You may be years out of high school and don’t have a teacher grading your writing anymore, but do you know that work colleagues, business clients and even friends may be secretly judging you by your grammar? And while most friends won’t drop you because you make an occasional grammar slip, potential employers or clients just might toss your resume or sales letter.

One of the most common grammar mistakes is using “it’s” in place of “its.” Here is a quick run-down on how and when to use these commonly mixed-up words.

It’s a contraction

“It’s” is a contraction that means “it is.” The apostrophe replaces the space and the missing letter/s of the second word…just as the apostrophe replaces the missing letters in “can’t” (can not) and “don’t”  (do not).

Example: It is a fine day. It’s a fine day.

Its definition is easy to remember

On the other hand, “its” is the possessive form of the word “it.” We add an “s” to the ends of words to indicate that something belongs to someone or something else: hers, his, theirs, ours, etc.

Example: That shoe is hers. The cat licked its paws.

The confusion arises because we attach ” ‘s ” to names and nouns to make them possessive. “Deanne’s shoes are clean.” “The cat’s paws are dirty.”

It’s  (it is) so tempting to add an apostrophe to “Its paws are dirty.” But don’t!

So the next time you write the three little letters i-t-s, think before you add that apostrophe before the s.

If it’s a contraction, meaning “it is” or “it has,” include the apostrophe.

If its meaning is possessive, then leave it out.

Want more writing tips? Check out our other blogs on grammar, thank you note writing and more.

Looking for personalized stationery? Check out our best-selling personalized thank you notes.

Your children have opened their carefully wrapped presents. The evidence is everywhere . . . ribbons and bows are strewn across the floor. Crumpled tissue paper explodes out of boxes.

The merriment of the holiday is winding down to everyday life again. Now comes a teachable moment that will last your children a lifetime: thanking the generous friends and family in their lives.

Teaching children from a young age that it’s important to express their gratitude helps lay the groundwork for thoughtfulness and appreciation. Not only will they learn the importance of courtesy, they will be developing their communication skills as well.

Holiday Thank You Note How-Tos

Here are a few helpful hints to make the “chore” of writing holiday thank you notes both fun and rewarding:

• Set aside a specific time to sit down with your children and help them with their thank you notes to Grandma and Grandpa. Find a comfortable, well-lit place to relax and settle in. This helps them focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions. It’s no fun to have to nag or rush!

• Have the writing paper and envelopes, pens, markers, stickers and stamps ready and available. Kids will especially love being able to write thank yous on their very own stationery.

• If your child is still very young, you may need to be the designated writer; however, even young children can print their name or draw a picture to accompany the words you supply. Children will enjoy embellishing the note with their own stickers and drawings.

Children will love writing holiday thank you notes on their very own stationery!

• Be sincere. You want your kids to be authentic. Even if the gift wasn’t something they love, encourage them to thank the giver in genuine appreciation: “It must have taken you a long time to knit the sweater for me. Thank you!”

• Do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less enthusiastic your child will be and the easier it will be to let the good intentions evaporate.

• But do it later, too! Wouldn’t it be fun to make someone’s day by sending them a brief note, long after the holidays, reminding them of their gift and how it’s still being appreciated? “Remember that blue shirt you gave me for Christmas? Here’s a picture of me wearing it when we went to Disneyland.”

• Teach them how to fold the letter or card and tuck it into the envelope. Attach the stamp. Take a special trip to the post office to drop it into the slot. Children will enjoy personally sending their note off to its destination.

Finally, praise your child for their time and effort in writing a thank you. Explain to them how happy their note will make Grandpa or Aunt Ellen. In newspaper advice columns across the country, people are lamenting that they haven’t received thank you notes. But it doesn’t have to be a dying art. If you teach your children the joy of writing at an early age, they’ll continue it throughout their life . . . and it will help them maintain strong relationships that we all know are the key to happiness in life.

Throughout our lives people we love get hurt or sick. A handwritten note expressing our concern and wishes for recovery will mean so much to the recipient. It shows that we’re thinking about them and we’ve taken the time to let them know. Writing a get well soon message is not complicated.

