<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Zku8H_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Zku8H_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><p>Everyone makes grammatical mistakes, even the most well-versed English speakers. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear these frequent slip-ups from your English-loving friends.</p><p>How many of these grammatical fails are you guilty of making?</p><h2>1: You Made the Bed </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=15Mh1J_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=15Mh1J_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: VTT Studio via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>A major grammatical mistake Americans make is misusing “lay” and “lie.” You can only use “lay” when there’s a direct object involved, whereas “lie” doesn’t have a direct object. For example, you “lay” a spoon on the table, but you “lie” on a bed. </p><h2>2: For Example</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3d0bpf_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3d0bpf_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Мар’ян Філь via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>People commonly use “E.g.” instead of “i.e.” in sentences, but there’s a nuanced difference. Whereas “e.g.” is used to give examples, “i.e.” is used to specify something. You can think of “i.e.” as “in other words.”</p><h2>3: A Daily Occurrence </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=26XnWI_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=26XnWI_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Pixel-Shot via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>The words “every day” and “everyday” are confused by English speakers all too often. “Every day” is two separate words with their own meanings, such as “She washes the dishes every day.” In contrast, “everyday” is an adjective referring to something common. For example, “An everyday occurrence.”</p><h2>4: Going Extinct </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0aV5ZT_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0aV5ZT_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: P Stock via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>You may remember subjunctives from your grade school English classes, but the chances are high that you don’t use the concept in real life. When you’re speaking about a hypothetical situation, such as wanting to be an astronaut, the correct way to say it is, “I wish I <i>were</i> an astronaut.” However, nowadays many Americans say, “I wish I <i>was</i> an astronaut.”</p><h2>5: How Flattering </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3tWD79_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tWD79_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Jacob Lund via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>“Compliment” and “complement” aren’t the same thing, contrary to what many seem to think in written English. FYI: “Complement” means to add to or make something seem complete, while “compliment” is to give someone flattering praise.</p><h2>6: Inhale, Exhale</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2pxYWq_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2pxYWq_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: sutadimages via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Breath versus breathe is a painfully common grammatical error Americans make. Whereas breath is a noun, such as “He took a breath of fresh air,” the other is a verb, such as “He’s breathing in fresh air.”</p><h2>7: Ditto</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=12nemR_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12nemR_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Monkey Business via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>The words “advice” and “advise” are another example of English speakers mixing up nouns and verbs. Someone can give you <i>advice</i>, but they <i>advise</i> you on something.</p><h2>8: Hang Out </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0VdCmg_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VdCmg_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: igor_kravtsov via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Americans often don’t know when to use “hanged” and “hung.” The word “hanged” can only be used in the context of having hanged a <i>living being</i>. For objects, you must use “hung.” For example, “The picture was hung on the wall.”</p><h2>9: Less Is More </h2><p>Do you want to annoy a grammar stickler? Try confusing “less” with “fewer.” Only use “fewer” when you’re referring to a number of things that you can count. On the other hand, “less” is strictly for items you can measure. </p><h2>10: Passing Through </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=46i0IX_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=46i0IX_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>English speakers often mix up “passerbys” and “passersby” when both speaking and writing. Although it’s natural to assume the plural form of “passerby” should carry an “s” at the end of the word, since “passer” is the noun, you must place the “s” between “passer” and “by.”</p><h2>11: Defying Vocabulary </h2><p>It’s definitely a common mistake, but when people type “defiantly” instead of “definitely,” it gets on many grammar buffs’ nerves. To be clear, “defiantly” is an adverb meaning to be disobedient. </p><h2>12: Eras Tour </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ZTZvZ_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ZTZvZ_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: stockbusters via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>It bothers some grammar fans when folks incorrectly write the shortened version of a decade. For example, for the 1950s, many people write “50’s” instead of “’50s.”</p><h2>13: Plural Power</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2IkBJ8_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IkBJ8_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: TungCheung via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Many English speakers are guilty of adding an apostrophe ​​to make a word plural when unnecessary, particularly when the word naturally includes an “s” at the end. Case in point? “Thank’s” instead of “Thanks.”</p><h2>14: Acting Pretentious </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FzaNu_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FzaNu_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Alona Dudaieva via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Misusing who vs. whom is a common mistake Americans make. But in some cases, it could be intentional. Some people point to “whom” sounding pretentious and old-fashioned.</p><h2>15: Nothing To Lose </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0rB4NP_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0rB4NP_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: New Africa via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>English speakers rarely mix up “lose” and “loose” when speaking. But writing these words is a different story. “Lose” means something is missing, whereas “loose” means something isn’t tight. For example, when you lose weight, your clothes become loose.</p><h2>16: Southern Charm </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3INCgm_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3INCgm_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: BrittanyMillie via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>This one is more of a regional-specific mixup, but Americans often put the apostrophe in the wrong place when they spell “Y’all.” While many spell it “Ya’ll,” the correct spelling is “y’all,” as it’s a contraction of you + all. </p><h2>40 Most Confusing Acronyms</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3mqdeQ_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3mqdeQ_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Prostock-studio via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>With many people wanting to send and receive information quickly, new acronyms seem to appear by the minute. The problem? Many Americans are left in the dust about what they mean.</p><h2>19 Historical U.S. Myths That Annoy History Buffs to the Core</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0qaa8D_0vgD9r5200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0qaa8D_0vgD9r5200" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: stokkete via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>If your teacher taught it in history class, it’s normal to assume it’s true. Ask any historian, though, and you might be surprised to learn the stuff of school history lessons is often riddled with inaccuracies. </p></div></body>

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16 Grammatical Fails Americans Don’t Know They’re Making

Everyone makes grammatical mistakes, even the most well-versed English speakers. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear these frequent slip-ups from your English-loving friends. How many of these grammatical fails are you guilty of making?. 1: You Made the Bed. A major grammatical mistake Americans make is misusing “lay” and...