Sometimes even writing “experts” get it wrong. The Grammar Cop uncovered goofs by authors and educators alike in this week’s bunch o’ boo-boos.

1. “Psst, memoirists: No one wants to hear you’re whole life story.”
2. “Getting a scholarship or a partial scholarship is great, but not the reason you should chose a school – especially for a Quebec-born student…”
3. “As our investigation found, it depends on who you ask. Some scientists say that…”

The corrections:

1. No one wants to see “your” spelled the wrong way, either! Look:
   You’re = you are.
   Your = possessive. 
   It should be your whole life story.
2. Maybe it’s better to choose a school instead… because “chose” is how you spell the past tense of choose, but in this sentence the past tense is not called for. (Read it again.)
3. You smart readers out there know that the letter m is missing. It should say it depends on whom you ask. The reason? The clause “whom you ask” is the object of the verb, “depends on.” The pronoun “who,” when used as an object, becomes whom.

There you go! You’re now way ahead in the grammar sweepstakes. If you choose to stick with Friday Follies and you’ll be a real winner – depending on whom you ask. 😄