5 Tips

• Be positive and upbeat. This is not a formal letter, so express yourself naturally.
• If the letter is going to a friend or family member, you could bring up something that you both experienced or shared. This will make your message more personal.
• Let them know you miss them, and perhaps offer a specific example.
• A humorous anecdote or good news is always welcome and will lighten the mood.
• Reassure them of your support and assistance.

Dear Elizabeth,
I was so sorry to hear that you’ve been under the weather recently. I certainly hope that you’ll be back up and feeling like yourself again soon. We really miss your sense of humor around here at the office — not to mention your homemade cookies.
I hope that you’ll get plenty of rest and feel better soon. Please let me know if there’s anything at all that I can do for you to make things easier. I’d be happy to go to the grocery store or run an errand for you. Don’t hesitate to call me if there’s something I can do for you. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Sincerely,

Don’t procrastinate — write your get well message in a timely manner. They’ll appreciate your sincere and genuine interest in their well-being.

Writing a heartfelt get well message for someone, whether family, friend, colleague or co-worker, is a thoughtful and considerate gesture. They’ll greatly appreciate and remember your thoughtfulness.

Customize the Classic Monogram Bordered Card with a monogram or colored border that matches your wedding colors

The new wedding dishes have found a home in your kitchen. The wedding photos are on their way. And memories of your blissful honeymoon are fresh in your mind. Now what? Have you written your first wedding thank you note yet?

It might be time to tackle that pile of thank you notes you owe to your family and friends. The simple act of handwriting a thoughtful note will be a meaningful memento to them. They put in a lot of effort to help you celebrate. Taking the time to write a beautiful thank you note speaks volumes about the type of person you are and the kinds of relationships you’ll maintain for the rest of your life.

So, find your favorite pen. Choose some beautiful stationery and consult your gift list. Then start writing.

1. The Basic Format for the Wedding Thank You Note

The typical format for a wedding thank you note usually goes like this:

Salutation.

First line: thank them for the gift–be sure to name it. If it’s money, avoid naming the amount. The words “generous gift” will suffice.

Second line: tell them how you plan to use it, or some way that you admire or appreciate it.

Third line: thank them for their friendship or support or for coming to your event

Close. (Be sure both bride and groom sign each note.)

Simple, right?

2. Beyond the Basics

Move beyond these basics when writing to people especially close to you, or those who put extra thought and care into the gift. Perhaps you can keep these people on a separate “short list.” Add a few lines that acknowledge the generosity of parents who footed some of the wedding expenses. Praise the thoughtfulness of an aunt who created a beautiful handmade quilt out of your childhood clothes. Thank a friend who traveled across the country to be there for your big day.

The Sienna Monogram Note features a flowing, elegant monogram. It makes a beautiful wedding thank you note.

3. Add a Small Token

You might also choose to share a small object or additional lines of writing that are meaningful to you. You might tuck in a favorite recipe you discovered at a restaurant on your  honeymoon. Include a special quote from a parent’s toast or a lyric from your first dance. Try slipping in seeds of your favorite tree or fruit or vegetable. Perhaps you might slide in a wedding photo of you and the person you are thanking.

4. Choose Lovely Stationery with a Couple’s Monogram

May we suggest writing your thank you notes on single panel cards or folded notes featuring a beautifully embossed “couple’s monogram”? Your shared last name initial takes the center spot. Her first initial is on the left, his first initial is on the right.

Here are some of our favorites:

Henley Traditional Monogram Note  Simple & tasteful. Thank-you notes folded in white or ivory paper never go out of style. A perennial top-seller, our Henley Traditional Monogram Note features a flowing, embossed script for a timeless look. Ships in 24 hours.

A couple’s monogram features the shared last initial in the center, her first initial on the left and his first initial on the right.

