Posted on Aug 31, 2015
SGT Ben Keen
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As one of the site user administrators, I spend a lot of my time not only engaging in some great conversations, but also ensuring the threads follow the guidance put out by RallyPoint. This includes ensuring proper grammar is used as well as the subjects of the threads are in fact questions since this site is based on the idea of engaging the users through some great questions and providing RallyPoint members with a database of some great questions that impact each of the branches.

While I'm not a English major and spell check is my best friend, I sometimes find myself having to go through a lot of my posts correcting some grammar errors that the PC doesn't big up. So I did a search and found the article attached below and use it as a reference sometimes when trying to ensure that proper grammar is used. And I know with all the writing the military asks us all to use, we are all exposed to some of these errors either in our own writings or in reviewing write ups for reviews, awards, counselings, or whatever else you might have to review as a leader in the military.

So my question to RallyPoint is, what is your biggest grammar pet peeve? Do you fall victim to one of these more than others, such as 'there', 'their', and 'they're'? Are there any that did not get listed on this blog?
Posted in these groups: 2dcac4a3 RallyPointGrammar scaled696 Grammar1024px smiley.svg Humor
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Responses: 27
SGM Special Forces Senior Sergeant
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My pet peeve is probably the overuse of passive vs active voice ie., "The trash has been taken out" vs "I took out the trash."
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
9 y
Interesting point SGM (Join to see). That was one that I have not really thought about but now will be more aware of it.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
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SPC Darren Koele
SPC Darren Koele
>1 y
Those are big in college papers. I got (have been... lol) nailed a lot on them.
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CPT Military Police
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Edited 9 y ago
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The use of the word "lighted" the proper use is to say it's "lit". The internet lit up with comments about proper conjugation..... Yes I know there's a shift to use lighted but it sounds wrong to me.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
9 y
Even saying "lighted" out loud is weird for me. I can feel my 11th grade English teacher standing behind ready to throw something at me if I use it instead of saying "lit". :-)

PS. I love that graphic even though it took me a few minutes to read through it because of how it is written. Great example on how a message can change based on the misuse of some words.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
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Using bigger or fancier words when smaller or simpler can meet the need. And don't ever say it "literally" drives you crazy, unless you have been judged to be insane by a competent psychologist.
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SGT Ben Keen
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