Trite but True

I think preachers should work to eliminate grammatical errors insofar as possible. While they probably will not annoy the uneducated by using correct grammar, they definitely will alienate the educated by not using good grammar.

“Slips in grammar can only distract your reader [or listener] from what you are saying, and start him thinking, unflatteringly, about you.” --Sheridan Baker, The Complete Stylist, 1966

Here are seven deadly grammar sins to avoid.

1.Failure to use a pronoun in the objective case after prepositions and transitive verbs

Wrong: Satan is crushed when Jesus is precious to you and I.
God chose to save you and I.
What you tell me in confidence is between you and I.

Correct: Satan is crushed when Jesus is precious to you and me.
God chose to save you and me.
What you tell me in confidence is between you and me.

Comment: Using only one pronoun makes it clear: God saves me.

2.Failure to make subjects and verbs agree

Wrong: There’s two reasons why I think that’s obvious.
You see some scriptures on the screen. I'll tell you what each one of them are.

Correct: There are two reasons I think that’s obvious.
I'll tell you what each one of them is.

Comment: There is not a subject. It is an introductory adverb.
"Each one" is the subject. "Them," referring to the scriptures, is not.

3.Failure to use the subjunctive in contrary-to-fact clauses

Wrong: If I was in heaven, I’d be singing God’s praises.

Correct: If I were in heaven, I’d be singing God’s praises.

Comment: Use the subjunctive were when the clause indicates a situation that is not actually the case: "If I were you" or "If my uncle were a woman."

4.Failure to distinguish between the verbs “lie” (intransitive) and “lay” (transitive)

Wrong: When the Samaritan arrived, the man was laying in the road.

Correct: When the Samaritan arrived, the man was lying in the road.

Comment: Lay requires a direct object. Don't lay an egg by misusing these verbs.

5.Failure to use a pronoun in the subjective case as the subject of a sentence.

Wrong: Me and Bill made some hospital visits last night.

Correct: Bill and I made some hospital visits last night.

Comment: In a compound subject, be humble and put yourself in second place. Remember, "The first shall be last." Once again, using a single pronoun makes it clear: "I made a hospital visit."

6. Failure to distinguish between “may” (a yet existing possibility) and “might” (a possibility that existed in the past but did not materialize).

Wrong: The apostle Paul may have journeyed as far as Spain.

Correct: The apostle Paul might have journeyed as far as Spain.

Comment: “May” is present tense, “might” is past tense.

7.Failure to use apostrophes correctly.

Wrong: You must understand a scripture in it’s context.
Our care group will meet at the Smith’s.

Correct: You must understand a scripture in its context.
Our care group will meet at the Smiths’.

Comment: Possessive pronouns don't have apostrophes: Hi's is obviously wrong. The possessive of nouns can be singular or plural. Since the Smiths are a family, their house belongs to all of them, not just one.