Classic Frame Monogram Note   Giftsin24 features stationery by the top producer of embossed social stationery in the U.S., and this folding note is one reason why. You have to see and feel it in your hand to understand it: crisp, deeply impressed borders and gracefully winding letters lend elegant formality, while creamy, thick paper provides weight and consequence. Offered in traditional white or ivory with matching envelopes.

Classic Monogram Bordered Card   Fashions come and go, but the Classic Monogram Bordered Card is always in style. Featuring a beautifully rendered monogram in your choice of 10 raised-ink colors and a bold border in your choice of 6 colors, this card offers a multitude of options from which to create your signature look for your wedding thank you note. Try navy ink on white paper for a classic feel. If you like your stationery to match your morning latte, try the mocha ink on ivory paper. As with all our notes and cards, 50 matching envelopes are included. Optional lined envelopes make this stationery set even more yummy.

Write Dad a letter on Father’s Day to tell him how much he means to you.

No matter how old we get, our fathers are still our dads. We look to them for guidance and advice.  Sadly, I no longer have my own Dad (pictured here with The Nittany Lion at a Penn State game), but I have wonderful, touching and funny memories. He was an example of a modern-day dad at a time when it wasn’t the norm, and he was a role model for his family.

If you’re fortunate enough to still have him, write Dad to tell him how much he means to you. A hand-written letter, in simple and heartfelt words, will mean the world to him. More than any tool, tie or gadget, a letter will be treasured and saved. He can read it whenever he wants to be reminded of how much he’s loved.

Tips for Writing a Letter to Dad on Father’s Day

Here are a few ideas on what to write to Dad:

Tell him how much the time spent with him at a special event or outing meant to you: “Dad, remember that camping trip we took when I was twelve? We had such a great time!”

Remind him of something he taught you: “I’ll never forget the afternoon you taught me how to fish and it started storming while we were out on the lake.”

Share a personal reflection or humorous anecdote: “I still laugh every time I think about that time you ….. “!”

Let him know how a piece of advice he gave you impacted your life: “I don’t know what I would have done without your help during that time. It really made a difference. Thanks, Dad.”

If you have your own family now, share your thoughts about fatherhood and your Dad’s role in shaping your beliefs: “Thanks for showing me what being a dad is all about. You’ve always been a great example for me.”

Let your Dad know you’re proud of him. Tell him that you appreciate his love.  And remember:

“It’s admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping.” (John Sinor, San Diego Tribune newspaper columnist)

Writing letters to graduates can be a wonderful way to send them off into the world. Use these five tips to write a congratulatory letter to a new grad.

Writing congratulatory letters to graduates is easy with these five writing tips from www.giftsin24.com

1. Acknowledge their achievement.

In the first line or two, acknowledge the graduate’s accomplishment.

“After four years of hard work, you’ve done it! Congratulations on graduating!”

2. Remember their past. 

The second sentence could reference a memory you have of the graduate in younger days or, if it’s an adult who has returned to school, reference a memory of the adult’s previous career or life stage, such as stay-at-home mommyhood.

“I remember when you were a tot building block castles and looking up with wonder at the church tower.”

3. Link back to their effort

If you can, in the next sentence, link the memory back to the graduate’s accomplishment.

“And now you have completed your degree in design!”

4. Project forward to their future

Next, you can predict or hope for their future success. Or, give the graduate a well-selected piece of advice.

“You obviously have many skills and talents, and I hope that you are able to find fulfilling work that also pays the bills.”

5. Finish with love

Close with a heartfelt statement of your admiration or love.

“I love you and wish you the best in life, always!”

Reminiscing about your favorite childhood memory is a classic letter writing strategy.

The perfect Mother’s Day card is within reach. The answer is right in your hand…and your heart. Pull out a pen and write a sweet letter on a beautiful piece of stationery. It will be a keepsake Mother’s Day message she’ll treasure for years to come.

You don’t need to be a professional writer to craft a heart-felt Mother’s Day message. Try these approaches, from easiest to most difficult.

