“Bad” Grammar

There are some these days who will say that there is no such thing as bad grammar. They will argue that the rules are archaic and not applicable to today’s writing styles. They will say that writers can make their own rules as they go. I disagree. Granted, maybe “bad” is too harsh a word for some, so let’s just say that, yes, there is such a thing as “incorrect” grammar. Just as a computer program will not function if it is not written correctly (proper syntax, punctuation, vocabulary, etc.) neither will a written piece “compute” if not written with respect to certain rules.

There are many “writers” (excuse my quotes) publishing on the Internet these days. This new medium has made it easy for anyone to publish their work. The sad thing is, it is rare to read an article or post that is not littered with grammatical errors. I may be obsessive, but when I come upon obvious errors in basic grammar, punctuation, style and/or syntax I lose all confidence in the writer. I am no longer interested in what he/she has to say. They have lost my trust.

In my mind, to be called a Writer is an honor and is something to be earned. It means you have studied and learned the basic fundamentals of the craft and have used that knowledge and experience to produce something worthy of note. Just as a carpenter could not build a house without the necessary tools, knowledge and experience, one cannot write without a knowledge and understanding of the tools of our trade: namely grammar, punctuation, syntax and style. Would a musician get up to perform without having first mastered at least the basic technical skills required of his instrument? Maybe, but I doubt if he would be very well received. How long would a basketball player survive on the court without a grounding in the fundamentals of his sport?

It’s too easy now to publish on the Internet and call ourselves “writers.” Putting words on paper (or on the screen, as the case may be) is not enough. We should respect the craft and care enough about our readers and ourselves to build our work carefully, artfully and in observance of the rules. How we write it is just as important as what we write. If you’re not sure of something, look it up. There are basic tools that can help: a dictionary, a grammar reference and a good style book are essential. And read. A good writer is first and foremost a voracious reader. Read the great writers that have come before us and learn from them.

The most common errors I find are problems with punctuation (especially misuse and overuse of commas and incorrect punctuation within quotes), problems with pronouns, contractions and possessives (its, it’s; your, you’re; their, there, etc.) and mistakes in basic syntax and subject-verb agreement. As I mentioned before, there are many references and resources out there for writers: study them and learn from them.

I will try (as time permits) to post some more articles on writing and grammar which will cover more specifically some of the common problems and ways to fix and avoid them.

I will stop now. I hope no one will be offended (though I know some will) by what I have written here. I love to read a well-written piece. To me that means one that is intriguing and free from grammatical errors. And, yes, it offends me when someone calls himself a writer but demonstrates no knowledge or respect for the fundamentals of the craft. Respect the craft. Learn the craft. Let’s earn the right to call ourselves writers.

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