Pardon Me, You’re Showing Your Spelling Mistakes

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Pardon Me, You’re Showing Your Spelling Mistakes

Posted on September 22nd, 2009 in Writing by Karen Gross

By popular demand, here is my attempt to clear up the mystery of when to use “your” and when to use “you’re.”

So, you’re confused about your spelling. Your readers might get the idea that you’re not a professional writer. If you’re not a professional writer, don’t you still want your readers to think you are?

“You’re” is the contraction for “you are.” Notice that there is an apostrophe in the word “you’re.” An apostrophe means that some letters have been left out. Don’t you just hate being left out? You are not alone if you are feeling that way. But your writing will sound a little less stuffy if you just leave out a letter. That would be the letter “a.” So just remember that if you leave out a letter, you’re making a contraction for “you are.”

The word “your” is possessive. When you write an article, it is your article. Make sure that your word choices are correct. It will make your readers respect your professionalism. So remember that if you possess something, it is yours. And if you get picked up for possession, you’re responsible for whatever is found in your pockets.

Brought to you by the author of Are We There Yet?

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Tags: English, Grammar, Spelling, Writing, you're, your

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6 Responses to “Pardon Me, You’re Showing Your Spelling Mistakes”

JohnKing
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 pm

great work Karen, hopefully this will help writers who have this confusion going on.

Take care and God Bless
B Nelson
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm

this one doesnt give me a problem my brain knows which is correct, sometimes my fingers type it automatically the other way though…
also isnt there a word YORE.. as in days gone by?
Uma Shankari
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 pm

Your alright, Karen? You’re article is too good. I new you’re article will be hot content.

People rite as they think. No wonder, their confused.
Christine Ramsay
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 am

You are (you’re) a great teacher, Karen. Well done.

Christine
PR Mace
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:14 pm

You’re a good writer and I like your article. I have problems with made and make, I wish I knew why.
Anne Lyken Garner
September 24th, 2009 at 5:15 am

I’m glad you tackled this. I’ve been trying to say the same thing for a long time. Even career writers don’t seem to know when to use you’re and your.

I suppose we all have our ‘thing.’ I know I do.