Our 5 Most Hated #WordCrimes

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet this week, then you know that legendary parody artist “Weird Al” Yankovic is releasing a new YouTube video every day this week to promote his new album, Mandatory Fun. Our favorite so far is his parody of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” titled “Word Crimes.”

At BeatCreative, we are always writing and editing, so we absolutely loved all of the grammar references Weird Al mentioned in his video. He mentioned many grammar and writing mistakes, so here were our top 5:

#1 “I could care less” instead of “I couldn’t care less.”

“I couldn’t care less” was a popular British saying that came to the United States in the 1950s, meaning “I couldn’t care less because I don’t care at all.” Now, people mistakenly say “I could care less,” a phrase that makes no sense because it means that you still care a little.

Orange is the New Black care less 1

Orange is the New Black care less 2Photos via Tumblr

#2 I literally think this is the worst word crime in the world.

We’ve all heard someone use the word “literally” instead of “figuratively.” It makes me roll my eyes whenever I hear it. You might think it’s the best way to show how strongly you feel about something, but really it just makes you sound bad. It might be in the dictionary now, but if you want to sound professional, please use figuratively.

Parks and Recreation LiterallyPhoto via Quick Meme

#3 N3v3r write using numbers instead of letters.

While this might be okay for teenage texts, it’s NOT okay for your Facebook statuses, tweets, or texts and emails to clients. If you must write using numbers, keep it to yourself.

Weird Al Yankovic Word Crimes YouTube Photo via YouTube

#4 Its is NOT okay.

As someone who loves editing, this rule is a big one for me. Always read a sentence containing “it’s” or “its” out loud to yourself before publishing it or sending it out in an email. If it can be read as “it is” or “it has,” use an apostrophe. If you’re using it as a possessive, keep it apostrophe-free.

Weird Al  Yankovic Word Crimes YouTube ItsPhoto via YouTube

#5 Don’t forget that Oxford comma.

As a writer, I do give a **** about an Oxford comma, unlike the Vampire Weekend song. If you’re writing a list, make sure there’s a comma before the “and.” If you don’t, then you might have met your friends, Miley and Jennifer, and not your friends, Miley, and Jennifer. (We think you’d prefer the second option.)

The Colbert Report Oxford Comma

 So which Weird Al word crime was your favorite? Comment with your answer below!