Lie, Lay, and Other Grammar Blunders

By Rhonda Ramsey,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

How often do you look over your work and find simple mistakes in grammar staring back at you? As I often say I somehow forget certain words -- when I am typing late at night, not paying attention, or simply cannot remember --  so I am prompted to test myself.

If you, too, enjoy testing yourself with the simple things to make sure you are not “losing it, or to wake yourself up, have fun with this quick grammar quiz!

1) eachother or each other

     a. Just love eachother!

     b. Just love each other!

2) everyone or everybody

     a. I love everybody.

     b. I love everyone.

3) lie or lay

     a. I will lie down in the sun.

     b. I will lay down in the sun.

4) alot or a lot

     a.  I do not have alot of friends.

     b.  I do not have a lot of friends.

5) on or upon

     a.  My hands upon your face.

     b.  My hands on your face.

6) among or amongst

     a. They are among us.

     b. They are amongst us.

7) ok or okay

     a.  I will be ok.

     b.  I will be okay

8)  into or in to

      a)  They broke into the store.

      b)  They broke in to the store.

9)  as sank or has sunk

      a. The boat has sank.

      b. The boat has sunk.

10) affect or effect

       a. The effects of the sun can be dangerous.

       b. The affects of the sun can be dangerous.

11) its or it’s

      a. The dog chased its tail until noon.

      b. The dog chased it’s tail until noon.

Answer:

1) each other 2) these words are interchangeable 3) lie 4) a lot 5) both! 6) both! (but among is more common) 7) both! (but both should be avoided in formal writing) 8) in to  9) has sunk  10) effects 11) it’s

About sunk:

The verb sink has the past tense sank (but formerly and occasionally still sunk) and the past participle sunk. The adjectival forms sunk and sunken are not readily distinguished: sunken is often used to mean “submerged” (a sunken ship), “fallen in, hollow” (sunken cheeks, sunken eyes), and often “below the normal level” (sunken garden). Sunk is the form normally chosen for technical expressions such as sunk fence, sunk key and sunk panel, although in these cases, too, sunken is sometimes used. In general use sunken is the more common choice for attributive uses (i.e. before nouns).


How did you do on the quiz?

Do you have any common grammar blunders to share?

Sources:

Copy Blogger

Answers.com
Dr. Grammar