Good education largely hinges upon one’s command of the language. In a big way, correct grammar is seen in career fields and industries as a manifestation of proper schooling. Before studying another, you have to have mastery of your own.
How many times have you seen a grammar-conscious friend, relative, or even a non-native speaker frowning upon a simple misspelled word? A not-so-surprising number of job applications are not entertained by managers and HR officers due to a perceived carelessness with grammar.
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Most Americans and other native English speakers have issues with spoken versus written English. One can’t underestimate how words look on the page and what they mean. For example, “loose” and “lose” or “it’s” and “its” have different meanings and connotations when jotted down. And the phrase “would have” is not to be contracted as “would of” just because that’s how one hears it.
The variations in expressions and pronunciations can themselves be overwhelming, too. Someone from Britain will pronounce “water” very differently from someone in California. Yet whatever the twang is, what’s ultimately important is not to justify bad grammar as part of the evolution of language. Consciously altering word usage is different from simply failing to spell it right.
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In the end, good grammar lends itself to big but important words like respect, professionalism, and learnedness. After all, one should always mean what they say. And write.
Educator and school administrator Chris Bugbee left public education to create the CT Homeschool Center. The center offer six- to eight-week courses in all subject areas to meet the needs of homeschooled students. For similar reads, visit this blog.
Chris Bugbee 
