How important is grammar?

How important is grammar?

In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules which influences the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given language. It is the systematic study and description of a language, and it helps us to understand how words and their component parts combine to form sentences.

 Is Grammar important?

Today I want to say a few things about grammar in general. I know that some of you may wonder why we even need to learn grammar. And some of you may even think that grammar is boring and difficult to learn. You are right. Grammar can indeed be boring sometimes. It can be exhausting trying to learn grammar rules. And it can also be frustrating if you can’t figure something out. However, on the other hand, learning grammar can come in handy for you in almost every single situation.

Grammar is a vehicle for expressing meaning, so a poor knowledge of grammar can seriously hinder communication. As a student of any language, in this case, English, you need to know the difference between some grammatical structures.  You need to know that each grammatical structure conveys a different meaning.  For example, if you say The dog bit the postman, you need to know that this is not the same as The postman bit the dog, although these two sentences contain the same words. This is one of the many reasons why grammar is important.

Learning grammar doesn’t mean that you need to memorize every single grammar rule.  Knowing grammar means applying all those different rules in real-life situations.  If you are chatting with your friends, grammar is not that important.  No one will judge you if you make a few mistakes. But, imagine you are in a job interview and you need to speak in English. In this case, a knowledge of grammar and its rules is absolutely essential. In more formal situations, you need to apply all your previous knowledge of grammar when using the language.

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Still confused?…. 

Grammar lays the groundwork for effective communication.  Grammatical errors can come in many different forms and all of them have an effect on the meaning of what is said. If you make a grammatical error, you can easily confuse the other person and he/she will not be able to figure out what you meant.  So, to avoid strange looks when you make a grammatical error, take some time and learn grammar. What is even more important, learn how to use grammar rules in real contexts.

Grammar is like a Rubik’s cube. Every single word has its place in a sentence, and it all fits together in logical ways.  Once you master the grammar rules, you can apply them in real contexts, and you can even choose to avoid them, just like native speakers sometimes do.  If you understand one grammar rule, it can often be helpful in understanding a different grammar rule, so the process of learning grammar can be seen as building on your previous knowledge of grammar.

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Remember to practice! PPP (Perfect Practice makes Perfect)

If you do not practice using your English in a natural context, then you will loose your English.  It is one thing to be able to know all of these rules, structures and hearing these tips; though another to be using and applying your knowledge!

A common mistake that many English learners make (maybe EVEN YOU!)  is that they do not  practice!  The more you practice, the better you will get.  You have to be practicing on a consistent basis, applying your knowledge.  Only in this way WILL YOU IMPROVE YOUR SPOKEN ENGLISH.   

Speaking with friends, communicating in English on a consistent basis, making mistakes, working on fixing your mistakes and getting feedback on your spoken English will help you identify YOUR common mistakes, work on these mistakes so that you CAN improve your spoken English and communication skills! 

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Final Suggestions:

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My comments:
The American English word 'practice' is used as a noun and verb.
For the British English, the noun form is 'practice' and the verb form is 'practise'.  The knowledge of this differentiation is important to write correctly.
We follow the British system of English, right?

Accurate use of the language is important

Yemi Sanni Newman, Writer, Public Speaker, Creative Designer

Answered May 12, 2015

My dear, it is!

Communication is primarily for mutual understanding, but beyond that, the beauty of language (spoken or written) is in speaking/writing it correctly in such a way that it wins admiration, gains respect and sells your idea.

As a public speaker, I know from experience that you can win people over by HOW you speak. A lot of people I know are easily put off when a speaker  cannot properly put his/her thoughts into words. If you are a learner, there's a level of tolerance, but even at that, everyone wants to see you get better at speaking well.

The bottom line is, if you want to speak a language, learn to speak it correctly, otherwise, you may appear incompetent to those you would be speaking to, especially in the workplace. So, put extra effort into studying grammar and learning how to use words in the right context. You'll never regret it!

Cheers!

1.7k Views · 2 Upvotes

Is grammar important?

witslanguageschool.com

Is grammar important?

Some people think that correct English grammar matters only to teachers and is of no real importance in daily life.  This is certainly not true. Grammar, regardless of the country or the language, is the foundation for communication.  When a message is relayed with the correct grammar, it is easier to understand the purpose and meaning of that message.  In order to communicate, a learner should know the grammar of the language.  It is important to be able to express yourself, but this should be done in a way that people find easy to understand.

