why do so many people use "there," "their," and "they're" incorrectly?

Question

and for that matter why don't they know the difference between "to" and "too" or even "your" and "you're". i mean c'mon, is it really THAT hard?

Answer 1

Becaue they're not taught properly. Drives me crazy too.

Speaking of that, that is another one people mess up on
to, too, and two.

Answer 2

Sadly, most people don't learn the difference between 'grammar' as in English grammar, and 'grammer' as in 'grammer got run over by a reindeer' (sorry, just a little post-holiday humor). Even in the various and sundry answers you'll find here, there is only demonstrated a rudimentary grasp of diction, syntax, punctuation and grammar. This is the failure of two institutions, the public-education system and the parents who allow their (<-- !) children to be 'dumbed down' by it. The absolute most horrendous thing you will hear/see on American media today is: "Where you at?" (Boost Mobile advertisers should be shot) and perhaps also: "You've got mail" (Think about this one carefully, everyone. If I break up the contraction, I end up with You have got mail... Who speaks this way?!?! No one! So why would the statement be made? The correct form is: You've mail, but I know, it sounds a little displeasing to the ear, so everyone gives in and says...

Answer 3

For the very same reason that c'mon is used instead of come on,as well as why some people start a sentence with a lower case letter;example: (1)"i mean c'mon"...(2)"why do so many"..., and the use of capital letters in the "almost"ending of a sentence? You had better look long and hard at your own gramatical mistakes before you chose to shoot down someone else's. I mean using quotation marks after a comma? Apparently you had better go back to your "innercity school" and get youself edgeumacated,rehillbillified and gagitated for'in u start yappin' 'bout stupids

Answer 4

Unfourtunately, your talking about peeple making an actual effort hear. Most peeple our two lazy too even try. There mistakes go unnoticed by themselves because their ignorant. It also goes back to there education especially in English and righting, or wrather, they're lack theiroff. Just learn two deel with it or your going too drive yourself crazy. That is what I am doing. :) You sea it's really not that hard is it? So, c'mon won't yew just make an effort too bee as unedjumacated as the rest off them?

It is actually a pet peeve of mine. I also notice misspelled words, words inappropriately used, and words with contractions that shouldn't have them. I don't really see any of it disappearing any time soon, so "chillax" and don't let it get to you too much.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, yes - to those who didn't grasp it- it is that hard to many of the students I teach everyday. I learned this in 3rd grade, but I am teaching 8th graders, who, for the most part, are struggling to grasp these concepts. I believe when I was a child, there was a grave absence of such malays as ADD/ADHD/504 plans/and all the others that we teachers have to consider as "learning disabilities" or efforts to thwart children from learning - providing them win ready-made-built-in excuses not to succeed! What I have to do daily is provide "writing opportunities" and "assessments" to help my students grasp these concepts. They have not been taught to 'listen' to the context clues within a sentence when the words that sound alike are 'heard'. You can list homophones/homonyms on the board all day - but get them to write sentences for each of them....is another story. It's a daily practice and yes -I do it everyday! Continuous practice is the only way. I teach a class called Language ! (pronounced EX) It is a 'reading' class, but I have to go back to the dialects, how language is acquired, morphology, phonology, syntax, grammar and usage - the whole gamut! I also believe that because many parents did not accomplish this effort, they are not able to help their children make that transition when they come home.

Answer 6

I agree with you. Many people DON'T know the difference. But its the whole,"sounds the same but looks different rule" and people dont know that there is a difference. Kinda like which and witch. Kids get it mixed up all the time. As for adults, they need to learn proper english. I think english has to be one of the hardest languages to learn, but just an opinion for you.

Answer 7

Laziness. Most of the people who use those words incorrectly are people who either were (years ago) or are now more interested in jocks and prom queens and passing notes and all that stupid stuff instead of, y'know, LEARNING, LIKE WHAT YOU'RE IN SCHOOL FOR.

Answer 8

I also hate when people can't tell the difference between "lose" and "loose". You'll see "How can I loose weight?" on here at least 40 times a day.

Answer 9

somebody didn't pay attention in English class. Some people cannot even spell the simplest of words. My friend once spelled angel "angle". How ignorant. He thought he was correct.

Answer 10

These people probably don't go to school or have never a taken a college English class in their whole life. I think it is quite funny as well.