Common Grammar Errors That Can Scuttle Your Job Search

Almost daily, I see spelling and grammar errors, either in documents, emails, messaging, or on social media. You may think these errors are insignificant, but when applying for a job and corresponding with a recruiter or future employer, grammar and spelling mistakes can disqualify you from the position.

Here are the most common errors I see and how to fix them:

1. Me, myself, and I: Why does everyone hate me?

Q: What’s wrong with this sentence? “Please send the documents for tomorrow’s meeting to Mary
and I”

A: The sentence should read, “Please send the documents for tomorrow’s meeting to Mary and me.”

I functions as the subject in a sentence; me functions as a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition (as in the example above).

• Use this easy trick when deciding whether to use I or me: simply remove the additional name (or names) plus the conjunction.
  • In the above example, you should remove “Mary” and “and.” You wouldn’t say “send the documents to I,” would you?
  • However, change the sentence around: “Mary and I will need the documents for tomorrow’s meeting.” Again, try removing “Mary” and “and.” You would say “I will need the documents for tomorrow’s meeting.”
• Myself is a reflexive pronoun and often misused. Use reflexive pronouns to refer to the subject of a sentence.
  • “I will drive myself to the meeting” is correct.
  • “Please book a car for Richard and myself” is not.
  • Remember, “myself” needs to refer back to the subject “I.”

Example: I envision myself climbing the corporate ladder, but don’t ask me for an exact timeline.

2. To, too, and two

Many people have difficulty knowing whether to use to or too, but knowing when to use two is usually pretty obvious.

• To is a proposition.
  • He turned his back to the door.
  • Are you going to the store?
• Too means “in addition,” “also”, “excessive,” or “more than.”
  • Richard tells me he will be on vacation that week, too.
  • I added too much salt to this recipe.
• Two is a number.
  • We have two tickets to the next Bucs game.
  • I have only two calls on my calendar today.

Example: I need to work late today because I have too many unfinished projects that must be completed within the next two days.

3. When to use your and you’re

Differentiating between these two words constantly confuses people.

• Your means something belongs to you. It is a possessive pronoun.
  • Don’t forget to update your calendar each day.
  • I enjoyed reading your blog yesterday.
• You’re is a contraction for “you are.”
  • You’re (you are) invited to ride with us.

Example: Be careful you’re not writing your when you mean you are!

The easiest way to check which spelling should be used is to take a moment to ask yourself, “Could I substitute the words you are here?”

4. Their, There, and They’re

Deciding which of these three words to use and when can be confusing.

• Their belongs to “them.” Their (like your) is a possessive pronoun.
  • The boys left their muddy boots on the front porch.
• There indicates a place or is used in conjunction with various forms of the verb “to be.”
  • We saw a house over there that we liked.
  • I noticed there are new announcements on the bulletin board.
• They’re is a contraction for “they are.”
  • They’re leaving on vacation tomorrow.

Example: They’re (they are) upset because their names (names belonging to them) are not included in the list on the table over there (in that direction).

5. Apostrophe “s” doth not a plural make

I have to admit, this is something that affects me the same way nails on a chalk board affect others! Adding an apostrophe “s” (‘s) signifies possession, not more than one.

• Please, just add an “s.”
  • More than one veteran = veterans; not veteran’s (the apostrophe signifies something belonging to a veteran, like a veteran’s benefits)
• For words ending in “y,” replace“y”with “ies.” Do not add an apostrophe “s.”
  • More than one company = companies; not company’s (the apostrophe signifies something belonging to a company, like a company’s leave policy)
  • But the rule doesn’t apply to proper nouns; e.g., we have three Marys in our company
• Most words ending in “f” take “ves” in the plural form.
  • More than one knife = knives
• Most words ending in “o” add “es.”
  • More than one hero = heroes; not hero’s (the apostrophe signifies something belonging to a hero, like the hero’s cape)
  • An exception (this is English, so there has to be one!): More than one memo = memos.
• Compound nouns: The element that is more than one takes the plural form. In both of the examples below, the word that takes the plural form is the noun (daughters and chiefs).
  • Daughters-in-law (more than one daughter)
  • Chiefs of staff (more than one chief)
• Initialisms, acronyms, dates, and other oddities:
  • I will send you the URLs for some of my favorite websites.
  • The 1920s are often referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.”
  • High IQs are required for membership in Mensa, but not all members have PhDs.
  • Our accountant needs current addresses to mail out the 1099s.

6. Then and Than

Many people find difficulty differentiating between these two spellings.

• Rule of thumb: use than when comparing one thing to another.
  • David is one year older than his sister, Jane.
• Use then for everything else.
  • If class ends early, then I’ll have time to study,
  • He’s parking the car, then walking over to the club,

Example: If gas is cheaper here than at a station closer to the airport, then let’s fill the tank now.

7. Loose vs. Lose

This is a tough one because both spoken words have the “oo” sound. In this case, the double “o” softens the “s” sound, whereas the single o turns the “s” into a “z” sound.

• Loose is either an adjective (which describes something) or a verb (an action word).
  • My pants are loose.
  • I loosed the dogs. (Remember, that’s a soft “s” sound.)
• Lose is only a verb (an action word) and means to misplace or forget something.
  • You don’t want to lose your wallet.
• Try to remember, “If your belt is too loose, you will lose your pants.”

8. Complement vs. Compliment

These two words are often used incorrectly.

• Complement is a noun that refers to something that adds to or supplements something else. It can also act as a verb, meaning to complete or enhance.
  • Your cheese sauce is the perfect complement to the broccoli.
  • Hint: It might help to think of complement in conjunction with complete, such as the cheese sauce helps to complete the meal.
• Compliment is a noun that refers to something nice said about someone or something. It can also act as a verb, meaning to say something nice about someone or something.
  • She received many compliments on her new shoes.
  • He complimented her on her leadship style.
• Complimentary can also mean “free.”
  • As a member of the book club, I received a complimentary copy of the new novel.

Example: After the seminar, David received thanks for the complimentary pens and many compliments about how well the video complemented his presentation. 

9. Fewer and Less

These are easily confused.

• Rule of thumb: If you can count it, use fewer; if you can’t, then use less.
  • Studies have shown there are fewer accidents when people do not text and drive.
  • Albert has less enthusiasm about moving since he researched the local schools.

Example: I have fewer scrapes and less pain.