9 Powerful Grammar Tips to Strengthen Workplace Communication

9 Powerful Grammar Tips to Strengthen Workdistributions-mix CommunicationGrammar is leid as outdated an institution as you might think. Just because many people mightnot hold much stock in it doesnt mean you shouldnt pay attention to good grammar. It might just make the difference between getting hired or promoted and being overlooked. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) The way you use language is part of your presentation. Make sure youre making the right impression by avoiding these nine common mistakes1. Fewer vs. LessYou only use less when youre talking about concepts, rather than countable things. I want to be under less stress this year, is fine, but be careful. I want to take on less clients is incorrect. You want to take on fewer clients.SEE ALSOBan These 15 Words From Your Writing2. Its and itsThe most embarrassing. Remember its is a contraction for it is, much like cant for is a contraction for cannot. The apostrophe is holding th e place of the missing letter. Its is a possessive term. The cat ate its dinner.If youre having a hard time, try to never use the contraction version its and just make a habit of always spelling out it is instead.3. Dangling modifiersThis is a toughie. Just try to remember that what comes after a comma usually describesthe clause immediately before it. Smelling like a wet dog, I removed my sweater. Thats you smelling like a wet dog, when you meant to say the sweater smelled. Try instead, I removed my sweater, which smelled like a wet dog.4. Who vs WhomAn easy rule to remembersimply try completing the sentence in your head. For whom are the flowers? (The flowers are for him.) Whom did you ask to the prom? (I asked her to the prom.) You wouldnt say I asked she to the prom, would you? But you would say, Who did that? (She or he did it.)5. Me, Myself IMyself is a reflexive pronoun. Use it only when youve already referred to yourself earlier in the sentence. I made myself a sandwich is okay, but My mom and myself made a cake is not. That would be My mom and I made a cake. And careful with me and I, as well. My mom and me did not make a cake, but My dad is taking my mom and me to the park works great.6. Lie vs LayYoure not going to lay down. Lay always requires an object. You lay a book on the coffee table, but you lie down. Careful though, because layis also the past tense of lie. So you lay down on the couch yesterday though you will lie on it today. The past tense of lay, for reference, is laid.7. Irregular verbsThese sneak in all the time. For example, lended and upseted are not words (its left and upset). English is tricky that way. Especially with terminology in your career, be careful to be precise and not make these errors. A quick Google can usually sort you out if youre in doubt.8. Nor vs orOnly use nor when youre already expressing a negative. Neither my babo nor I understood the memo. Or my boss didnt understand the memonor did I. Otherwise, use or.9. T hen vs thanJust assume hiring managers will shred your resume on sight if you commit this sin. Remember,thanis comparative I would rather be a hammer than a nail. Then tells time We did this, then that.