Click the LINK and screen the short video.
Address your comment to the following propositions:
1) This is pedantic: As long as it is clear what the intention of the writer is, who cares if some obscure grammar rule is being violated?
2) OK, but if we tolerate all sorts of errors soon it will be total chaos and we won't know if what we write makes sense to others anymore.
(If you are into funambulic writing, I can point you to a spectacular essay on language by David Foster Wallace.)
COMMENTS and replies, arguments, disagreements etc.
I feel as if writers should be as clear as possible when they are writing. The main idea is for readers to grasp your main idea. Grammar is the key to good writing and if that is not present that it defeats the purpose to providing anything to read. If errors are tolerated then it will make others think it is right to continue doing the same thing. Grammar goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteI am nowhere near the poster girl for correct grammar but I do believe that if we slowly start slipping up because "the intentions are clear" then the chaos will just build. If you have enough power to be published in a magazine such as the New Yorker then I firmly believe you should set a good example for the readers with proper grammar. I am not a huge fan of writing but I have a lot of respect for David Foster Wallace and have found many of his speeches useful in different parts of life.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I am also not a huge fan of writing either, but I do believe that grammatical errors should not be overlooked. Being accustomed to making mistakes while writing can lead to us forgetting how to express ourselves professionally.
DeleteTo be a writer you have to know how to write, how to write correctly with no grammatical errors. I do not agree with the first statement. We use books as examples of good writing and grammar plays a large part in making these books good. If one writer is able to make grammatical mistakes then other writers will think they can get away with it as well. Writers should not be allowed to make grammatical errors.
ReplyDeleteAs I had mentioned in my comment, I think the more skilled you are a writer, you should have the right to make some grammatical mistakes, but on purpose. Especially if it is a creative work, what do you think of poetic license? It gives writers a license to break the rules of grammar in order to serve their work.
DeleteAlthough no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, it is important to correct grammatical errors even if the point was clear without the correction. For some people writing properly has become difficult because we are in this new world of texting and social media posts. When we text or post something, we write quick and don't care if any grammatical mistakes happen. This could be dangerous because we become so accustomed to writing in this fast improper way that we end up forgetting how to express our thoughts and ideas in a professional manner.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer Ill admit sometimes I could get tedious when it comes to observing someone else's grammar. One thing I will say though grammar isn't everything. There are different dialects of the same language, take English for example. The way we pronounce and spell certain words is not the same way the UK would spell and pronounce certain words. Sentence structure in certain languages that derive from Latin is different than English yet we still strive to understand. I believe that yes as writers we should strive to reach out to our audience in the most understanding way, but I do not think it is a good idea to view the way we "speak" or "write" to be more elite than others. I try my best to see if there are any grammar problems so my ideas do not come across differently than what I intended. Trust me, Oxford commas are everything and I learned that the hard way.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the point is clear and we are able to stay on track with the writer's thoughts, small grammar mistakes should be overlooked. I think I say this because I love creative writing, and I strongly believe in poetic license. When I write creatively, I violate grammar rules all the time. That being said, I try my best not to when it comes to academic work. I guess that is an instance in which grammar rules should not be OVERLY violated.
ReplyDeleteI too violate grammar mistakes when I write. It's hard to follow every grammar rule there is so I agree with over looking small grammar mistakes but not to the point that it changes the meaning of what is being written.
DeleteI don't think it's asking too much to ask for perfect grammar. If we break one rule, what's stopping us from breaking every rule? I try my best to adhere to proper grammar, and I think most people will understand what I'm trying to say if I break a small rule, but I should not make these kinds of mistakes.
ReplyDeleteAlso I would love to read that essay by DFW, he was a brilliant man.
It's a slippery slope and is very difficult to break old habits. If we are corrected on it every single time then it will cut the cord of little frustrating errors.
DeleteEach individual has their own style of writing and their own style of correcting their own work. Grammar and spelling should be one of the main concerns when writing a paper.The topic that the individual is writing about should always be clear and the first point. Even though the topic is clear grammar should still matter.
ReplyDeleteIn the academic world I agree with you completely. grammar is of the upmost importance. But where is the line. I don't think grammar matters in a tweet or Facebook post. I might not even notice if the grammar is correct in certain novels if it is still tasteful. In what worlds do you think grammar matters most?
DeleteAs long as the message is understood correctly grammar is a secondary luxury. Perfect grammar would be awesome, and highly efficient. However Part of what I love about the english language is its ability to be played with and broken apart, while still being understandable. This comes from local area dialects and slang that bleeds into the writing. To end my argument I will say that Grammar is nice but raw language can be interestingly rewarding.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer Ill admit sometimes I could get tedious when it comes to observing someone else's grammar. One thing I will say though grammar isn't everything. There are different dialects of the same language, take English for example. The way we pronounce and spell certain words is not the same way the UK would spell and pronounce certain words. Sentence structure in certain languages that derive from Latin is different than English yet we still strive to understand. I believe that yes as writers we should strive to reach out to our audience in the most understanding way, but I do not think it is a good idea to view the way we "speak" or "write" to be more elite than others. I try my best to see if there are any grammar problems so my ideas do not come across differently than what I intended. Trust me, Oxford commas are everything and I learned that the hard way.
ReplyDeleteIt is the writer's main purpose to use proper form so that the reader may follow along. The points should be clear and the reader shouldn't have to guess/reevaluate where exactly the writer is trying to end up.
ReplyDeleteI know many times I make the mistake of misleading the reader of my work and in my head it seems clear as day. Often I may get ahead of myself and already have a thought laid out and as writers we sometimes assume that the reader knows exactly what the thought process is. These small errors inevitably leads to much larger ones and may haunt us in our writing for the rest of our lives.
Good writing is hard without having proper grammar. It is one of the critical things to getting a point across in a clear and understandable manner. I know I am not the best writer and I need to enforce grammar rules but to be published in a prestigious magazine, one would need to know proper grammar rules. It is critical to deliver the main idea of the writing clearly so that the reader may understand what is being stated.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough writing is not my favorite it is also very difficult. Thumbs up to all the writers out there but no one is perfect. People will make mistakes but if the message is sent across why bother rearrange it more? If it's really a problem to writers we just need to proof read before the work is sailed out.
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