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Post by SnowGod on Jul 15, 2015 17:06:54 GMT -8
The English language is a marvelously frustrating thing. The phonetics, the phonics, and the phoenix… okay, maybe not the last one, but there is certainly strange words that look and sound the same. I hope that you, dear writer, can at least take away from this guide the answers to a few words that you may have or had confusion on. Without further ado or delay, here is a list of words. And yes, they are clickable. It’s/ItsWhere/were/we’re/wearThey’re/there/their Your/You’re Then/Than Except/Accept Effect/Affect Advise/Advice Alot/A lot/allot Elude/Allude Lay/Lie Raise/Rise/Raze Loose/Lose Past/Passed Reign/Rain/Rein Too/To That/Which/Who One/Won |
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Post by SnowGod on Jul 17, 2015 11:40:48 GMT -8
It’s and Its
One is a contraction and the other is not. The use of the apostrophe suggests that “it’s” is actually the combination of two words. In all events where an apostrophe is used often can be taken as the missing letters in between. In this case “it’s” can also be phrased “it is”. Because of this rule of thumb, you can easily determine most contractions from possessions which is what “its” signifies. The way to tell which version of its or it’s to use is to tell if “it is” would make sense in the situation.
It’s simple. (It is simple) Now that you’ve read this part of the guide, its lesson should come naturally to you. (it is lesson should come naturally to you)
See how the second set of parenthesis seem to make no sense? That’s how I know whether or not it is appropriate (it’s appropriate) to use the possessive form of “its” over the contraction.
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Post by SnowGod on Jul 20, 2015 21:34:10 GMT -8
Where, wear, were, and we’re
The best way to determine these four very different words is to first define them and how they play into your chosen situation. Once you know the direct definition, it’ll become evident whether or not it fits the sentence and scene.
Where determines a timed location as in where something is. Places and fixed points can be the object of where. “You won’t believe where I found my keys.” “Where did you find them?” “They were in the trash!”
In the first two sentences use a locational version of where while the last sentence uses were. So now, let us define were.
It is a verb. Let me say that first before I begin even attempting an actual definition. Were is a verb and should be used in such a way. If you use were as a noun or adjective, chances are it is improper. (exceptions include combined words such as werewolf or werecat, etc.) Now then, for the actual oxford definition: second person singular past, plural past, and past subjunctive of be. It’s a state of being. A state of presence (not of location like where was) that an object, objects, person, or persons that has happened in a past tense.
Now, I prefer to think of “were” as a pluralized version of “was” as well as the past tense form of “are” which, all in all, is simply the term that it’s meant to be used as a verb. The other easy way to look at it is whether or not it’s a contraction.
We’re is the smooshed form of we are. In the rule of contractions, if you can place “we are” in the place of were, it needs have the apostrophe. If it doesn’t make sense, then there is no need for the apostrophe.
Last but not least, is the other verb which looks and sounds similar but has a completely different meaning. Wear. It means to wear something as in a garment, perfume, or other object. However, wear has another meaning. To wear, in the other sense, is to wear something down which either lowers quality, buffs out rough spots, or use. Wear is a verb that has to deal specifically with objects and less with verbs and their tenses.
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