-- Amos Bronson Alcott
It's true, innit?
I've noticed that when I'm very concerned abut crect grammer and speling, it comes from fear of being criticized, not concern over being understood.
I think that if Shakespeer (noted for spelling his name differently all the time) had been very concerned with Correctness, we would not have had the expressive plays we have. I'm sure, for instance, that his ol' school teacher would have had some harsh words to say about his penchant for making up his own words.
I'm not saying correct grammar and such is not worth learning, so you know what you're doing, but if it doesn't stand in the way of becoming the worlds most popular and respected scribe, then in the end it may not be worthy of losing sleep over.
Update:
emptyspaces sez:
The funny thing is, I am a professional writer (ok, hack copywriter, but still), and I can assure all of you aspiring writers that conveying a thought clearly is far more important than being an accurate typist or the grammar queen.
Yes, and perhaps harder too. Grammar is just a set of rules, but clear conveyance demands a feel for how millions of people think, and to fit the writing into that effectively.
I'll add another to that statement — spelling. People who troll the internet looking for spelling and grammar mistakes are not only kind enough to point them out for you, they'll often add something like, "You're obviously not qualified to be a professional writer, and you and your staff should all be fired."
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, I am a professional writer (ok, hack copywriter, but still), and I can assure all of you aspiring writers that conveying a thought clearly is far more important than being an accurate typist or the grammar queen. You know who cares about grammar and spelling? Editors. That's their job.
It's kinda like photography, people, composition matters more than most things.
While we worry about grammar and typographical errors, no need to panic. Consider these wise words written in 1937 by the American-Chinese author Lin Yutang in his classic book, The Importance of Living. “An American editor worries his hair gray to see that no typographical mistakes appear on
ReplyDeletethe pages. The Chinese editor is wiser than that. He wants to leave his readers the supreme
satisfaction of discovering a few typographical mistakes for themselves.”
and I can assure all of you aspiring writers that conveying a thought clearly is far more important than being an accurate typist or the grammar queen.
ReplyDeleteI can see why you're just a "hack copywriter", as presentation counts and any aspiring professional writer who turns in work with spelling and/or grammatical errors might as well not bother.
The reference to Shakespeare makes no sense as most of the rules of grammar didn't exist in his time, so there is no reason why he would follow them. He could end sentences with prepositions or use double negatives (and he did) without worrying. It's true that a lot of the rules of English grammar make no sense, and part of the reason for that is some of them were grafted on from Latin, and others just decided on a whim. But unfortunately they are there, and we have to follow them.
In language, as in evolution, most mutations are harmful, but a few are beneficial and improve the species.
ReplyDeleteEnding sentences with prepositions, yes. As Churchill reportedly said: "It's things like this with which I won't put up."
ReplyDeleteCopywriting is an interesting discipline, in that you're most often writing conversationally. It's not uncommon to use fragments of sentences to get a point across, simply because you approach each task as though you're conducting a conversation, not writing a doctorate thesis on etymology.
ReplyDeleteThe point is, you can be a great communicator even if your grammar isn't perfect and if you can't spell. Professional writers work with editors to smooth out rough edges and get pieces of writing ready for publication, which is where typos/mixed metaphors/changes in tense, etc. are fixed.
And "Anonymous" — I used the phrase "hack copywriter" as an attempt at self-deprecating humor, and I'm sorry you didn't pick up on that. Fact is, I get paid to write for a living and you don't, and I wouldn't be paid much if I didn't know what I was doing. I find it baffling why you'd want to pick a fight about things you don't understand. Oh, wait, it's not that baffling...
However, you do make a great point about Shakespeare which actually illustrates my original point better than I did — Shakespeare may have written with what we consider "bad grammar" today, but don't we all understand what he's communicating to us?
I used the phrase "hack copywriter" as an attempt at self-deprecating humor, and I'm sorry you didn't pick up on that.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I did.
Fact is, I get paid to write for a living and you don't,
What are you basing that on? Reason, clearly, is not your strong suit. Really, any writer who says you don't need to know grammar or spell properly...I just can't believe a professional would say that. Especially not one who is just a copywriter and has no leverage. Hemingway, Tolstoy, even your Kings or Grishams of today, could get away with poor spelling, typos, back grammar. A lowly copywriter cannot.
and I wouldn't be paid much if I didn't know what I was doing.
Yes, that's true. But as I said above, we have only your word that you are in fact paid to write.
Shakespeare may have written with what we consider "bad grammar" today, but don't we all understand what he's communicating to us?
We can understand him quite well. The point was that, although adhering to proper grammar may not be necessary for communication, it is expected today. Try turning in a college essay with grammatical or spelling errors. Try actually being a "hack copywriter" who turns in copy full of those errors. You wouldn't make a dime.
I find it baffling why you'd want to pick a fight about things you don't understand. Oh, wait, it's not that baffling...
I'm betting there are a lot of things about this world you find baffling.
I find it baffling why you'd want to pick a fight about things you don't understand.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you've been called out before on this blog for your gross ignorance when writing about things you don't understand. Ever going to express an opinion on photography again? I doubt it.
When I was an editor for an animation company, they gave me scripts of aspiring writers to check. If I found grammar mistakes or bad form more than once on the first page, the script went into the bin.
ReplyDeleteIf you are writing for the internet, there is more tolerance simply because people don't SEE the mistakes well on the screen. But if your words go on paper (or e-paper), they convey an image of a sloppy work.
(English is a second-language to me, so don't chastise me for any glaring mistakes in this comment. Corrections are always welcome).