Consider this; You saw an amazing crystal vase at a friend’s place and can’t wait to talk about it with your wife. Hoping that she isn’t a grammar high-brow, you can escape the ire by using either of the following:

“The beautiful crystal vase that we saw at Frank’s place”
OR

“The beautiful crystal vase which we saw at Frank’s place”

And if your wife is a grammar snob then why bring up the vase anyway?

The choice between ‘that’ and ‘which’ depends on something called restrictive and non-restricitve clauses. Clauses are part of a sentence with a subject and verb but are not complete on their own.

‘That’ is used in sentences with restrictive clauses that is they’re essential or restrictive. Example:
Buy shoes that are red in color.

Let’s go to that flower shop.

We are taking kids out for that toy movie.

‘Which’ is used in sentences that have non-restrictive and non-essential clauses. Example:

He bought patent shoes, which are red in color.

Let’s go to the flower shop, which is down the lane.

The toy movie, which released a week back is really good.

Also, no punctuation mark is used in sentences with restrictive clauses. In non-restrictive clauses a comma is used. For instance:

The building, which was made of steel collapsed.

Now you can fearlessly work up any conversation with your wife, including the one with ‘that’ or ‘which’.
And to be a complete ace at it, try and use both the words in the same sentence.

After all, the sentence that is easier to phrase is the one which is easier to understand.

The error I’m talking about is the mixing up of you’re and your. Are you one of the many confused? Don’t worry, you’re reading this and your confusions will be cleared! Let’s look at these tricky words individually:

You’re is a contraction, i.e., a combination, of ‘you are’. It is often followed by the present participle, a verb form ending in ‘-ing’.

Some examples:

You’re a nice person.
I think you’re lying.
I can’t believe you’re here!

Your, on the other hand, is the possessive form of you. It is used to describe something as belonging to you. Your is almost always followed by a noun.

Some examples:

Is this your pen?
Your book is on the table.
Your hand looks a little bruised!

Important Tip:

When confused, try replacing you’re with ‘you are’ in the sentence. If it fits, you’re good! Otherwise, ‘your’ is the word you’re looking for!

Very Important Note:

There is absolutely no such word as your’e!!

Want to add something? Have any inputs? Please feel free to leave a comment or contact us. I say it again, we grammar snobs love to argue .

Let’s try and make things a little easier in the its and it’s department with explanations and some examples:

It’s – It’s is a contraction for ‘it is’ (sometimes for ‘it has’ as well, but we can put that one aside). This is an exception to the general rule that ‘s denotes possession.

Examples:

It’s an interesting theme to build a play around.
It’s easy to remember stuff with mnemonics.

How to remember tip – Try replacing it’s with it is in a sentence. If it fits, you are good!

Its – Its denotes possession (an exception to the general norm), and can be interpreted as ‘that which belongs to him/her’.

Examples:

The dog lost its tag.
A Hill Myna is known for its ability to mimic the human voice.

How to remember tip – Try replacing its with his or her in a sentence. If it fits, you are good!

Very Important Note:

There is absolutely no such word as its’!!

Have any doubts or want to add something? Feel free to leave a comment or contact us! I did admit to being a grammar snob and another thing which makes us very happy is answering and arguing .