The Grammar Police: 6 Mistakes Not To Make in a Resume or Cover Letter

It never hurts to brush up on your spelling and grammar rules. Here are a few common errors to avoid in any writing you're doing--all the more important if you're sending out resumes and cover letters.

1) Among vs. between

Among should be used to describe situations involving more than two people or things; between when only two are involved.  My colleague and I split the work between us. Bonuses were divided among the LA, Boston, and Chicago offices.

2) Its vs. it’s  

Its is the possessive form of it; it’s is a contraction of it is. The interview had its ups and downs, but at least it’s over.

3) They’re, their, there

They’re is a contraction of they are; there is an adverb specifying place (or a subject place-holder called an expletive: there is a line stretching around the corner); their is the possessive form of they.

They’re going over there to make their deposits because the line is shorter.

4) Me, Myself and I

I  is the subject form of the first person singular pronoun; me is the object form. Myself is an intensive pronoun and should be used only for emphasis when you’ve already used I: I prefer blue, myself or as a direct or indirect object: I hit myself or I never buy myself flowers.  Don’t say Me and him went to the store or Please RSVP to Karen or myself or The form had to be filled out by my father and I. The correct sentences are He and I went to the store;  Please RSVP to Karen or me,  and The form had to be signed by my father and me. (better yet, avoid the passive voice and use the active voice: My father and I had to sign the form.)

5) Dangling or misplaced modifiers

Keep modifiers near the word or words they are modifying to avoid confusion:

As an intern, my boss gave me a great deal of responsibility.

This sentence implies that your boss was the intern, because the phrase “as an intern” appears to be modifying (describing) the noun it’s next to: my boss. As an intern, I had a great deal of responsibility; my boss trusted me to fill in for her. or My boss gave me a great deal of responsibility when I was an intern.

And last but not least…

6) Can vs. May

Can refers to ability; may refers to permission: Can you dance without stepping on my toes? May I go to the dance? Can is rapidly replacing may in everyday speech, but technically “Can I wear my nose ring to the interview” should be “May I wear my nose ring to the interview?” We know you can…but is it advisable?

I have such a sinking feeling I've probably made mistakes here...please let me know and have a good weekend!