Following in the footsteps of the venerable Weird Al Yankovic whose latest video "Word Crimes" went viral, I decided to look for examples of uncommon grammar errors. If you make any of these, you could hinder your desire to create the best business blogs. Ending this article I included an infographic on the Oxford Comma that Weird Al mentions in passing.
Here are a few uncommon grammar rules I encountered.
The absolutely most uncommon errors I found are the ones in The 4 Most Uncommon English Grammar Mistakes by Our Daily Bread published in 2010. Here is just one example:
REPLACEMENT OF THE WORD “GO ” AND/OR ITS COGNATES WITH A LONG STRING OF ANIMAL SOUND TERMS
“Go.” It looks simple enough – it’s just two letters long, and it’s been in most of our vocabularies since we were toddlers. But what if, instead of typing “go,” you inadvertently typed a series of onomatopoeic animal sound words?
Example: I always meow baaaaa woof woof neigh mooooo quack to the movies with my friend Jerry on Tuesday nights.
Correct Version: I always go to the movies with my friend Jerry on Tuesday nights.
This could happen to you if you don’t stay vigilant. If you find yourself veering in the direction of the above example, try to stop yourself as soon as possible; then, simply highlight the string of animal noises, press “delete,” and then type “go.”
You might want to watch out for this when you choose to write your best business blogs. I have to say that I haven't seen this error that many times, but there you meow baaaaa woof woof neigh mooooo quack.
One of the mistakes that is a little less uncommon, but very misused comes from Erik Deckers' article Five Uncommon Grammar Errors to Avoid 2010:
Who/That
Other than a fun little cheer for the New Orleans Saints, this is a common one people make when referring to people or companies.
- Wrong: Companies who practice green manufacturing can get government grants.
- Wrong: People that like peanut butter and bologna are weird.
- Right: Companies that practice green manufacturing can get government grants.
- Right: People who like peanut butter and bologna just have different tastes, that’s all.
I am sure you don't want to make that sort of mistake in blogging.
How about scrapping this title for your best business blog title ideas?
Sam Greenspan's article 11 Little-Known Grammatical Errors That Will Shock and Horrify You is a funny article with some good points. One that we have grown accustomed to, but should never write if we want your blogs to be the best is:
You've got mail. Ya know, America Online, if I'm going to pop in the floppy you sent me and use my 500 free hours... at least your announcer (and, later, an Austin Powers imitator who usurped your announcer) could greet me with the proper grammar: You *have* mail.
The Oxford Comma--To Be, not to be, or it depends?
Finally we get to the Oxford or serial comma with the inforgraphic below. This comes from The Oxford Comma - Infographic by Kristin Marino who prefaces this infographic with:
Inspiration can come in any form and editors are a strange bunch, but serial killers they are not. However, the serial, Oxford(,) or Harvard comma continues to incite editorial wrath....
Why do some insist that the serial comma must be included for clarity, while others think it does nothing but clutter up text with unnecessary punctuation? How can such a little squiggle cause such an uproar?
Decide for yourself.
Courtesy of: http://www.onlineschools.com
Grammar is constantly changing, but there are certain rules that have stood the test of time. You want to check what you write. After all, you do not want to be guilty of committing "Word Crimes."
For more on ways to creat those best business blogs, here is our free report An Introduction to Business Blogging that can be your if you click on the orange button below:
Jaco Grobbelaar is the owner of BroadVision Marketing. BroadVision Marketing works with business owners to put in place inbound and outbound marketing strategies that consistently secure new clients. The BroadVision Marketing Training Center is located in Petaluma, CA and primarily serves companies in the San Francisco Bay area.
Jaco can be reached at jaco@broadvisionmarketing.com or 707.766.9778 or connect with Jaco on Facebook - www.facebook.com/broadvisionmarketing - and LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/JacoGrobbelaar.