Do you think good grammar matters?
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
October 16, 2015 2:45am CST
Some people are far more strict about English grammar than others, both as regards how they use it and how it is used by others.
I have to be confess to being horrified when I discover that I have made a grammatical error, and critical of others when they do so! For example, I cannot stand misuse of the apostrophe or the use of "fewer" when it should be "less".
Other people take the line that, as long as it is possible to work out what somebody means to say in their writing, it doesn't matter how they write it. On the other hand, you could argue that the meaning should be crystal clear at the outset and "working it out" should never be necessary!
Where do you stand on this issue?
9 people like this
10 responses
@joygracia (1325)
• Philippines
16 Oct 15
I think its important one way or another. Its very important in a corporate world.
2 people like this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
16 Oct 15
I think we live in different corporate worlds? Some of the important individuals I've met, read and noticed in corporate though do make money are not exactly how should I say this. Actually how should I say it. They are roughein's'? @joygracia
@indexer it would be bettermuchly if we were to give example of words in sentences to demonstrate what is wrong wit how thee might be used.
"There are, fewer folks using English then the ones that use it less."
..and punctuation matters only in writing. When we are talking it does not. There can also be typing errors.
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Oct 15
I am rather critical too of both myself and others. I tend to differ on the subject of foreigners and being less critical of them. I feel like they should take their being Americans seriously and should try hard to communicate well instead of being let to slip because they are foreigners and they don't know. They should know and they should try hard to speak and write well. I love the English language and I am always looking for just the word to express how I am feeling or what I am trying to convey. I guess that is just the writer coming out in me.
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
17 Oct 15
I used to wonder what teachers of English could possibly do in American schools, because Americans seemed to break just about every grammar rule there was! Did kids really get taught to write things like "The President said Wednesday he would send the bill to Congress" (instead of "The President said on Wednesday that he would send the bill to Congress")? I still don't see how the former can count as good grammar!
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4 Nov 15
I'm reminded of a Linguistics-lecture in which the lecturer explained that most languages are "creole"---like the popular language in America, that's sort of an adapted mix between your native language and your conqueror/master's language.
I guess that is to say that the grammar 'evolves' to mean what it needs to.
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
17 Oct 15
I'm not a stickler on the matter. That is to say if someone is speaking and I understand what it is they are trying to communicate, even though they are not speaking with "perfect English" ... so what! If I get it, I get it! On the other hand, it is important that teachers teach the rules of grammar because it's a standard. A standard that is generally recognized around the world. So if another person who doesn't speak English as their 1st language wants to or has to learn the language ... they need the consistency of verb conjugation, sentence composition, etc. Should they travel to English-speaking countries or meet English-speaking people where they live, they can talk to them because they understand how the words come together as an expression. Know what I mean?
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
17 Oct 15
Some pages do turn out to be 'cringeworthy', and not just online, often you can see it in news media, but on sites such as this, where everyone is not necessarily a native English speaker it has to be forgivable... though we all slip up at times, such as this in your post:.'.I have to be confess to being horrified '... sorry, couldn't resist 
1 person likes this
@intal_carl (299)
• Quezon City, Philippines
17 Oct 15
Yes because many will understand what you are trying to say when you have good grammar.
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
16 Oct 15
Grammar is important in any language. At times in English I'm sure my grammar isn't correct. In French I don't have the same issue. I feel that if I practice more on English my grammar will improve. At times i still feel like I made a lot of mistakes.
@pcunix (210)
• Middleboro, Massachusetts
16 Oct 15
It depends on how grating it is. If it's minor, I may not even notice. Also the context matters - relaxing with friends, almost nothing bothers me,