5 Ideas for Writing Mother’s Day Messages

A simple list of thank-yous. Write the reasons why you are grateful to her. Sometimes it’s nice to number them, as in “5 reasons I love you” or “10 reasons why you’re the best mom ever.”  Mention the simple things: “I love your beautiful smile.” And, include the deeper reasons: “Mom, you’ve always been a role model for me, showing me how to handle myself when life gets hard.”

The embossed Circle Monogram Note gives a modern spin to the traditional monogram. From www.giftsin24.com

The year in review. Here’s another list idea: Go back in your mind through the past year and jot down some of your favorite moments with her: “taking Jack and Olivia for a walk in the park, baking gingerbread together last Christmas, helping me come up with plan B when I burnt John’s birthday cookies, opening up my birthday present and finding that gorgeous quilt you made for me….”

Wishful words. Tell her all the things you wish you could do for her, if only you had enough money and time. “I’d buy you a castle and a horse-drawn carriage. I’d hire a sky writer to write you a love poem in the clouds. Or, I’d take you on a world tour of Paris, London, and Tokyo like we’ve always dreamed of…”

Go down memory lane. Write a story about your favorite childhood memory with her. It can be funny, sad, touching, sweet or all of the above.

Discover your inner poet. Write a short, free verse poem. The beauty of free verse is that it doesn’t have to rhyme!

Mother, you are my inspiration,
Showing me what it means to be a woman,
Handling life with courage and grace.
I feel so happy when I’m with you.
You share your warm smile and ready laugh
And go-get-’em attitude.
I’m so grateful that you are in my life

A Work of Art… and Love

Writing out your thoughts on a beautiful blank card can bring so much meaning to Mother’s Day. Crafting a touching letter takes just a few minutes, but it can give your mother many moments of quiet joy whenever she takes it out and peruses it.

Nighttime visits from the tooth fairy are a memorable family tradition. And when she tucks a short message under the pillow for that sweet little lost tooth, it’s even more exciting for children. Because children typically lose 20 baby teeth from the age of 6 through 13, there are lots of opportunities to write creative notes. Save these along with other childhood keepsakes. Attached to a picture of your child sporting an adorable, missing-tooth smile, these notes are perfect for scrapbooks, too.

The tooth fairy can be as creative as she wants to be. She also often can use beautifully printed stationery – in diminutive dimensions, of course. Here are some of our favorite messages:

Dear Susie: Thank you for the sweet tooth you left under your pillow last night. It’s perfect for my collection! From, the Tooth Fairy

Dear Juan: Thank you for the tooth–it’s so shiny and white! Keep on brushing.  Signed, the Tooth Fairy

Dear LaTisha: What a fine tooth you’ve left for me! Please take care of the next ones that grow in. After all, you’ll have them for the rest of your life! Kindly, the Tooth Fairy

Dear Lindsay:  I’m so sorry I’m late in picking up your tooth. It was a busy week, and I got tied up across the world in France, where there was an epidemic of lost teeth for some reason, I can’t figure out why. Please accept my apologies. It’s a terrific tooth and will go nicely with the others. From, the Tooth Fairy

Dear Marni: My, what a pretty little tooth you’ve left me! And this is the second one this month! You are keeping me busy! But it’s always a pleasure to visit you. Keep brushing! Signed, the Tooth Fairy

Tooth Fairy Stationery

Consider several giftsin24 stationery sets that can be customized with her name. Here are our top three ideas:

Highland Enclosure:  Tiny cards for a tiny fairy. Personalize them with “Tooth Fairy” and you’ve got the perfect card-and-envelope set sized just right for a fairy. And with 50 cards to a set, there are enough for two children.

Roman Name Gift Enclosure: The matching envelopes, included in this set of 50 cards, easily accomodate a coin or dollar bill, perhaps even some glitter. Simply personalize with “Tooth Fairy” and she’s good to go. Happy note-writing!

Dream Squares Refill:  A simple, inexpensive solution. The Tooth Fairy can add her name to these eye-catching star-themed memo sheets. Just roll them up with a ribbon and perhaps a coin taped to the center or a bill tucked inside.  With 300 pages, she won’t run out.