Why is this such a problem?

[Valerie]

so many people seem not to know the difference between "its" and "it's". don't understand why this is such a common problem.

any thoughts?

[Cem]

its counter-intuitive...




nature might be to blame

[stonemonkts]

Your right, its a problem. definately.

[Bourne]

Or defiantly, as the kids like to type.

[hornplayer]

"defiantly" is not an anagram for definItely..... Just sayin'...

[jazzbluescat]

so many people seem not to know the difference between "its" and "it's". don't understand why this is such a common problem.

any thoughts?

I don't understand either, maybe folks are too much in a hurry? Anyhow, one's a contraction, short for two words, the other is possessive pronoun.

[Sergio Zamora]

so many people seem not to know the difference between "its" and "it's". don't understand why this is such a common problem.

any thoughts?

I don't know, but I constantly second-guess myself. In lieu of looking it up every time, I opt to forgo it altogether and spell out "it is".

[steve(thelil)]

"defiantly" is not an anagram for definItely..... Just sayin'...

You're definately right. And kind of wrong too (about someone having written defiantly)

[Bourne]

"defiantly" is not an anagram for definItely..... Just sayin'...

You're preaching to the choir, sister. It's just plain 'ol misspelled.

And I've seen a lot of people who "spell" it that way.

[jesus marion joseph]

Usage of commas seems to be problematic, as well.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

It's because 'its' is a possessive without an apostrophe, and apostrophes go with possessives

[stonemonkts]

It's a shame this rears its ugly head, time and again.

[Valerie]

Your right, its a problem. definately.

this is another commonly used error: "your" and "you're"!! same problem as its and it's.

[stonemonkts]

"You're" is almost dead, usage wise. Its a shame.

[clinthopson]

It's 50s, not 50's.

Unless you are talking about the most boring generation.

[Blue Train]

It's because so many people text. Most of the time they're using abbreviations, or slang. Many now post most things online from from their phones and iPads, or whatever.

At least, I always make sure to spell things correctly the vast majority of the time. I really do know how to use punctuations properly. haha

[walto]

this is another commonly used error: "your" and "you're"!! same problem as its and it's.

Excellent catch!

Very impressive, as always, Valerie! (Should be "committed" instead of "used"--but who's (not "whose") counting.

[walto]

This whole thread makes me miss Goody's insistence on the comma after the "but"!

[Blue Train]

This whole thread makes me miss Goody's insistence on the comma after the "but"!

With him being banned it makes it impossible to find, but I did discover "comma" has been posted 129 times.

Even better, it did lead me to finding a "why blogs suck" thread. It has 838 replies. Talk about falling into holes.

I bookmarked it for the weekend.

I am taking suggestions for drinks to read it with.

[stonemonkts]

Excellent catch!

Very impressive, as always, Valerie! (Should be "committed" instead of "used"--but who's (not "whose") counting.

I put it in there purposely, as a joke. I wanted everyone to "catch" it. You don't think I would ever misuse those words, I hope.

[stonemonkts]

[walto]

Well, some of us knew it was a joke....but not everyone, I guess.

(Wonder when those folks will notice the also obvious "definately.")

[steve(thelil)]

I'm very troubled by the widespread misuse of an apostrophe in a plural. It's almost as if you expect to see "martini's." First, it's just wrong. Second, the basic rule for plural is pretty easy. Add s.

[Blue Train]

I blame Freedom speaking people from Canada!

Even though I don't understand it. One of them might be related to Stallone.

[Uli]

A lot of people mix up then and than as in "more then" not.. It drives me nuts.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

A tough one is 'past' and 'passed' -- I walked passed the church is correct

[Valerie]

A tough one is 'past' and 'passed' -- I walked passed the church is correct

huh?!? who says?!?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Still tough for me!

He passed the church on his way

He walked past the church on his way (here walked is the verb, past is the adverb)

[Tom Storer]

And then there are all the dummies who fail to follow a semicolon with an independent clause!

There is so much to deplore.

[Bourne]

I still think the thread title should have been "Why its such a problem?"