10. Incorrect use of there, their and they're. Their = plural, possesive (it is theirs, their car). "There" is a place (over there, we are going there). They're = they are.
9. Incorrect use of to and too.
8. Text shorthand when you aren't texting. (c u l8r - okay for texting, not so cute in an e-mail or a school paper).
7. Apostrophe. Know when to use it and know when not to use it (please for the love of all that is good).
6. Your vs. You're. You're = You are. Your = possesive (it is yours)
5. Its vs. It's. It's = It is. Its = possessive
4. Constant misspelling. Most things have spell check people. And? Beyond that doesn't it just look wrong to you? It should. If it does, fix it!
3. Effect vs. Affect - “Affect” is a verb, as in "Your skill level affects how well you play the game. “Effect” is a noun, as in “The effect that alcohol has your ability to drive."
2. Lack of Subject / Verb Agreement - When speaking or writing in the present tense, a sentence must have subjects and verbs that agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. For example:
Incorrect: The recipes is good for beginning chefs.
Correct: The recipes are good for beginning chefs.
1. Omg... this one just drives me nuts. And I see it all the time! The incorrect use or spelling of "loose." Okay, when something isn't tight or is falling off it is "loose." You can "hang loose" in Hawaii. A screw can be "loose." A person who sleeps around can be "loose." A tooth can be "loose." Now, pay attention here: When your team doesn't win they "lose" the game. They DON'T "loose" it. When you can't find something you didn't "loose" it, you "lose" it. When you are going crazy you aren't "loosing" your mind... You are "losing" it. (Seriously, if you loose something is it then loost?)
