Do you commit these common writing mistakes? If you do, it’s high time you put a stop to repeating them over and over. A simple grammar software, coupled with due diligence in employing them, will help clear your writing free of these embarrassing foibles, among many other benefits.
1. Less and Fewer
Every day, I see people use these two words almost interchangeably, resulting in an improper description that can lead to confusion when it comes to sensitive matters. As a rule, you should only use “less” for items that can’t be counted (e.g. “There is less water in the pool”), while “fewer” should be employed for those that can (e.g. “There are now fewer errors in my email”).
2. They’re, Their and There
These three words sound the same (causing a lot of people to use one in place of the other) but relay totally different ideas. Grammar software can easily catch wrong uses, though. “They’re” is a contraction of “they are” and should be used accordingly; “their” is a word that demonstrates possession (as in “That’s their car”); “there” refers to either a place or a direction.
3. Bad and badly
Some people use “badly” as a more formal version of the word “bad”. For some reason, people think that saying “I feel badly about the incident” is just as valid as saying “I feel bad about the incident.” In truth, though, “badly” refers to a mechanism. You can’t feel “badly” if you feel “bad”. Saying “I feel badly” actually implies there is something with your ability to feel, not that you feel “bad”.
