There has been a general decline in proper English and grammar over the years and I suspect much of it has resulted from the Internet, texting, and street slang. I realize things change, words are "invented", and the use of handheld devices has caused us to use shortcuts when typing. On the other hand, it's pretty sad when we can't even master the simple basics of our language and grammar. And before you try to knock me off my high horse, I'm not pointing to any one thing or person in particular. My strong suits in school were always composition, grammar, and literature. I sucked at math. Period. Because of my natural fondness for English composition and grammar, I tend to notice things that bug me. That's not to say I am perfect in these areas because I certainly am not. I just wish we could learn the basic rules. And I don't seek out these things - they just jump out at me. Most of the time, I notice this stuff on the social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.
The big ones.....
Lose: the opposite of win OR when something is lost
Loose: the opposite of tight
It's: abbreviation of "it is" (It's going to be hot today OR it is going to be hot today.)
Its: possessive, ownership (Its tracks were everywhere.)
You're: abbreviation of "you are" (You're welcome OR you are welcome.)
Your: possessive, ownership (This is your deer stand.)
They're: abbreviation of "they are" (They're going fishing OR they are going fishing.)
Their: possessive, ownership (Their cabin is on the hill.)
There: location, place (We are going to hunt over there.)
Affect: changes or influences something (The snow should not affect our hunting.)
Effect: a result (The effects of the full moon were dramatic.)
These two can be tricky sometimes, but a quick Internet search can help you with the correct usage.
Like I said, I am not an expert and I don't spend time looking for grammatical errors. These are just some of the simple ones that tend to be obvious. I make plenty of mistakes, but I try to be conscious of what I type. On the Internet, what you type is what people see. You represent yourself with the written word. Obviously, shorthand and abbreviations are common and accepted now, especially on Twitter or when texting because characters are at a premium. There really isn't an excuse for not having the basics of our language down pat, though.
Well, that's off my chest now and I'm looking forward to our last regular bass tournament of the season tomorrow! It's a night tourney and doesn't start until 6pm, but we're going to hit the lake early and just fish for fun before the serious fishing starts.
And just so we end on a good note, here's a training video for you turkey hunters. I watched this many times when I was learning how to use a turkey call. Note: *Contains semi-adult content that may be disturbing to some viewers. On the other hand, it may not disturb you at all.
Enjoy your weekend!
