Ten pointers for Grammar Day, 2025
Time for my annual list. Do any of these mistakes apply to you? 🧐
“March forth on March 4 to speak well, write well, and help others do the same!" ~ Martha Brockenbrough, founder of National Grammar Day
I am marching forth once again!
My previous Grammar Day posts generated enthusiastic questions and replies, so I am doing it again and listing ten more common mistakes. I love that people are paying attention; not so much to my posts, though I certainly appreciate that, but to grammar itself. That makes me happy. Yes! Let’s try to get things right, folks.
You might react to some items on this list with a shake of the head, wondering how it is that others could make these mistakes. Then, you might come upon a mistake you make. Or, maybe none of these items will apply to you. There’s no judgement. Common mistakes are, after all, common. These posts simply highlight what they are, since we don’t always know when we’re getting something wrong, or why.
Here are my previous Grammar Day posts, in case you want to check them out:
Now, ten more pointers for 2025:
1. Metaphor vs. Simile
Do you get these two confused sometimes? What’s the difference?
Metaphor is when two objects, seemingly unrelated, are compared to each other. Something is equated with, or considered the same as, something else, even though they have different literal meanings. Metaphor is a creative form of expression, used for effect.
Example: That girl is pure sunshine.
Example: They are two peas in a pod.
Simile is when something is likened to something else. (If you see the words “like” or “as”, it’s a simile.)
Example: She was as busy as a bee.
Example: Life is like a box of chocolates.
2. Less vs. Fewer
This likely makes you think of those express check-out signs that say “ten items or less”. Right? Well, that’s grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is “ten items or fewer”. (More signs now use the correct phrase.)
So, what’s the difference?
Less references a smaller amount of something that is not countable by numbers.
Example: I should’ve eaten less of that wonderful dessert.
Fewer references a smaller amount of items that are countable by numbers.
Example: There were fewer people at the party than I expected.
3. Alot vs. a lot vs. allot
To put it simply, alot is not a word, so this spelling is never correct. It might sound like one word when you hear it, but it’s actually two words: a lot. Always include the space.
Allot means something altogether different. Allot is about apportionment.
Example: They allot one hour to take the test.
4. Lose vs. loose
When you see these words side-by-side, you likely know the difference. But when you’re writing one of them, do you sometimes get the spelling confused and wonder if it’s one or two “o’s”? (Remember, it is a common mistake.)
Lose is the verb form of loss. When you say this word, the “s” is lazy and sounds like a “z”: “luze”.
Example: Did you lose your keys again?
Loose is an adjective that describes when something as not tightly fitted or securely attached. When you say this word, the “s” is sharp and sounds like “looce”.
Example: That shirt is loose on me. (Or: The dogs are running loose in the park.)
This tip might help to remember the different spellings: when you lose, you lose an “o”.
The next four items are about commonly mispronounced words:
5. “Realtor”
Do you say “real-ah-ter”? That is incorrect. There is no vowel between the “l” and “t”. There are two syllables in this word; not three. The correct pronunciation is “real-ter”.
It’s not clear why this word is commonly mispronounced. It could be that the pronunciation gets passed on orally: people hear it said incorrectly and automatically repeat what they heard; and/or people transpose the “l” and the “a” visually, mistakenly reading it as “rela” instead of “real”.
6. “Nuclear”
Do you say “noo-cue-ler”? That is incorrect. There is no vowel between the “c” and the “l” to create that “cue” sound. The correct pronunciation is “noo-klee-er”.
Reasons for the mispronunciation of this word are likely the same as realtor. It might be orally passed on, or people are visually transposing the letters “c” and “u”.
7. “Etcetera”
You know where I’m going with this one, probably. What is it not? It’s not “ex-cetera.” It’s a “t”, not an “x”, and the “t” is pronounced as such: “et-cetera”.
This isn’t a big deal, of course, but many people say it with that “x” sound and don’t realize it’s incorrect.
8. ”Espresso“
Same thing, again. It’s not pronounced “ex-presso”. It’s an “s” there, not an “x”. The proper pronunciation is “ess-presso”.
Espresso is an international word, so this American mispronunciation tends to stand out.
9. “Remuneration”
When you see this word, do you want to say “re-noom-eration”? Visually transposing the “m” with the “n”? The correct pronunciation is “re-mew-neration”.
I think people sometimes switch the “m” and the “n”, because they’re subconsciously thinking of, or seeing, the word “number” in there. This is my theory, anyway. Haven’t checked into it, but do you think this theory makes sense? (Also, remuneration is easily associated with numbers, since it means payment or compensation for one’s work.)
10. Comparisons between American English and British English
This last pointer is not about incorrect grammar, per se, since both types of English are obviously correct, but if you use one type of English in the other continent, it can sometimes prompt confusion or a claim of getting it wrong. I thought I’d highlight a sample of some differences, for fun.
Different words with the same meaning (American English vs. British English):
French fries vs. chips
Potato chips vs.crisps
Drunk vs. pissed
Apartment vs. flat
Dude vs. bloke
Trunk vs. boot (of a car)
Aside from bloke, the British words referenced above are also words used in American English to mean very different things, which can prompt more confusion. (Example: If an American says, “I was really pissed,” that doesn’t mean they were really drunk, it means they were really angry. Also, if an unknowing American asks for “chips” in England, they will get french fries, which is likely not what they expected.)
Same words with different spellings (American English vs. British English):
Words ending in -or in the U.S., end in -our in Britain. (e.g., color vs. colour);
words ending in -ize in the U.S., end with -ise in Britain. (e.g., organize vs. organise);
words ending in -er in the U.S., end with -re in Britain. (e.g., theater vs. theatre).
Again, all these words are fine grammatically, but depending on where you are, they can sometimes be misunderstood or considered incorrect.
Grammar humor
For many years, I worked as a private tutor of English as a Second Language (ESL), and there were times when my student and I would break into fits of laughter over some ridiculous bit of English grammar. With that in mind, I thought I’d share this video of British comedian Michael McIntyre talking about words with silent letters:
How’d you fare? Did any of these items apply to you?
Share your thoughts. Please scroll down to like/comment. 😊
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March forth!
And don't get me started on apostrophe hell
Beautifully written - helpful & relatable. Keep fighting the good grammar fight, my friend! It's a noble cause.