It's too there, then?

[Babelfish]

Why is there so much confusion among adults in regards to the usage of the words: too and to, its and it’s, then and than, and there, their, and they’re?

Perhaps this is a trivial matter to concern oneself with––but it always causes me to cringe when I see these words used incorrectly.

[cacian]

Hi Babelfish funny you mention this. I was just thinking about the amounts of Tos there are: To/Too/Two. I even spell Two Tow grrrrr. I do it all the time.LOL
I am in control of its and it's their and they're however I find them very easy and I am not an English speaker.

[cafolini]

It's not of much consecuence. In the English language,people learn context before the learn spelling. If you get too concerned about this you might have to play idiot to argue it. What difference does it make if someone writes "too much," or "to much," in for example "he knew to much," or "he knew too much?" The context pretty much tells
what the person means. If you have problems with spelling, get an editor. It's a simple solution and readily available. I am not impressed by errors in spelling. They are a necessary condition in a language like English and many others. Have fun.

[Charles Darnay]

^This.

The only interesting one here is its/it's. Thank about it. When we teach grammar, we teach that apostrophes are used for possession and contraction. So it's is it's because it is a contraction of it is. Its is a possessive term, but like his or hers it is does use an apostrophe - yet it is still possessive and falls into the two categories of when to use an apostrophe. So...English be crazy.

[cacian]

It's not of much consecuence. In the English language,people learn context before the learn spelling. If you get too concerned about this you might have to play idiot to argue it. What difference does it make if someone writes "too much," or "to much," in for example "he knew to much," or "he knew too much?" The context pretty much tells
what the person means. If you have problems with spelling, get an editor. It's a simple solution and readily available. I am not impressed by errors in spelling. They are a necessary condition in a language like English and many others. Have fun.
It is a bit unfair to blame people for making spelling errors. After all errors are as a result of a language that is not exact.
People talk with mistakes in their pockets 24/7 and no one cares and yet when it comes to writing one expects perfection. Well it just does not work like that.
A language that is fundamentally incorrect will simply renew itself in more errors then ever before. That is a simple equation of reality.

[Babelfish]

While I agree that ambiguous statements rarely result from the misuse of these words, I cannot help but feel that we do ourselves––and our writing––a disservice when we fail to correct such obvious mistakes.

Could you honestly trust or take seriously a writer that does not believe in his/her work enough to have it polished free of such errors before publication?

Perhaps all of this is very pedantic. But when I come across an error (whether grammatical or otherwise) there is a slight disconnect that takes place within my mind––a momentary pause where I am forced to stop, backtrack, and make sure that I have not misunderstood.

And I wonder if an argument does not lose a little of its veracity during such moments.

Am I alone in thinking this?

[Charles Darnay]

Should I take your post any less seriously because you start two sentences with a conjunction? Your sentence, "But when I come across an error (whether grammatical or otherwise) there is a slight disconnect that takes place within my mind––a momentary pause where I am forced to stop, backtrack, and make sure that I have not misunderstood" is technically a fragment: does this diminish its point?

I can agree that published writing should be polished, but should not be disregarded if there is one its rather than it's.

[Volya]

The only one I seem to have constant trouble with is the it/it's when it comes to using it to signify possession. What defines possessing something? Do you 'possess' characteristics?

[jajdude]

It's too late for the it's/its issue, if it is an issue. Bloody everybody is doing it everywhere, online at least. We've fallen in love with adding apostrophes where they don't belong, and the fine word its has been getting a real kick in the teeth in recent years.

[cacian]

Writing is a style and I wish to adopt my own. Varieties in spelling meanings and tenses including ideas is what creative writing is all about.
From a linguist point of the view the more variety the more propriety.

[loe]

As someone whos mother language isn't English I can say, that these mistakes are often just slips and not a lack of knowledge in grammar (especially to/too).

So usually re-reading ones own posts helps a bit (not always).

[jajdude]

An example of the "it's" epidemic from another website. I see this all the time. This guy is educated, intelligent, and teaches English as a foreign language in Korea:


"Yes but like I said, if you continue to work there for 1 or 2 months, you are floating a company that is abusing it's employees. It's actually more beneficial to everyone that you leave that company ASAP and seek employment where people are treated with respect and contracts are honored. This is similar to boycotting a company that mistreats it's employees and does not respect it's rights. Otherwise you have become complicit in their behavior and you are setting the stage for another guy to come over and get screwed."


Let's rewrite it to show how weird it really sounds, and what he is literally saying, even though you understand the message:

...a company that is abusing it is employees
...mistreats it is employees and does not respect it is rights

[Volya]

But does the apostrophe in that case not signify possession?

[Charles Darnay]

^I thought I explained this.

Its is possessive in the way his and hers are. You don't say he's and she's, so you don't say it's to expresses a neutral possessive.

[MorpheusSandman]

Sometimes there's not confusion but simple mistakes made when typing. I tend to only correct people if they continually make the mistake.


So it's is it's because it is a contraction of it is. :lol:

[OrphanPip]

I don't expect posts on forums to be particularly well written. I rarely produce any writing the first time out that isn't cluttered with errors, but I really can't be too bothered to edit and proofread forum posts.