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What Is the Relationship between Grammar and Writing?

B. Miller
B. Miller

The connection between grammar and writing is a very important one. The rules of grammar help to govern the way writing takes place, and ensure that it can be easily understood by the people who read it. Every language in the world has different rules for grammar and writing. They all have specific conventions regarding syntax, or the way words are arranged in a sentence, as well as punctuation usage, verb conjugation, and other important aspects of written and spoken language. It is important to keep in mind that though proper grammar is important for good writing, it is also very important for speaking the language properly as well.

The importance of grammar and writing cannot be overstated. While certain parts of a society may adapt their own dialectal variations as a part of their cultural identity, a failure to also be able to follow the conventional grammar rules will greatly limit a person's opportunity to communicate with a wider audience. Someone may be a very talented writer with a lot of great ideas, but if they have poor grammar, they will have trouble communicating those ideas to other people. As a result, they may get poor grades in school, or may never get anything published, even if they have a lot of important things to say. People begin learning grammar from the time they first begin to speak, which means bad habits can be difficult to break, even with further education in school.

Worksheets can improve writing grammar.
Worksheets can improve writing grammar.

Grammar education typically begins in elementary school and continues all the way through college, depending on the educational path that the student is taking. People studying English or education, for example, will have ample opportunity to study grammar and writing as they progress throughout their education. The purpose of this is to ensure that the rules of grammar and speaking the language properly become second nature, which they ideally should over time. Moreover, a teacher must not only be able to communicate with proper grammar, but he must also be able to explain the rules as well.

The rules of grammar help to govern the mechanics of writing.
The rules of grammar help to govern the mechanics of writing.

The rules of grammar help to govern the mechanics of writing, which is what makes the connection between grammar and writing so important. These basic building blocks help to make people's writing readable and understood by others. Syntax, for example, governs the order that words are placed in a sentence; imagine trying to read in a language in which the word order in a sentence was completely arbitrary. Punctuation helps to alert the reader when to pause or switch to a new thought. Verb conjugations ensure that the subject and verb match, which is another thing that can be confusing if they don't line up properly. Morphology, which is the specific words and parts of speech used, is another one of the more important aspects of grammar and writing.

Discussion Comments

Pippinwhite

Without a working knowledge of good grammar, good writing is impossible. A journalist friend once asked me why I was such a grammar fiend and why it was important to be so picky.

I told him that grammar creates an instant first impression, good or bad. Poor grammar makes a writer look unintelligent, and also, for a journalist, can reflect poorly on his or her credibility. If a journalist doesn't even know the difference between "there" and "their," for example, how can a reader trust what he or she has to say? Call it being judgmental, but that's the way it is.

Then, sometimes, poor grammar is just the result of laziness. A writer doesn't want to proofread his or her work, and so leaves it to an editor, or thinks it's somehow avant garde or edgy, or whatever, not to correct his work. It's not. Most of the time, it's just laziness. This is why employers still look at grammar usage in items like cover letters and resumes. A poorly written letter or a resume with misspelled words helps weed out the candidates. Many people have lost job opportunities because they didn't feel good grammar was important.

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    • Worksheets can improve writing grammar.
      By: petar Ishmeriev
      Worksheets can improve writing grammar.
    • The rules of grammar help to govern the mechanics of writing.
      By: takasu
      The rules of grammar help to govern the mechanics of writing.
    • Grammar education typically begins at a young age and continues all the way through college.
      By: Monkey Business
      Grammar education typically begins at a young age and continues all the way through college.
    • Grammar education typically  begins in elementary school.
      By: Ermolaev Alexandr
      Grammar education typically begins in elementary school.
    • Writers with poor grammar may have trouble communicating their ideas.
      By: Grafvision
      Writers with poor grammar may have trouble communicating their ideas.
    • It is important to keep in mind that proper grammar is important to good writing.
      By: bramgino
      It is important to keep in mind that proper grammar is important to good writing.
    • Non-native English speakers may have difficulty learning English grammar.
      By: DragonImages
      Non-native English speakers may have difficulty learning English grammar.