Tom Freeman at the Stroppy Editor quotes a YouGov poll that showed 1000 Americans some sentences and asked them to pick which one of each pair or group was grammatically correct.
These were the results:
- My oak tree loses it’s leaves in autumn. – 31%
My oak tree loses its leaves in autumn. – 67% - The dogs are happily chewing on they’re bones. – 4%
The dogs are happily chewing on their bones. – 89%
The dogs are happily chewing on there bones. – 4% - I think you’re very smart. – 91%
I think your very smart. – 6% - I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York. – 61%
I consulted an attorney who I met in New York. – 32% - I don’t trust fruits and vegetables which aren’t organic. – 24%
I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic. – 68% - The beneficial affects of exercise are well documented. – 17%
The beneficial effects of exercise are well documented. – 77%
His comments on these figures are just what I would have written myself but he got there first so please follow the above link to see them.
Comments