by Sarah Purdy, WP editor
It’s December, and all of us elves are busily working on our annual holiday cards! It’s a fun thing to do—picking out your pictures with care, writing a cheery message, and swirling in festive fonts and colors.
Now imagine putting in all that work, and then when your printed copies arrive … you notice a grammar or punctuation mistake! What a Grinchy feeling!
It happens to the best of us. To help you avoid this naughty-list-worthy outcome, here are some common mistakes you can be on the lookout for.
It’s vs. its: A classic mix-up
Few errors are as common or as confusing as it’s and its. To keep it straight, remember:
- It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
- Its is possessive, meaning belonging to it.
So when you write, It’s the most wonderful time of the year!, you’re saying, It is the most wonderful time of the year! That’s correct. Writing Its the most wonderful time leaves out the apostrophe and changes the meaning entirely.
Making last names plural
Many writers stumble over pluralizing family names in their holiday cards. The rule is simple: To make most last names plural, just add an s.
- Correct: Season’s greetings from the Wilsons!
- Incorrect: Season’s greetings from the Wilson’s! (That apostrophe suggests possession, not plurality.)
But what if your last name already ends in s, x, ch, sh, or z? In that case, add es:
- Correct: The Davises wish you a wonderful holiday season.
- Incorrect: The Davis’ wish you… or The Davis’s wish you…
Think of it this way: You’re not showing ownership—you’re simply referring to more than one member of the family.
Their, there, or they’re?
This is an infamously tricky set of homophones (words that sound alike but mean different things). Always remember:
- There refers to a place.
- Their shows possession.
- They’re is a contraction of they are.
So if you write, We had a great time going there in October, you’re correct. Writing their or they’re in that sentence would confuse your reader.
Merry vs. merry
Capitalization can be tricky, especially around holidays. Should you write We wish you a Merry Christmas or We wish you a merry Christmas?
The answer: Always capitalize holidays like Christmas because they’re proper nouns. However, adjectives like merry are not capitalized—unless they begin the sentence.
- Correct: We wish you a merry Christmas!
- Correct: Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Happy New Year or New Year’s?
This one trips up even seasoned writers. The rule:
- Use New Year when referring to the year as a whole.
- Use New Year’s only when referring to New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
Don’t forget the comma in closings
Finally, let’s talk about how you sign off. Whether it’s a letter, card, or email, your complimentary close should always be followed by a comma.
- Correct: Sincerely, the Write Place
- Incorrect: Sincerely the Write Place
That tiny comma signals the end of your message and keeps your closing polished.
Bonus pro tips
- Proofread out loud. Reading your card aloud helps you catch awkward phrasing or missing words.
- Use a spellcheck tool when it’s available. Even short messages deserve a quick scan for typos.
- Keep it simple. Holiday cards are about warmth and connection, not complex sentences.
Let’s wrap this up!
Holiday cards are a wonderful tradition. By mastering these grammar rules, you ensure your message twinkles as brightly as the season itself. So before you hit print, take a moment to check your its and it’s, pluralize those last names correctly, and add that all-important comma. Your recipients will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you’ll avoid being remembered for a grammar slip instead of your holiday cheer.
Featured image source: syhin_stas– adobe.stock.com (generated with AI)
