Having trouble with common grammar rules? Come see a Newport English Tutor for help today! While it is easy to rely on spell check for corrections on papers and emails (we’re all guilty of it!), you will look very silly if you make these common mistakes. Spell check won’t catch them for you because they ‘look’ right to spell check. 

1. Using I and me in the wrong places.
   It’s as simple as this: I is a subject, me is the object of a prepositional phrase. What’s a prepositional phrase? Glad you asked. This Newport English tutor loves a good prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and gives descriptive information like location: under, over, within, outside of, by, about, etc. Here’s a good website for more information about prepositions. 
          I am the subject of this sentence.
          This sentence is about me.

2. Confusing there, their, and they’re.
   This is something learned in the third grade, so you should be very embarrassed if you make this mistake in a high school paper. There refers to place (it has the word here in it!!) They’re is a contraction meaning they are (the apostrophe ‘replaces’ the a!). Their is the possessive.
        The best Newport English tutors are found there.
        They’re going to eat all the turkey without me!
        Their mom really knows how to fill their bellies on Thanksgiving.
   *You’re (contraction for you are) and your (possessive) fall prey to this same mistake.

3. Using ‘could of’, ‘should of,’ or ‘would of’ instead of ‘could have,’ ‘should have,’ or ‘would have’
   This actually comes from lazy speech patterns. When someone says ‘could’ve’ (the contraction for ‘could have’) many people hear ‘could of’. THAT’S NOT WHAT THEY’RE SAYING–or if it is, they’ve fallen into the trap as well. Don’t be lazy, people.
       “I wish that we could have gone to the World Series this year.”-a grammatically correct (and sad) Mike Trout

4. Mixing up its and it’s.
   One is possessive and one is a contraction. It’s means it is, its means belonging to it.
       It’s the number one mistake!
       The cat scratched its nose.

5. Using commas willy nilly.
   Commas are a part of grammar and not to used on a whim. They are not for separating ideas (that’s a period), or just to show a pause in thought. They go between independent clauses, or as part of a list, or in a number of other grammatically correct places. Refer to this awesome comma guide for direction!
         After the movie tonight, the soccer star will get eight hours of sleep.