Why do so many people use "your" instead of "you're"????

Question

I believe most of us learned this is about 2nd or 3rd grade...

When you are saying "your welcome" it is not something that belongs to you. It is a contraction of two words. Proper spelling of the word in this case is "you're" meaning "you are"

Unfortunately it is a common occurence that I have even noticed by college educated people, I have also seen it broadcast on national TV! More than likely it is just laziness, because it is something we learn so early on and it is simple for anyone to understand as long as you know the basics of the English language.

Answer 1

The same reason they confuse their-there-they're and to-two-too and many others.

Education diluted to accommodate the shallow end of the intelligence puddle.

Answer 2

Take into consideration how people from different countries have come to the USA and learned and have tried earnestly to use the English language. Many times they would take a word that they heard and tried to repeat it. Based upon where they emphasized a phonic sound, it may have changed the way it should have been said and its intended meaning. Only when people see what they say, then will they correct how they speak.

Answer 3

I would just like to add that, in addition to all the comments about this countries' educational capabilities, the internet, instant messaging and text messaging all add to the problem. Since the introduction of these methods of rapid communication, people keep working to make full sentences using fewer and fewer characters to make typing quicker and easier without thinking about how it affects overall word skills and proper spelling.
For myself, I very rarely make any exceptions in spelling when instant messaging with friends, and I do my damnedest to avoid ANY text messaging. My cell phone is used ONLY to make phone calls, thank you.

Answer 4

For the same reasons they substitute "there" for "their" (as in "there kids" instead of "their kids"), "to" for "too" (as in "to hard" instead of "too hard), "breath" for "breathe", "loose" for "lose", and "of" for "have." People don't seem to know when to use apostrophes correctly, either. Aside from being a foreigner or somebody with learning disabilities, people should know better by the time they're old enough to use a computer. I think the reasons people don't use the right spellings are because they're lazy, they rely on spellcheck, texting, and IM too much, or (sadly) nobody cares as long as YOU'RE capable of understanding what they're saying. It make you look so ignorant and illiterate when you constantly use the wrong "your" or "there" or "to" or say "____ of". I know it makes me want to cry.

Answer 5

Yer kidding wright?

For talking to one another such as Instant messages and emails to friends most people just want to get the basic message across and don't put excess time in making sure its completely correct as long as the message gets across.

As far as TV goes I'm guessing professional laziness.

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

Apostrophe use has been getting sloppier and sloppier for years.

Hamburger's

How many have seen the above sign?

Folks SHOULD know that "you are" is contracted to "you're"
and the possesive is "your". But they do not care in most places, and folks look at you funny if you protest.

Which does not mean I will stop any time soon . . . :)

Answer 8

Attention to things like grammar, spelling, and punctuation seem to be on the decline. It's become increasingly commonplace to see errors related to the usage of: your/you're, its/it's, they're/there/their, lay/lie, and so on and so on. I would like to think that it's related to laziness or sloppiness, too . . . .

Answer 9

You answered your own question.
2nd or 3rd grade was a long time ago (I'm 31)
Funny thing is, I remember learning it in 1st.(I could be wrong.)

Answer 10

well, people now a days are becoming such sloths that they no longer check their grammar..they just spell out how the word is being pronounced..