Hardest style/grammar rules to get right

I'm talking about those frustrating non-edits that get a "@##@#$#" under your breath when you miss them from mental blocks, or whatever.

Of course if they are mental blocks, you probably won't remember them now. lol.

 

Appositive commas.

 

like vs. such as. not actually hard to get right, but very often used incorrectly

 

The one that gets me every time and it's because I'm stubborn is the subject-verb agreement on singular team nicknames (Heat, Thunder, Avalanche).
I always want to make those plural because the nickname represents a number of people, much like when there is an s on the end of the nickname in normal teams.
Always hangs me up and makes me feel stupid because my brain wants to do one thing that's wrong and I know it's wrong.

 

Umm... what style book you followin'?

 

Yep. Some shops ignore this completely (as does the AP) and you see a lot of "The Heat snapped their 23-game losing streak" while other papers do it correctly (or incorrectly if you are on the other side). My preference is use they or theirs.
Normally though I just change to the city when I can. Miami snapped its 23-game losing streak and use the team when there won't be confusion: LeBron James had 2 points for the Heat.

 

said
said that

I know it should be easy, but I've second-guessed myself so many times.

 

I still get fucked by who/whom. Doesn't matter. Can't fucking get it.

 

I always eff up lay vs. lie. Understand it when I look it up, but always forget in the middle of writing.

 

This. I'm no dummy by any means, but I'm a goner when it comes to who/whom.

 

Then/Than always gets me.

 

Totally get ya.