I had a kid that was a dropout and wannabe gangster in a script. There was plenty of bad grammar in his dialog. "'Cause, that's how he do it, a'ight?" … You write how a character would speak. In one of my screenplays, I have a prison scene with the gang leader and the hero talking in non-grammatical slang. In the next scene I have scientists speaking in medical and scientific terms with proper grammar. Neither is wrong, its just how people from different backgrounds and in different environments speak.
Ah, the joys of theater! The lights, the drama, the applause… and then, there it is: a glaring grammatical error that makes you want to throw your script across the stage. Yes, my friends, I’m talking about the infamous mix-up of ‘your’ and ‘you’re.’ If you’ve ever been in a play or read a script, you know exactly what I mean.
So, let’s set the scene. Picture this: you’re rehearsing for a production, feeling like a superstar, and suddenly you stumble across a line that reads, “I think your going to love this performance!” Cue the record scratch.
As a self-proclaimed grammar nerd, I can practically hear my inner editor scream. What do you mean, “your going”? I mean, come on! It’s like showing up to a fancy gala in flip-flops. Sure, you might be comfortable, but everyone else is judging you silently.
For those of you who might be living under a rock (or just blissfully unaware), let’s break it down. “Your” is a possessive adjective, meaning it shows ownership, like in the phrase, “Is that your sandwich?” Meanwhile, “you’re” is a contraction for “you are.” So, in the example above, it should have been, “I think you’re going to love this performance!” Let’s just say, if my sandwich could talk, it would be very upset about its misplaced ownership.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand that we all make mistakes. I mean, I once thought ‘definitely’ was spelled ‘definately’ for a good chunk of my life. But when it comes to scripts, especially those meant for public performance, one would hope that someone—anyone—would have caught that error.
The Reddit post that inspired this little rant came from a user who found themselves in this very predicament. Their frustration resonated with many, as they expressed how the grammar faux pas made their inner grammar police go into full alert mode. And let’s be real, who doesn’t want to be the grammar police? It’s like being a superhero, but instead of a cape, you wear a badge of correct punctuation.
But here’s the kicker: the audience likely won’t notice the error. They’re too busy being entertained by the actors’ performances, the dramatic lighting, and the occasional mishap of someone forgetting their lines. Yet, for those of us who live and breathe grammar, it’s like a pebble in your shoe that you just can’t shake off.
So, what’s the moral of the story? If you’re involved in a production, whether it’s a community theater play or a Broadway show, do everyone a favor: proofread! Get a grammar nerd on your team—because we’re basically the unsung heroes of the literary world. We may not wear capes, but we sure do wield red pens like they’re lightsabers.
In conclusion, let’s raise a toast to all the scripts out there—may they be free of grammatical errors! And to all the grammar nerds, keep fighting the good fight. After all, it’s not just about the performance; it’s about performing with proper grammar. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a script to proofread—because I can’t let anyone else suffer through the agony of a misplaced ‘your’ on my watch.
Inspired by: “The script for a play I’m in uses the wrong form of "your"” (r/mildlyinfuriating)