Do you agree that using improper grammar can make you look like a dud? Or, do you feel that laying too much emphasis on grammar is an elitist thing? Despite all the fuss, the fact is that we all make grammatical errors. And, if that makes you feel any better, read on…
Grammar Matters
We have been providing quality service to our customers since last five years.
We'd like to brief you about our product and some of it's features.
We are closed on Saturday's and Sunday's.
Its my turn to drive the children to school.
The table is our's but the chairs are their's.
Have you stumbled upon sentences like these in emails, on websites or other forms of written expression?
Perhaps, you are familiar with the most common blooper seen in letters- your's sincerely.
How often do you encounter the classic case of Let's eat Grandma, where the missing comma has the power to turn the most gracious speaker into a beast? Notice how punctuation makes a difference when the sentence reads Let's eat, Grandma. In the former, the nonexistent comma not only engenders a grave miscommunication, but alters the tone of the sentence while endorsing the writer's inadequacy, given the fact that he/she has no intention of turning into a bloodthirsty hound!
Do you cringe each time you hear someone say I wish I was instead of I wish I were or If I were?
It may be hard to swallow, but a condolence message that I received from a well- meaning friend read, "It's heartening to hear of your mother's demise." Dude! That was heartbreaking!
Suffice it to say, not using the right words can make you look like a real turkey.
Here's a recent Facebook post that will have you rolling in the aisles: "Happy Father's Day to all Daddy's and Papa's…enjoy!" Daddy's and Papa's what? Nudge nudge, wink wink!
It's a fact that we notice errors in speech and writing that we cannot ignore. This explains why our grammar allows us to be judged by those who love language and care to use it in all its fineness.
While flouting or relaxing grammar rules may be of little consequence in text, chat or other rapid-fire exchanges, in emails and formal writing the same is downright brutal. Typos and grammatical errors in emails reflect one's ignorance, laziness or plain carelessness, and often dim one's prospect of clinching a job, getting a raise or even making a sale. Professionals with incorrect grammar are a complete turn-off! Just as using inferior grammar reflects poorly on employees, a well-written email in a business environment is never nit-picked, if not appreciated. Back in 2012 the Harvard Business Review posted I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Isn't that why even two years later the post is doing the rounds?
There are, however, those who argue that laying too much emphasis on the finesse of grammar is an elitist thing. What matters is the ability to express oneself without having to bother about rules.
Many here would jump to defend the leftist claim, but hygienists insist that grammar is the foundation of communication, and proper grammar conveys a message clearly to the audience. Grammar, a tool if used correctly, enhances the users' communication skills and empowers them with a certain confidence to make the right choices in various pursuits.
Published by Ruby Sahay
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