Funny Grammar Mistakes You’ll Split Your Sides Laughing At

Grammar is usually, but not always, a serious thing. Sometimes there are funny moments with language that make us giggle. Here’s a look at some funny grammar mistakes that might draw a chuckle or two from you.

Top Five Funny Grammar Mistakes You Should Know

1. Hot water heater

What’s a hot water heater? Doesn’t a water heater already heat water? Then why add the word “hot” ? 

2. Chock it Up

The right way to say this is actually “chalk it up”. It comes tabulating scores on chalkboard.

3. Nip it in the butt

Believe it or not, this gets said in real life. What is supposed to be said is “nip it in the bud,”. The term refers to snipping off a flower bud before it blooms.

The point behind the saying was to end something before it escalated. God only knows what inspired the alternative.

4. Throws of passion

This one sound like it could be correct, but isn’t. Imagine throwing yourself in a passion down some stairs for using this. The word that was originally used in the saying is “throes”.

When you have a “throe”, it’s a violent pain or struggle.

5. Using the wrong punctuation

Using the wrong punctuation is one of several kinds of funny grammar mistakes. Look the following examples:

  • Some people enjoy cooking, their families, and their dogs.
  • Some people enjoy cooking their families and their dogs.

See the difference a few commas can make? In the first example, you live a friendly and normal, if not staid life. In the second example, you’re a cannibal who also enjoys eating dogs.

Or look at this other hilarious example that takes a look at the ever hilarious battle between the sexes.

  • A woman, without her man, is nothing.
  • A woman: without her, man is nothing.

None of the words have changed here, only the punctuation. The change in meaning is nothing short of revolutionary.

To Wrap Up: Sometimes English Just Doesn’t Make Sense

Because of English’s diverse origins a number of its rules clash with each other, cancel each other out, affect pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary and grammar. All of this happens resulting in grammar mistakes with hilarious consequences.

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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