect our golf outing.
Effect is most commonly used as a noun to describe a result or outcome. When following a/an/the, use effect.
The election will have an effect on the economy.
Could/Would/Should Have vs. Of
Could have. Would have. Should have. If making a contraction, use could’ve, would’ve or should’ve. Never could of. Ever.
Ensure vs. Insure
Ensure means to make certain that something will or will not happen.
Insure refers to insurance, which offers protection or compensation for a loss.
Farther vs. Further
Farther refers to a literal physical distance, whereas further refers to a figurative distance.
Fewer vs. Less
Use fewer for nouns that can be counted. You can have fewer shirts, friends or pets.
Use less for mass nouns that cannot be reasonably counted. You can have less patience, water or hair.
I vs. Me
Some people think I is the proper use of the pronoun, but it isn’t always the right choice. Remember I is a subject pronoun and me is an object pronoun.
Incorrect: Me and James went to the store.
Correct: James and I went to the store. (I is the subject, or the person performing the action)
Incorrect: James took Laura and I to the store.
Correct: James took Laura and me to the store. (Me is the object, or the receiver of the action)
You can almost hear your second-grade teacher correcting you now…
i.e. vs. e.g.
i.e. (id est) means “that is” or “in other words”. Use i.e. to clarify or explain a statement.
e.g. (exempli gratia) means “for example”. Use e.g. to list a few examples or possibilities.
Its vs. It’s
Its is a possessive pronoun, similar to his or hers. Use its to demonstrate ownership.
It’s is a contraction meaning it is. If you’re unsure of which to use, replace its/it’s in your sentence with it is. If the sentence makes sense with it is, use it’s. If not, use its.
Lay vs. Lie
Lay in the present tense means to put something down. The subject of the sentence must act on the object.
Chickens lay eggs.
I lay the newspaper on the table.
Lie does not need a direct object. In this case, the subject is the one lying down.
I lie down in bed.
In the past tense, lay becomes laid (The chicken laid three eggs) and lie becomes lay (I lay down in bed last night).
Lead vs. Led
The confusion here arises when lead (rhymes with “bead”) is used as a verb, as in to guide or to be in front. The past tense of the verb lead is led (rhymes with “bed”).
The teacher leads the class to recess.
After three laps, she led all other runners in the race.
Or vs. Nor
Or is usually paired with either.
Either go to school or stay home sick.
Of course or can also appear without either, such as in a list of options or when comparing two things or ideas.
Nor usually appears in a sentence after neither.
Neither Brad nor Jane owns a car. (Or would be incorrect in this sentence.)
Nor can also appear in a sentence without neither, as long as it is paired with a negative idea.
He has not called the doctor, nor does he intend to.
An exception to the nor rule comes when the first part of the sentence contains a negative (like not). In this case, continue the sentence with or instead of nor.
I don’t like hot dogs or hamburgers.
Preposition Agreement
Can’t decide which preposition is the correct one to use in your sentence? English Grammar Online has a comprehensive list of common preposition usage and examples.
Principal vs. Principle
Principal as a noun is the highest ranking person in a group or an amount of money borrowed or lent. Think the principal of a high school or the principal on your mortgage.
Principal as an adjective describes a main idea.
What is your principal goal?
Principle is a fundamental truth, belief or source.
Your behavior goes against our company’s founding principles.
In principle can also be used to describe a basic or initial idea.
I agree with your plan in principle, but want to know more details.
Then vs. Than
Then is used to show progression in time or in if/then statements.
First I went to the store, then I went home.
If we give John a present, then we should give Jim a present too.
Than is used to compare two things.
My car is faster than yours.
There vs. Their vs. They’re
There: Shows direction. Look over there by the tree.
Their: Shows possession. Their house is on the left.
They’re: They are. They’re coming over at 8:00 pm.
Who vs. That vs. Which
Use who when referring to a person.
She is the girl who aced the test.
Use that when referring to non-human things.
I only eat foods that are organic.
Which can also refer to non-human things or groups.
Which restaurants do you like in Seattle?
Who vs. Whom
This one probably confuses more people than any other example on this list.
Use who in the subject of a sentence. Who is similar to he or she. If you can replace who in a sentence with he or she, then who is most likely correct.
Who called you this morning?
Greg was the person who brought the cake.
Use whom in the object of a sentence. Whom is similar to him or her. If you can replace whom in a sentence with him or her, then whom is most likely correct.
To whom it may concern.
Whom did she ask?
Who’s vs. Whose
Who’s is a contraction for who is or who has.
Who’s winning the race?
Who’s been eating my candy?
Whose is a possessive pronoun. Just like his, hers or its, whose shows ownership.
Whose paper is in the copy machine?
Your vs. You’re
Your is the possessive form of you. It shows ownership.
Your house is beautiful.
Can I borrow your pen?
You’re is a contraction meaning you are.
You’re right!
Check back to our blog for a follow-up to this post on common punctuation mistakes.
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