The Grammar Guide: Affect and Effect.

Welcome to another Grammar Guide! Today I'll be explaining the difference between affect and effect. This is something that is misunderstood by most people and is a very easy mistake to make.









Affect is usually used as a verb. Basically, it's used when you are talking about influencing something.
eg:
Meg's family was greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The medicine had a positive affect on Jenna.

Effect is usually used as a noun and when you are talking about a result.
eg:
The special effects were amazing.
The rain had no effect on Abby's vegetable garden.

As usual, please comment any questions or specific examples!

The Grammar Guide: To, Too, and Two.

In this Grammar Guide we'll be going over something VERY simple! The proper way to use to, too, and two! For the most part any mistakes made in this area are strictly between to and too. Almost everyone knows that two is the number, although, I've seen people use that wrong as well. So here we go!







To is used when talking about an action.
eg:
We are going to the park tomorrow.
I want to swim.
Did you give the necklace to Caitlin?

Too is used when talking about quantity...
eg:
There are too many roses at each table.
OR when meaning also.
eg:
Lucy wanted a bagel too.

Two is simply the number!
eg:
Logan has two dogs.
We own two vehicles.

Comment any questions!

The Grammar Guide: Ending a Sentence with a Preposition.

Today, I'm going to go over whether or not you should end a sentence with a preposition. There are many different opinions on this topic. Technically, you should never end a sentence with a preposition. This is the grammar rule. However, many people agree that there are some cases in which an exception can be made. These people are of the opinion that it is okay as long as it isn't an "unnecessary preposition". So, here's your explanation!

A preposition is generally defined as a word that pertains to time or space.

They create relationships between other words. 

eg of temporal prepositions: before, since, after, following

eg of spatial prepositions: under, over, beside, by 

Now, an unnecessary preposition is one that does not change the meaning of the sentence. 

eg: I will go later on.

The "on" in "I will go later on." is completely useless, therefore, it should not be used. 

However, in some cases it makes more sense to use the preposition. 

eg: What was the book under?

In this case, most people would say that it is okay to end with the preposition. The alternative would be to write "Under what was the book?". While this is grammatically correct, no one speaks that way. 

For the most part, as long as you can justify your reasoning, any professor is going to be lenient on this sort of thing. Still, it may not hurt to ask what their standpoint is on the subject before turning in a big paper. Like I've said, TECHNICALLY you are never supposed to end with a preposition. However, most people (including those in the English community) agree that there can be an exception. 

Comment any questions! 

The Grammar Guide: Their, They're, and There.

The difference between their, they're, and there is very simple. Still, you wouldn't believe how often people mess this up! So I hope that this helps everyone understand how to use the three forms the way they're supposed to be used! Comment any questions!  

Their is used when you're talking about possession. 

eg:

I went to their house for a pool party. 

I love to play with their dog.

They're is the easiest. Just think of it as "they are". 

eg:

They're going to the beach tomorrow. 

They're going to have the report done by Wednesday. 

There is used when you're talking about a location... 

eg:

Shelly's glasses are over there. 

Dan likes to go there. 

OR when their and they're can't work.

eg:

There isn't any more sugar. 

The Grammar Guide!

I'm an English major and I love proper grammar. So whenever I see people using it incorrectly, it sort of makes me cringe. The other day, one of my Professors put a paper up on the screen. It was turned in by a student in another class and he was using it as an example of what not to do. The grammar (among other things) was TERRIBLE! It was then that I had an idea! I'm going to start a series of posts entitled "The Grammar Guide". They will (obviously) be lessons that focus on different grammar rules that I see people break everyday! That's not to say that I don't sometimes break the very rules I'm going to be posting about. Nobody is perfect and in some situations it's even okay to break certain grammar rules. I just love it and think that it could be beneficial for people to have an online resource that makes grammar easy to understand and has many of the rules all in the same place! So enjoy! I hope that it will end up being very helpful!