23 Common Grammar Errors
If you’ve been at your firm for 12 months, are you celebrating your “first-year anniversary?”
If you’re moving closer to a target, is it grammatically correct to say you’re “honing in” on it?
And does your head “literally” explode when you try to remember all the rules on spelling, punctuation and subject-verb agreement?
The answer to all three questions is no. It is redundant to celebrate anything other than your “first anniversary.” You “home in” on a target. And while your head may be “actually” exploding as you read this, it’s not doing so literally.
The law is a verbal profession, and the words you use – in pleadings, oral arguments and everyday conversations – can leave a lasting impression.
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Try These 23 Grammar Grabbers
Don’t let an avoidable grammar error cause embarrassment – or worse – in your practice. Here are 23 common mistakes, courtesy of Christina DesMarais and Getpocket.com:
- First-come, first-serve. Correct: first-come, first-served
- I could care less. Correct: I couldn’t care less
- Correct: regardless
- The judge spoke with John and I. Correct: the judge spoke with John and me
- Shoe-in. Correct: shoo-in
- Emigrate to. Correct: emigrate from
- Slight of hand. Correct: sleight of hand
- Baited breath. Correct: bated breath
- Peaked my interest. Correct: piqued my interest
- Should of and would of. Correct: should have and would have
- Correct: thaw
- Bold-face lie. Correct: bald-face lie or bare-face lie
- Chock it up. Correct: chalk it up
- Through the ringer. Correct: through the wringer
- Given free reign. Correct: given free rein
- Tie me over. Correct: tide me over
- Tow the line. Correct: toe the line
- Correct: espresso
- Jive with the facts. Correct: jibe with the facts
- “Eccetera” or “Excetera” (pronounced with the “t” silent). Correct: “Etcetera”
- Deep-seeded. Correct: deep-seated
- Extract revenge. Correct: exact revenge
- Sneak peak. Correct: sneak peek
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