I knew it!

I knew I would commit at least one error as I was beginning this blog, thus the disclaimer at the end of the first post. Two points to GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily of the Bluffton Today blogs. She quickly spotted that I incorrectly typed "district." Shame on me. I could claim that it was a test, but I would be lying.

While we're talking about this word, I must mention one of my pet peeves. It really gets under my skin when people pronounce it "districk." There is a "t" at the end of the word.

My four eyes are watching!

I have a problem. I am a grammar-aholic and a punctuation priss. I cannot read a newspaper, magazine, or real estate sign without cringing in horror at misused apostrophes. I have been afflicted with this condition for many years and have finally decided to share it with the rest of you - partly just to get it off of my chest, and partly in hopes that I will find some sisters and brothers out there who share my pain.

Does anyone else out there care that a local publication frequently prints "its'" in its articles? "Its'" ain't a word, y'all! While I'm at it, yes, it's "y'all," not "ya'll." Try to remember back to second grade when you were first introduced to the magic of the contraction. Remember? The apostrophe "takes the place of" omitted letters.

• cannot = can't (' replaces no)
• I have = I've (' replaces ha)
• you all = y'all (' replaces ou)

(Sidebar: look up Mitch Hedberg. He has a great bit about how we talk in the South.)

So there is your first lesson. My plan for this blog is to point out daily errors in local publications and also to offer little lessons here and there. My goal is to alert those who write and print that these little things matter. Take responsibility for your commas! My four eyes are watching...

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be perfect, just more grammar/punctuation-aware than most others.