PET PEAVE ALERT

So this has been bothering me since about the third grade, which is when my wonderful teacher Mr. Franklin taught us the difference between there, their, and they're.  He made a major deal about how if we couldn't use these words correctly in a written sentence people would laugh at us and think we were dumb.  Although very conscientious about this, even I have re-read emails I've already sent that accidentally used one of these words incorrectly.  I just can't stand it, though.  

I know I make some grammar mistakes (definitely don't think I'm the whiz kid at this stuff).  Also, some rules actually change every few years and obviously since I'm no longer in school I am not "in the know."  A professor I had proved it to us when she pulled out two identical grammar books, one just a later edition.  Weird I always thought those things were etched in stone.  

Anyway, I know a lot of people could use this refresher:  (I didn't happen to look these up anywhere, I just made this up)

"There" = A place.  As in, "Jane is over there."  

"Their" = A possessive pronoun.  As in, "It would be in their best interest to listen to the professor." 

"They're" = A contraction, meaning "They are."  As in, "They're going to be here in five minutes."  If you are using this word, just substitute "They are" for "They're" to make sure it makes sense.  For example, someone could write, "Jonas threw the toy over they're." 

"Jonas threw the toy over they are" just doesn't make sense, so in this case, the correct word would be "there."  

Oh, and let's not forget the difference between to, too, and two.  

To is a prepostion; too is an adverb; two is a number.  "Too many of your shots slice to the left, but the last two were right on the mark."

Okay, now that that is off my chest I feel better.  I hope the major offenders read this and change they're ways.  JUST KIDDING!  Let's try this again: I hope the major offenders read this and change their ways.