Over the last few years, we have posted five or six installments of our Grammar Pet Peeves. (I’d go back and actually count them, but that sounds like a lot of effort.) Anyway, after one of these posts, an astute reader (a self-identified non-grammarian) asked when we were going to make these into a wallet card. I thought, “That’s a great idea! I’m going to be rich!” (If only we weren’t giving this stuff away for free.)
So here it is. (Remember, just two more months to get your Christmas shopping done!) Click on either of the images below to download a pdf that you can print, crop, laminate, and keep in your wallet. Obviously, we can only do so many pet peeves on one card, so this may be the first in a series of collectors’ items.
And because some readers get angry if we don’t meet a certain minimum word count, here are the points included on this first card:
- Your does not mean you are.
- A lot is two words.
- You are going to lie down, not lay down.
- Everyday means common. Every day means daily.
- Firstly is not a word. What you mean is first.
- Fewer is for items you can count. Less is for mass nouns.
- Who is for people. That is for things.
- It’s is not possessive.
- Literally means actually, not a million gagillion.
- Loose and Lose are different words.
- Presently means soon. Currently means now.
Keep this on you at all times and you’ll be the most popular kid at the dance. I promise.
Much like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch wallet cards, the next step is clearly to turn this into an iPhone app. And that’s when the money starts rolling in!
I currently and literally support the iPhone app suggestion from Phil, but you’re not going to make a lot of dough on it since it will be just an everyday sort of app. Who will use something like that every day? Probably less than 10 people in the world. Now I’m confused, should I have used fewer in that instance? I think I will lie down and take a nap presently. First, I must remove the loose change in my pocket. One last thing, the Rangers will lose fewer games than the Cardinals in the Series.
You know this response was inevitable before you posted today’s blog, right?
I’ve found this year’s stocking stuffers! Thanks.
I learnt a lot today, even if ‘learnt’ is on my peeve list, it’s not on your card OR app. BTW can you also develop a Word macro to stop it from auto correcting my pluralization to make them contractions?
Where is “irregardless”?
…and this will now live next to my official “nerd club” membership card.