Words about words

Complaining about grammar and language is a lot like seeking relief while facing into the wind. One often gets covered in feedback. Nevertheless ...

The word "your" is a possessive adjective. It attaches something to an owner, as in "Your trousers are all wet."

The word "you're" is a contraction of "you are" as in "You're all wet."

To tell the difference, try replacing the word with "you are". If it makes sense, use the contraction or, better yet, don't and spell it out.

Surely after 12 years of public school and some years of college, many people should be able to grasp the distinction.