Writing that is poorly punctuated and contains grammatical errors is difficult to read and sometimes impossible to understand.  If the reader has to go back and re-read a sentence several times because they are not quite sure what it means, it spoils their reading experience and they are quite likely to misunderstand the point or even give up and not read any further.

In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules which influences the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given language. It is the systematic study and description of a language, and it helps us to understand how words and their component parts combine to form sentences.

Reasons why you should apply the correct grammar when you speak and write

Grammar rules can help learners develop the habit of thinking logically and clearly.  After studying grammar, learners are able to become more accurate when using a language.

Without good grammar, clear communication is impossible.  Proper grammar keeps you from being misunderstood while expressing your thoughts and ideas.

Grammar improves the development of fluency.  When a person has learned grammar, it will be easier for that person to know how to organise and express the ideas in their mind without difficulty.  As a result, they will be able to speak, read and write the language more fluently.

         Many employers are immediately put off when they receive a cover letter for a job application that contains grammatical errors and is poorly written.  Many employers will simply ignore this application and even delete it. It is therefore important to bear this in mind when applying for a job.

When writing on behalf of your organisation, it is important to use the correct grammar, as this can mean the difference between readers trusting your expertise or questioning your knowledge of the subject matter.  If you can’t write properly, you can’t relay your subject matter with authority.

A person with poor grammar skill can form a negative impression on others.  First impressions can be lasting, and may hide the true judgment of character.  Some people consider good grammar to be a mark of intelligence and education. D on’t allow strangers to form a negative impression of you based on your poor communication skills.

Writing and speaking correctly gives you the appearance of credibility.  If you’re attempting to build a reputation as an expert in your profession, correct use of grammar is extremely important.

With the development of social networks and technology, people have become increasingly more lazy to use grammar in their everyday communications. When texting, using Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, they tend to use sentences that are as simple as possible. Grammar is unnecessary in these mediums and fragments of sentences are quite acceptable. Unfortunately, it is easy to get into a bad habit based on this.

There is no shortcut to learning English grammar. A computer can’t fully grasp the complexities of the English language.  In some cases, a computer grammar check can sometimes suggest the incorrect alternatives when attempting to fix common errors.

Different ways to improve your grammar

Read more in English

One way to improve your grammar is to read more in English. The more you read, the more you improve your grammar and vocabulary.  It may be tiring and difficult to understand everything, but this is one step you cannot skip if you want to get better at grammar. Reading helps you to see how English works and how the grammar works. That knowledge can transfer to your writing.  Find something you like to read, and then keep on reading.  It doesn’t matter what you read – books, magazine articles, or newspapers – as long as they are written in proper English. Try to read as many different genres (e.g. newspaper articles, academic journals, blogs, short-stories, etc.) as you can.

Listen more to English

Listening to others who use good English and watching television also helps.  It works better if you watch what you are really interested in. Remember that the English spoken in America is different from that spoken in England.  Some parts of spelling and grammar are different between the two countries.  

        In South Africa, we follow the British grammar and spelling rules.

Practise more

Make sure you work through all your grammar exercises in your course book regularly.  To learn English grammar well, you will need to practise each grammar point until you can easily use it. Look for a book of grammar exercises that also has answers for additional practice.  Online activities and quizzes can also help.  Focus on one grammar point each time you study.

Write more in English

Try writing a daily journal in English. Any extra practice that you can get is going to help you.

Remember, try not to get discouraged.  Learning English grammar and using it correctly takes a lot of time, effort, and practice.  Be positive and proactive about practising your grammar and you’ll begin seeing more improvement.

Daily Grammar - Why is grammar important?

ask.dailygrammar.com

Daily Grammar - Why is grammar important?

Grammar lays the groundwork for effective communication.  Just as an improperly configured telephone wire can cause static during a phone conversation, improper grammar can likewise affect the meaning and clarity of an intended message.

Grammatical errors come in many forms and all can easily confuse and obscure meaning.  Some common errors are with sentence structure, subject/verb tense, punctuation, spelling, and other basic mechanics and parts of speech.  Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence.  For example: "Let's eat grandpa" vs. "Let's eat, grandpa."

Grammar makes written content more readable and in turn more interesting.  If it is necessary to repeatedly reword sentences while reading, the flow becomes disrupted and involvement in the story halted.

Grammar skills are useful in every aspect of life from education to leadership, and social life to employment opportunities.  They are equally important at home where children learn their grammatical patterns from their parents and family.  This puts the next generation at an immediate disadvantage if learning incorrectly.

