Something About You and I

We recently revisited a Wall Street Journal article from a few years ago that a reader had shared with us on grammar in the workplace. It still feels just as relevant today as it did when we first read it.

One excerpt really stuck out:

“Managers are fighting an epidemic of grammar gaffes in the workplace. Many of them attribute slipping skills to the informality of email, texting and Twitter where slang and shortcuts are common. Such looseness with language can create bad impressions with clients, ruin marketing materials and cause communications errors …”

You can read the full article here: This Embarrasses You and I* Grammar Gaffes Invade the Office in an Age of Informal Email, Texting and Twitter. And yes, they left out the Oxford comma in the subtitle—we noticed.

Has anything changed since this was first published? Nope. If anything, the issue of grammar in professional writing and speaking has only become more pronounced.

Communication today is faster than ever. Emails are shorter. Texts are a constant flow. Typing out a message seems to have replaced a lot of formal writing. And with this “quick message” mentality, grammar takes a back seat. Abbreviations, fragments, and missing punctuation become the norm. It is all about keeping things moving.

In the right context, that is fine. A quick “Got it, thanks” or “On my way” doesn’t need perfect grammar. Informal communication has a place.

The problem is when that same casual approach shows up where it shouldn’t.

For example: client emails; proposals; website copy; social media posts representing a business. It can even be important for internal communications where clarity matters. In those areas, grammar isn’t just a technical detail, it reflects on your credibility.

Grammar hasn’t gotten as much attention in U.S. schools since the ’70s. A lot of programs have scaled it back or moved away from strict rules, focusing more on self-expression and a usage-based approach instead. As a result, many professionals entering today’s workplace do not have the same level of grammar training as previous generations.

That doesn’t mean they’re bad at communicating, but it can mean that grammar mistakes slip through more often, and sometimes they don’t even catch them themselves.

Does good grammar matter anymore? The short answer is “yes.”

The long answer is, it depends. There are a few CEOs out there who say they won’t hire people who use poor grammar, that applicants with good grammar skills are better at details and tasks. There are others who say that it is outdated and it does not reflect on the quality of work by an employee. The debate continues.

But regardless of where you land in that debate, one thing is clear, people notice grammar. Clients notice. Colleagues notice. And sometimes, they make judgments based on it.

Poor grammar can distract from your message and possibly create confusion. At best, it’s a minor annoyance. In extreme cases, it can change the meaning of what you’re trying to say.

Good grammar tends to go unnoticed. And that is the point.

You want your message to come through clearly, without distraction. Good grammar makes your writing easier to read and easier to understand.

Improving your grammar doesn’t require perfection. It just requires awareness. Slow down before hitting send. Reread what you’ve written. Use tools if you need them. And when in doubt, keep your sentences simple and clear.

Bottom line: grammar still matters. Maybe not in every text or quick message—but absolutely in the moments that count. Your writing represents you, as well as your organization. Make sure your grammar is helping your message and not working against it.

Don’t get caught with your comma spliced! Check your writing and grammar carefully before you send anything.

Special thanks to A. Lavin Communications for sharing this article with us.

This information is from the Effective Business Writing as well as our Business Grammar & Usage classes. If you’re looking for ways to improve your communication skills, register for one of our upcoming public classes , or reach out to us to bring our training services to your company.

Other Resources:

Good Grammar: Does it even matter anymore?

Yes, Good Grammar Is (Still) Important, And Here’s Why

Does grammar REALLY matter? – Video by languagejones

Image by PDPics from Pixabay 

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