17 Common Grammar Mistakes That Can Make You Look Dumb

Which do you use when?

To keep it simple, the Plain English Campaign says that you should use fewer when you mean not as many and less when you mean not as much.

Examples:

"I have fewer than 5 wigs."
"I would like less headcheese."

No, no, a thousand times no! It's vice versa!

Use then when you're talking about time, use than when you're comparing things.

Examples:

"First you do this, then you do that!"
"I think my car is faster than your car."

If you order an expresso at a real coffee shop you're likely to get stink eye from your barista. It's espresso with an s.

Even after all this time, people still mess up irony and ironic.

Here's the Merriam-Webster definition:

- the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny

- a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected

Pay attention: A black fly in your Chardonnay is not ironic. It's a drag.

Whereas a firehall burning down is ironic.

Many people think that bemused means amused. Nope.

Bemused means to confuse or bewilder someone.

Example:

"Pat's request for bacon-flavoured ice cream bemused the waiter."

Literally means exactly as stated, not exaggerated.

Example:

"My head literally exploded when Sally gave me bacon-flavoured ice cream!"

In this example, you're saying that your head actually exploded, leaving Sally to clean up the mess.

Lose means no longer having something, to be deprived of or failing to win.

“I better not lose any more weight.”

Loose means not in a fixed place or poorly fitting.

"This bacon-flavoured ice cream diet must be working, look how loose my pants are!"

NOT A WORD!

You probably mean supposedly.

Here's another phrase that many people mangle.

It's actually for all intents and purposes.

It's is a contraction of it is or it has.

Example:

"It's going to rain."

Whereas its is the possessive form of it.

"He picked that hotel because of its pool."

Saying I could care less doesn't mean you don't care at all, it actually means you care a little. Aww!

Your refers to something the person you're speaking to possesses.

"Is that your car?"

You're is a contraction of you are.

"You're in trouble!"

Yore is long ago.   

"This story is about a princess in the days of yore."

If you're talking about the frozen treat, that would be sherbet. Sherbert is not a word.

They're is contraction of they are.

"They're the brightest and the best."

Their shows possession.

"It's their car."

There refers to being in or at a place or position.

"She's sitting over there."

A lot  can mean a large amount.

"I need a lot of money."

Alot isn't a word. Never use it!

Allot means to give a portion of something.

"How much time should I allot to the speaker?"

Irregardless is NOT A WORD. Just drop the 'ir' and use regardless. Simple!