Grammar skills are important to be an effective leader.  Communication skills are indispensable to effectively give direction and provide assurance of leading ability.  In addition, if continuing education is desired, grammatically correct papers will be expected from college professors.

Proper grammar is also essential for understanding English as a second language as well as for learning a new language, since all languages follow grammatical patterns.  With the United States being a melting pot of nationalities and foreign language speakers, hearing proper, consistent English is extremely helpful to encourage any newcomers in becoming fluent.  This, in turn, aids native English speakers in understanding other dialects as well.

From persuasive papers to resumes, grammatical errors immediately take away the intended strength necessary to acquire an ally on an issue or an invitation for a job interview.  In both situations, grammatical inconsistencies make influential words less poignant.

While correct grammar is a valuable tool for success in many areas of life, it is not used to create a gap in the social world.  It is not a tool for segregation, but a tool to opening doors by being heard and understood more clearly.  While correct grammar will offer an edge in a job interview it won't be so obvious as to cause a separation from the masses in casual conversation.

In conclusion, just as rules are necessary in everyday situations, grammar rules are likewise essential in everyday life for clarity of meaning and intent.

Why Grammar Counts At Work

forbes.com

Why Grammar Counts At Work     Susan Adams

Grammar has been getting attention in the media lately, and for good reason.

The Wall Street Journal started the discussion last month with a piece about the growing number of grammar gaffes in the office, especially among younger employees.   Examples: “There’s new people you should meet,” instead of “there are new people you should meet,” and “he expected Helen and I to help him,” instead of “he expected Helen and me.” The piece quoted managers and bosses who were fed up with younger employees who bring the vernacular of emails, Twitter messages and casual conversations into the office, including the ubiquitous use of the word “like” and those who say, “I could care less,” when they mean “I couldn’t care less.” The piece mentioned a survey of 430 employers taken earlier this year, in which 45% said they planned to increase training programs to improve employees’ use of grammar and other skills.

Because I am over 50 and I was raised by grammar sticklers, I am sympathetic to managers’ complaints about rampant grammar mistakes. One of my parents’ pet peeves: The improper use of “lay” and “lie.” Anytime someone says “I’m tired and I’m going to lay down,” I cringe. You lay down an object, but you lie down on the bed.

On the other hand, as my colleague Alison Griswold  points out in a thoughtful, well-researched piece, experts recognize that language rules evolve, rather than remain static. Alison gives some great examples, like the use of the words “google,” “access” and “reference” as verbs. “Access” only went from being a noun to a verb in 1962, Alison learned from the Online Etymology Dictionary. Alison has several wonderful quotes from linguistics professor Alice Harris at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Harris’s conclusion, in short: language is constantly changing, and often those changes bubble up from informal usage. I should probably let go of my fixation on “lay” and “lie.”

Still, as a plainspoken piece on today’s Harvard Business Review blog points out, it’s better to err on the side of grammar caution. The story is written by Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, an online repair manual. Wiens says, simply, that he won’t hire people who have bad grammar. He gives all of his job applicants a grammar test, making exceptions only for people with serious extenuating circumstances like dyslexia or those who are learning English as a second language. “If job hopefuls can't distinguish between ‘to’ and ‘too,’ their applications go into the bin,” he writes. Wiens explains that he cares about grammar for two reasons. One, he points out, is that in this digital age, when we communicate increasingly in written texts and posts, “your words are all you have.” We project ourselves through our written words, he notes.   Another reason is that poor grammar shows a kind of sloppiness.  Wiens wants to hire people who pay attention to detail.

I can think of several other reasons that grammar is important, in spoken English as well as in the written word. When you speak, you project your level of intelligence and thoughtfulness.  You also demonstrate how organized you are, in your thoughts and in your intentions.  If you can get your sentences straight before you say them, you’re promising that you’re more likely to master tasks at work.  In addition to good grammar, it’s best if you can scrub your speech of awkward pauses, “ums” and “uhs.” The other thing eloquence suggests is that you are listening closely to the other person, and you’re serious about what you want to convey to that person. Good grammar and clear sentences suggest respect.

Given how fast the digital world is changing the way we communicate, we may witness a more rapid change in grammar rules. But for now, as Kyle Wiens sensibly points out, it’s best to keep grammar rules in mind and try to abide by them, when writing and speaking.