Grammar Nerd: Your or You’re???

Dear Grammar Nerd,

Thank you for this column! I know that I have trouble with some of those grammar rules, like when to use your and you’re. Could you please help me?

You’re Friend…

Dear Friend,

Thanks for the opportunity! Let’s start with your signature. The way that it is written, you are saying that you are friend, because you’re is the same as you are. You meant to write “your friend”. That shows possession.

All right, with that being said, let’s get into this a little bit more deeply. Today is your lucky day! Your vs. you’re is one of the easier grammar mistakes to grasp! Very simply, you’re is a replacement for you are. That’s it. Nothing more to be said. And, your is a possessive pronoun. It shows ownership. It serves the same role as my or his or her or our. So, let’s look at a few examples:

You’re welcome. You are welcome.

You’re the best! You are the best.

Choose a seat where you’re most comfortable. …you are most comfortable.

Your mother told me to call you. Not you are mother told me…

I will send this to your office. Not to you are office…

Is this your current address? Not is this you are current address…

So, next time you get tripped up in deciding which form to use, simply ask yourself if you can substitute you are for what you are saying. If yes, it should be you’re. If not, then your is the right choice.

Now you’re on your way!

Sydnee Bagovich provides professional proofreading services for your business: websites, brochures, presentations… You write it. She makes it right. You can reach her at grammar.nerd@yahoo.com.