Grammer Mistakes All Writers Should Avoid

By: Josh Wagner

Do you ever see Facebook statuses, blogs, or tweets that make you want to rip your hair out due to the lack of correct grammar usage? I know I do. Some people tend to just not care about their grammar, or it is just the way they speak that makes them write this way. I’m here to write about 5 grammar mistakes that I find to be very annoying, yet easily fixed.

The first grammar mistake that really makes me want to scream is the incorrect usage of the word “was.” I see so many people saying things like, “We was at the movies last night,” or “We was going to go to the movies tomorrow.” Bother you, too? It’s a simple fix, it’s WERE. We WERE at the movies last night. We WERE going to go to the movies tomorrow. The misusage of “was” has to be at the top of my list of grammar mistakes.

Another common mistake is the misuse of, “two,” “to,” and” too.” This has to be one of the simplest grammar fixes there can be. Only use “two” if you are referring to a number of something. Use “to” to explain that you are going to do something, for example, “I am going to the mall.” And lastly, use “too” if you’re going to be agreeing with someone, or doing something with someone, for example, “I wish that would happen, too,” or “I am going to the mall, too.”

Thirdly, the mistake of using, “there,” “they’re,” and “their,” can be a big mistake, too. Use “there” if you are going to go somewhere, for example, “I am going to be there, too.” Secondly, use “they’re” only if you are referring to someone else, such as, “They’re going to be a few minutes late.” Thirdly, use “their” when talking about the possession someone has over something, such as, “That bike over there is theirs.”

One mistake that is also really aggravating is the misuse of the word “is.” I've seen so many people say, “We is going to the store in a little bit.” No, it should be “We are going to the store in a little bit.” This very annoying mistake can be fixed easily.

And lastly, the final grammar mistake is the bad use of capitalizing letters. I have seen numerous people type like this, “Tomorrow Is Going To Be The Greatest Day Ever.” Please, only capitalize the words you need to. Again, another easy fix, but some people grew up around bad grammar, so they repeat these grammar mistakes. One day, maybe, just maybe, this world will be grammar mistake free!

Writing: Become Inspired

by:

Chi Diallo (Guest Writer)

 

Inspiration isn’t something you find. It’s something that happens. There was a process in learning the difference between the two. My greatest writing challenges are the responsibilities that pull me from an abstract space of creativity into a space of obligation and time constraints. If I could figure out a way to overcome these challenges with any type of consistency, it would be nirvana. Whether it’s work, financial matters or trying to balance relationships with family and friends, there always seems to be something trying my energies.

There are unique situations where I become sensitive to the world around me and absorb my environment, which in turn, gives me the material and emotions I use to write, instinctively absorbing the world around me with all five senses. Over time, I have developed the skill of translating the subsequent conclusions I draw from those meditative binges into coherent text. I am most productive as a recluse writer. When I separate myself from stressors, I can organize my thoughts into a format that makes sense. It’s easier said than done, but I make a conscious effort to write in isolation for at least one hour per day, despite my onuses.

There are a few items that maximize my writing experience. I like exotic notebooks with cool designs and expensive colored pens, the kind that glide effortlessly across the paper.

In an article written for Poets and Writers, Alexandra Enders speaks of being creatively confined to her cabin, house and office, until eventually, she was liberated after writing a short in a Montana motel. As long as I have my materials, I can write anywhere. Creating the perfect set of physical surroundings is more about creating the consummate atmosphere for the inspired mind to do its job in the process of writing. Then, there’s actually writing.

The sensation I get when I write echoes the sentiments of a poem written by Jennifer Michael Hecht.

Bestial from not being seen;

Staring out the window with wide, immortal eyes.

As artists, we seem to invest much time and energy into creating the ideal circumstances for production. Most of the time, the motivation comes in maneuvering through the debris of life en route to discovering ourselves and creating our own personal paradise, once we define what that is for ourselves. Recently, I’ve incorporated a new technique. I produce material by speaking my thoughts into the voice recorder app on my phone at the exact moment of inspiration, which is a much more organic method for capturing my observations in a way I can translate to printed word. I sometimes talk in cursive and it can be counter-effective to postpone a moment of artistic inspiration to mold a maelstrom of ideas into complete, logical sentences. The ability to replay and analyze my comments while in solitary quarters allows me to organize them on my schedule and register fresh substance without the pressure of forgetting as I write.