Nearly three decades later, I still remember one of my favorite lines from a popular television show.
Rachel and Ross of Friends got into a fight and Ross screamed, “Oh, and by the way – Y-O-U-apostrophe-R-E is ‘you are.’ Y-O-U-R spells YOUR!”
When someone irritates you, poor grammar can be the tipping point. So how can you remember these commonly misspelled words?
If you’re me, then that scene from Friends sticks so strongly in your mind, you’ll never forget it. But if not…
Simply remember that an apostrophe always replaces a missing letter. Therefore, “you’re” has to be “you are,” with A being the missing letter. Your (like its) is a possessive with no apostrophe, just like, as Lornadoone pointed out, “his” and “hers.”
Example:
“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.”
So the children’s songs are getting to me.
I’ll keep it short today, since this is an important one to remember!
I notice when I’m in a hurry and not self-editing as I write, I will sometimes make the “your” error.
Thanks for the reminder.
*grins* I’ll have to go dig up the old Friends episodes, that sounds like a great one.
One of the ways I like to remember myself of “Your” is Y-our = our is possessive, belonging to us so tossing a Y in front makes it belong only to You.
I’ve also found there are times when the “you’re” contraction (I have “I hate contraction” days.) drives me up the wall. On days like that I just write, “you are” instead.
Dawn, I’m so glad you are doing these posts! I’m better than the average person and worse than the average writer when it comes to grammar. I stick commas where they have no right to be. I admit it.