Then/Than

[swayinOtis]

It seems a lot of people get these two words mixed up. I see it all the time. There's a thread right now with "then" in the subject line instead of "than." Ain't grammar fun?

I used to always get affect/effect mixed up.

Another one that seems to trick people up is "their," "there" and "they're."

 

[kami]

Don't forget your and you're.

Buncha morons.

 

[jobberd]

"first we went to the ice cream store, then we went to the shoe store"
"Oh, but it is much wider than that"
"That's not our car, its their car"
"Quick, they're getting away!"
"Look over there, tell me what you see"
"Your hamburger looks bigger then mine"
"You're going too fast!"
"The special effects were great"
"This affects the whole family"

 

[Novgrod]

Don't forget their, they're, and there.

Its and It's

affect and effect

Personally i think that the use of "u" as a word or "ure" or any such version should be strictly banned

 

[swayinOtis]

<< Don't forget their, they're, and there.

affect and effect

>>



It's obvious you didn't read the original message. lol

 

GOsh! "Then" and "than" drives me nuts 'cuz even so-called teachers don't know it.

Worst of it all, they confuse students like me who know the right way and were thought the right way from childhood.

I always see them say "rather then" instead of "rather than". It drives me nuts . . . are people that dumb? Maybe if they start to read their hymnals again, then they'll learn good English.

"Affect" vs. "effect" is the same story. I always used it perfectly fine until I started to see the so-called press mix the two up. My teacher's little lecture helped reinstate my confidence.

See folks, here are good examples of "affect" vs. "effect":

Queen Elizabeth is deeply affected by her sister's death.

The effect of toxic waste in our community is present in birth deformities.

What effects do you expect it will have upon your pursuit of politics?

How affected are you with Princess Margaret's death?

Do you think it would affect you if AT was down today?

Now, I don't trust any spelling others put if it is different from mine.

Another great example is "existence" versus "existance". For God's sake folks, it is an "e", not an "a".

Even people who claim to be intellects cannot spell such simple words. It drives me nuts! What is becoming of our so-called educational system. *Scared my kids will have to adapt to a new spelling method 'cuz a bunch of partially illiterate members of society are winning the battle of the English language! :| *

 

[crypticlogin]

One of my college history professors b!tched out the class over then/than, e.g./i.e., its/it's after an exam. In verbatim, his lesson was:

then - relates to time
than - relates to comparisons

e.g. - exempli gratia, "for example"
i.e. - id est, "that is"

its - its
it's - it is

Such simplicity and yet, college juniors at a fairly large, established university couldn't get them right.

 

[Netopia]

How about proper usage of bring and take. I CONSTANTLY hear that messed up even by educated people!

Joe

 

[Wallydraigle]

to: "We are going to the store."
too: "Can I please come too?"
two: "I'm affraid there isn't room for the two of us in the car."