Why good grammar is so IMPORTANT
It seems that good grammar is a thing of the past. The attitude of many individuals seems to be
“Why do I need good grammar? I just want to be able to express myself.” Freedom of expression is important, but not at the expense of solid grammar. Let’s take a look at why good grammar is so important.
Attention to Detail
Ask any employer what characteristics they seek in job applicants and they will most likely tell you “attention to detail.”
Using poor grammar shows a lack of attention to detail, and those people simply don’t get hired or promoted. If a resume or cover letter has been written with poor grammar, they will be shuffled quickly to the bottom of the stack.
Symptomatic of Other Problems
A good high school or college English teacher will tell you the truth:
“Writing with poor grammar makes you seem stupid!” This might be harsh, but it is the truth.
Imagine sending an email message full of grammar mistakes to someone you are hoping to win as a client. They would automatically feel uneasy about doing business with you because of the “perceived” incompetence. Poor grammar leads people to deduce that you may be lacking other skills and abilities.
Many businesses have been the subject of ridicule because of a poorly written sentence or misspelled word on a billboard. Here’s a test – the next time you see a misspelled word on a billboard or sign, take note of your thoughts toward the business. Chances are they are not all that complimentary.
Professionalism and Respect
It’s very difficult to respect someone as a professional if their grammar is poor. Poor grammar reeks of lack of education, lack of intelligence, and sloppiness. Does that sound like a person who is destined for the corner office?
Part of being successful is respecting yourself and commanding respect of others. More and more, correspondence is done using the written word in college and the workforce.
Credibility
A person who uses razor-sharp grammar stands out. Since so many people have poor grammar skills it is easy to leverage it to your advantage and increase your credibility.
Let’s say you were emailing a person about being an expert at building houses, but your message was full of grammar mistakes. Would the reader make the assumption that you are ignorant? The chances are they would – even though you may be a highly intelligent subject matter expert on building homes.
Clear Communication
In this day of information overload,
people do not want to spend time reading muddled, hard to understand messages rife with grammar and spelling mistakes.
Chances are your message will be skipped over and discarded. A message that is crafted with excellent grammar and fluidity is clear, concise, and will get read.
Employability
As a college student, your goal is undoubtedly to get a great job. A resume with grammar errors is the first to get put in the trash. If you want to be employable then you need to make sure your grammar is spot on.
That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect all the time – even the best make mistakes.
