The Grammar Grinch: Avoid These 4 Christmas Card Mistakes
Tis' the season to be jolly and to spread holiday cheer with friends and family through the traditional art of Christmas cards. But beware, fellow grammar enthusiasts, for amidst the joy and festivities, there are those who unwittingly unleash grammatical blunders that would make even Santa himself raise an eyebrow.
Let’s walk through the top 4 Christmas card grammar mistakes and make sure this year’s Christmas card is flawless, festive and absolutely picture-perfect!
Featured Christmas Card: Simple Merry
1. Write Your Names Correctly
Avoid an apostrophe catastrophe! If you’re looking for a deep dive into why your last name doesn’t need an apostrophe, we’ve got you covered.
But trust us - you don’t want to send a beautiful card that reads "Happy Holidays from the Johnson's." Ah, the Johnson's what? Their reindeer? Their snow-covered cabin? Nope! It should simply be "Happy Holidays from the Johnsons" – no apostrophe needed. Remember, folks, the apostrophe is for possession, not pluralization!
2. Watch Your Capitalization
In the spirit of spreading holiday joy, people sometimes go overboard with capitalization. You might receive a card that says, "Merry Christmas to You and Yours." While the sentiment is heartwarming, it's not necessary to capitalize every word. Instead, write, "Merry Christmas to you and yours." Santa appreciates a well-capitalized Claus, but not every word needs a festive makeover!
Here are the most common capitalization mistakes on Christmas cards:
Wrong: We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Right: We wish you a merry Christmas!
Wrong: Glory to god
Right: Glory to God
Wrong: Oh come let us adore him
Right: Oh come let us adore Him
3. Avoid Missing Commas
Some well-intentioned folks try to squeeze every last bit of festive cheer into their holiday cards, resulting in sentences like "Wishing you love joy and peace." Aww, how sweet! But hold on a minute. Don't forget the importance of commas to separate items in a series. It should read, "Wishing you love, joy, and peace."
4. Don't Tangle Your Tenses
It's all too easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and mix up your verb tenses. Imagine receiving a card that says, "Hope your holiday was merry and bright." Was? But it's not over yet! Instead, say, "Hope your holiday is merry and bright," or even better, "Wishing you a merry and bright holiday season!"
5. Tricky Apostrophes
Are you second guessing your apostrophe placement? Here are the most common apostrophe errors on Christmas cards:
Wrong: Its the most wonderful time of the year
Right: It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Wrong: Seasons greetings from the Holt family
Right: Season’s greetings from the Holt family
Wrong: Happy New Year’s!
Right: Happy New Year!