01/2015 - The Grammar-Us Blog - Grammar-Us

Belated Happy New Year! (Please note that I did not write “Happy Belated New Year”; it is the greeting that is belated, not the event.) Sadly, I feel certain that few people included “Learn better English” in their list of New Year’s resolutions. For those who did, however, please be assured that I have resolved to continue my blog into 2015, offering information, tips and tricks to help you achieve your goal. This year, my posts will be monthly, rather than weekly, for a variety of reasons. Primarily, I want to spend a bit more time writing them, in the hope that I can offer even more information per post. Please subscribe (see link on the right side of this page), to have notifications of new posts automatically sent to you via email, and then look for them on the last Friday of each month. As always, I am open to suggestions for future topics. You can contact me at claudia@grammargirl.info.

Most of my regular readers already understand the value of effective communications. Every human being on the planet wants to connect with others! Whether it is in speech or in writing, the way we do this affects whether our ideas, opinions and observations are understood and/or accepted by others. We have the power, right there on the tips of our tongues or the nibs of our pens, to persuade, explain, entertain, argue, describe and express. WORDS are the tools with which we wield this power. You would not use a screwdriver to drive a nail, or a hammer to cut a board in half. Similarly, knowing which words to use – and WHERE AND HOW to use them – is vital for ensuring that your communications get the results you are seeking.

I realize, alas, that not everyone is as passionate about the English language as I, and that some people just do not “get” why it is important to use good grammar. Here are just a few reasons, in no particular order of importance, for your consideration:

1. The rules exist for a reason. None of us likes to get a speeding ticket or a citation for running a red light. However, just think of the results if there were no traffic laws and no consequences for breaking them! Chaos would reign supreme. Similarly, grammar rules exist for a reason. Granted, English is rife with exceptions to its rules, but by and large, the rules serve as a framework, within which we can all be understood. Without the basic rules of grammar, we would all be running amok; we may as well each have our own separate language, in which case any hope of making a connection with others is dashed.

No doubt you have heard the assertion that children need and want discipline. So it is with grammar, as well. Like it or not, we need the rules to serve as a roadmap to guide us. Rather than perceiving grammar rules as constraints, try thinking of them as helpers. Once you embrace the rules and make an effort to adhere to them, you will find your communications automatically become more effective. Trust me: the positive results are worth the effort! And with time, they become second-nature and require little or no effort at all.

2. Good grammar is contagious. During my 30-year career in the legal department of a major international corporation, part of my job was to review literature and audiovisual projects for compliance with legal requirements.  Often, I would see distinct patterns in mistakes that were made – things that were consistently misstated and that I repeatedly had to correct.  Over a period of time, however, I was surprised – and gratified – to see that, eventually, the mistakes disappeared, and the alternative language I had offered was adopted. Even more astonishing was my observance that the independent sales force, who were not subjected to my legal edits, began to pick up on the correct phraseology used in our corporate communications and applied it to their own communications. In other words, the use of legally acceptable language had spread.

Babies learn how to talk by imitating their parents and caregivers. We are ALL mentors, in one way or another, whether consciously or unconsciously. I urge you, therefore, to make a concerted effort to use good grammar when you communicate. You never know who may be listening or reading your words, or how many people may be impacted. Alas, I and others like me cannot reach every grammatically challenged person on the planet, and even if we could, there is a limit to how much pounding the rules into someone’s head can help. Many are just resistant to that pedantic approach. It is far easier (and more effective) to serve as an example to others, by using the best grammar we possibly can.

3. Make a good impression. What do you notice first about a person when you meet him or her for the first time?  No doubt it is some aspect of their outward appearance, since this is the first thing we usually perceive. However, sometimes the converse is true; we hear a disembodied voice and attribute physical characteristics to the speaker.

Did you know that, back in the 1920s, when “talkies” replaced silent movies, many actors and actresses lost their careers? This was because their voices and/or accents did not mesh with their outward appearance or the characters they were meant to portray in the film, and for whatever reason, they were unable to change that sad fact.

Whether we realize it or not, how we speak is as important as the timbre of our voices and is a key component of the impression that we make. You can spend all the money in the world on Armani suits, Hermes bags and Gucci shoes, but if, when you open your mouth, language that would shock the Beverly Hillbillies comes out, the outward impression is all for naught!

Good grammar is as important as good grooming when it comes to making a favorable impression. This is especially true if you are seeking a new job or a promotion at your current place of employment. Your listener, or the person who is reading your work, may not consciously attribute their impression to grammar, but it does have an impact. Why not eliminate the possibility that your grammar could be the one thing that holds you back? Do your best to learn and put what you learn into practice, and I’m willing to bet you will see a positive difference in the reaction you get from those with whom you come in contact!

4. Practice makes perfect!  I once read that it takes 21 days to form a habit. I believe that repetition helps to ingrain behaviors, and that eventually you can do something automatically, without giving it much thought. Many of you may be able to relate this to learning grammar, if you recall the endless recitation of the rules that we went through in elementary school. Who doesn’t remember “I before E except after C”?  

There is a lot to be said for memorization, but it is not very fun, as I am sure you will agree. Also, some people (like me) are more apt to grasp a concept, a method, or a procedure when they actually DO it. That is the “hands-on” approach, and that is what I recommend. It can certainly be applied to good grammar.

I challenge you to learn new grammar concepts in this way. For example, if you have difficulty in determining whether to use “I” or “me” in a sentence, first look up the rule. (Hint: I devoted an entire blog post to this topic last year, and it is still available in the “Archives” section, on the right side of your screen.) Then, commit to using “I” and “me” correctly in various sentences throughout the day – at least 10-12 times. You can make up some simple sentences like the following, in which “I” and “me” are used correctly:

a. Bobby and I are best friends.
b. There is enough food for you and me.

Eventually, branch out from the simple sentences to the more complex.  Say them aloud – even if it is only to yourself or to your cat – and also write them down several times.  After repeatedly using “I” and “me” correctly, I will venture to predict that your ear will soon be able to hear the difference between correct and incorrect usage. Who knows, maybe someday you, too, will cringe when you hear “Bobby and me are best friends” – just like I do!

I hope you will join me in adding the foregoing to your resolutions for 2015. Together, I am certain that we CAN make a difference and keep our English language from degenerating into gibberish! I look forward to giving you plenty of tools and information in the coming months and hope you will spread the word about Grammar Girl to your friends!