Let me start by saying this: Nobody’s perfect. We all make grammatical errors from time to time the same way we make mistakes in other areas of our life. I wish we all had personal copy editors, but we don’t.
Even for a professional like me (stop rolling your eyes), composing a blog about writing well is perilous in the same way that a personal trainer must always appear fit. Gleeful — and smarter — editors are always lurking, ready to pounce.
But that’s not what this post is about. It’s about the glaring, repetitive, and unforgivable blunders I often see in the emails of high-level professionals, expensive communications pieces, and glossy periodicals. Worse yet is the horrendous grammar that shows up in today’s world of disposable social media.
I’m not referring to slang or colloquialisms. I’m talking about flat-out incorrect spelling and punctuation. If the intent is to misspell a word for effect — like, “I loved your party! It was cra-azy!” — that’s fine. Problems arise, though, when you say, “I loved you’re party! It was cra-azy!”
It seems backward, but the fact is, communications have become more complicated than ever.
Think about it. Only 20 years ago, we were still mostly using the telephone for real-time communication. Using lousy grammar when speaking is a whole ‘nother (slang) ballgame. It is infinitely forgiving, because, unless you’re on a YouTube video, spoken words are gone the moment we speak them. Written words, however, often remain there for us to ponder long after they were written. The longer the incorrect grammar lingers on the page, the more incorrect it seems, like a zit on your forehead that refuses to go away.
And how do we communicate these days? Facebook, Twitter, texts, emails…the written word. Like it or not, this is how the world rolls, so, with that in mind, here are my Top 5 reasons, in descending order, to care about correct grammar.
5. So your company doesn’t appear incompetent or — worse yet — untrustworthy.
Think about your reaction when you pick up a brochure for, say, a cancer treatment center, and see the word “Tennessee” misspelled on the cover. How does that make you feel about entrusting your loved one’s life-and-death struggle with this company? Not great, right? You’re going to be fast-walking back to the car and heading to the next place on the list. And this applies to all levels of communication. Even if you don’t create brochures for your company, you represent it when you send a work-related email. Remember: you can be funny or casual or conversational in written communication and still be grammatically correct. Don’t make your employer look bad.
4. So you don’t appear lazy.
Bad grammar just comes off as lazy, as if the person writing is slobbing on the couch in a dirty tank top, bag of chips at his side, typing with greasy fingers on a grungy laptop keyboard, not really that interested in what he’s saying. Even if you are lazy, don’t appear to be so in print, or people will think you’re that guy.
3. So people don’t make fun of you.
If I’m being honest, ridiculing bad grammar is fun. There are entire websites, books, and late-night talk show segments devoted to it. Just make sure you’re not the brunt of the joke.
2. So you can get a decent job.
This is a biggie for ye of the younger generation. (I meant to write “ye.”) Whether you care to admit it or believe it, potential employers are stalking your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. They are studying your resumes and cover letters. Many supervisors — like my wife, for example — will immediately discard a job applicant who uses poor grammar in a cover letter. Doesn’t mean you’re not a good person. Doesn’t mean you wouldn’t make a great employee. It just means we will never have the chance to find out because you won’t be called for an interview.
Each of these four reasons boils down to my No. 1 reason to care about correct grammar, which is…
1. So you don’t look dumb.
It doesn’t matter who you are. You can have the highest IQ in the school or be CEO of the most successful company around, but if you repeatedly use “your” when you mean “you’re” in emails, memos, or social media posts, you come off as dumb. When you constantly make things possessive that you mean to be plural — like “wedding’s” instead of “weddings” — you come off as dumb.
Being successful in this competitive world is largely about putting your best foot forward, and using poor grammar lops off your best foot, leaving you hopping around on one less-good foot.
Don’t hop around on one less-good foot. Learn the difference between “your” and “you’re.” Don’t write “seagull’s” when you mean “seagulls.”
For the love o’ Mike, use proper grammar.
Updated from Feb. 2013
Oh you speak the truth! The English language is a beautiful thing and I won’t suffer the fools who are so careless with it. When my kid grumbles about me correcting his grammar I always answer with, “you will thank me one day when you are writing your college application essay or nailing a job interview.”
Exactly. As I tell my kids and any others I can trap and hold for a few minutes, LEARN HOW TO WRITE WELL. It will serve you better throughout your adult life than, perhaps, any other single skill. People/companies with money will always need employees who can communicate clearly. Thanks, GiGi!
I’m proof that it’s possible to get better as you get older, grammatically speaking. If I, a creative dyslexic, can improve, anyone can. With computer tools, fun grammar books like Eats, Shoots and Leaves and friends willing to help out occasionally, I may not be Hemingway but I now have a little confidence.
Dennis, I’m now going to go look for Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. (Thanks for committing me to yet another book!)
It’s just plain professional and holding a standard of excellence. I would not encourage obsession; just mindfulness. I hope this reply was grammatically correct..
Though I haven’t used a resume for many years, I was always a stickler for the way it looked, read, etc. And I always dressed up for the first interview, no matter the dress code. I can’t believe the way some kids dress for interviews these days! I also cannot believe the number of people on FB who don’t know the difference between your and you’re! My mom was always correcting my grammar, well into my 40s. And I am darn glad she did.
Moms are great that way. Evidently, we need more of those kind of moms in the world these days. C’mon, Moms!
I’m carrying it on – I correct my grandsons!