Recurring Grammar-itis

Yes. It happens to me. I very well know the rules and uses of its and it's. I know the first is possessive and the second is a contraction for it is. I still have to check my work for them though because I type so fast that I don't even realize I've done it wrong until later.

I hate it. Because I know better.

your write, trish. its mind over it's matter.

You're not alone on this one. I also think I type too fast so I'm not noticing when I'm doing something stupid. I'll never say that I'm the best when it comes to grammar, but when I read some of the crap I've typed, I figure a first grader knows better. I'm constantly finding stupid mistakes like that when I edit.

As long as we find them, we can undo them before our cover as WRITER DEITIES is blown to smithereens. :}

Oh, yes! My fingers are apparently convinced that they're ought to be spelled their and you're ought to be spelled your and its always has an apostrophe. I know the difference; I don't even have to stop to think about it. But my fscking fingers have a mind of their own.

Oh, yes! I have a thing about misuse of "it's" as a possessive. I know what's right and what's not, since what, fourth grade? Yet in the past two or three years, I've begun making the very mistake I deplore. I never used to have to double-check it.

Maryn, more deplorable than ever

Whenever I make mistakes like this, it's because I'm hearing the sentence in my mind and transcribing what I hear, usually too quickly. And no, this isn't self-evident. One of the characteristics of speed readers and good spellers is that they recognize the visual configuration of the word first and hear the sound second. I don't notice spelling mistakes because I'm picky (even though I am) but because I often can't understand the sentence if there's a misspelled word. I have to stop and sound it out.

When I'm writing, it's a bit different of course, because I'm moving toward the written word instead of starting from it and the verbal component is stronger, so it's easier to write a homonym. Oh well, that's what revision is for.

I'm guilty of the its/it's problem. The first person who read my very first draft said that I had it wrong almost every time - but I was consistent. I think I've found them all now.