English grammar is super confusing; there are many different special rules and exceptions. So much, in fact, that we joke that even native English speakers will never fully understand the craziness of grammar. As weird as English grammar can be, however, there are a few basic rules that we all learned in elementary school and really should know as adults. Here are seven basic grammar rules that everyone should know.

1. Their/they're/there

All pronounced the same way, but with very different meanings. It's incredibly confusing and frustrating when reading the wrong use of this word. "Their" is meant to show possessiveness and is used before a noun. "They're" is the contraction of "they are," so can be used in the place of the statement "they are." "There" is meant to show where something is or represents that something exists. Please, use each of these correctly. The book is not over "their."

2. You're vs. Your

This one drives me insane because it is so, so simple. "You're," like "they're," is a contraction; it is meant to replace the statement "you are." "Your" is meant to show possessiveness and is used before nouns, just like "their." Think before commenting "You're hair looks so good!" on someone's Instagram picture. It makes zero sense. Just think about it.

3. A lot

News flash: "alot" is NOT one word. Stop using it as one. Writing "alot" doesn't even look right. I get it; there are many, many things in the English language that don't look right but are still technically correct. Using a lot as one word, however, is not one of those instances.

4. It's vs. Its

"It's" is, as you can tell by the apostrophe, a contraction standing for "it is" or "it has." "Its" is meant to be possessive and should not have an apostrophe. When trying to determine whether or not to use an apostrophe, examine the sentence. Would it make sense to say that the dog caught it is ball? No? Then don't use the apostrophe; simple.

5. Affect vs. Effect

I'll admit, this one can be a bit tricky. "Affect" is used as a verb and means to influence something, while "effect" is used as a noun and is the result of an impact. This grammar rule requires a bit more thought to figure out and can trip up even those who usually have good grammar. If worst comes to worst, you can always take the easy way out and use "impact" instead; it works in both cases.

6. Run-On Sentences

We have punctuation for a reason, and it is meant to break up sentences. Who wants to read a sentence that is five lines long? Nobody. Use commas to break up independent clauses within sentences. Or, use a period, exclamation point, or question mark. Semicolons are another tool that can be used to break up a sentence, even though they are commonly avoided like the plague.

7. Semicolons

I LOVE semicolons; in fact, they are probably my favorite form of punctuation. Using them is a great way to break up your sentences and vary sentence flow. A lot of people find them super confusing to use, but if you can figure out how to use a semicolon correctly, your writing will look so much better. Semicolons can be used to connect two independent clauses, link transitional phrases, link long clauses, and link lists containing commas.