How to get Gooder at Grammar

by Mike Maisen, Aspect Consulting

GRAMMAR. Ughhhh.  

It’s a dirty word to most and a passion for some. Yet, our work as marketing professionals depends on our ability to communicate well in writing. And writing well is powered by knowing what makes good sentences work. In other words, grammar! Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to become a Grammar Ninja (If you are, respect.) But, knowing grammar does mean that you understand the “why” behind the “what”. It’s the difference between knowing there’s something wrong with a sentence and being able to fix it. Getting better at grammar will make you a better writer. Here are two simple ways to start getting better:

1.       Reframe how you think about grammar

Grammar has an image problem—it’s often thought of as a boring, dusty set of rules that few notice. Let’s change this image. From now on, think of grammar as a language Rosetta Stone. Learn it and you will unlock how to express yourself more powerfully in writing.  Here are a few entertaining grammar books and blogs to help you see things in a different way:

• Grammar Girl: Popular grammar blog
• Common Errors in English Usage: Comprehensive usage blog by WSU Professor
• Eats, Shoots & Leaves:  Very funny book about grammar 

2.       Get better at identifying the 8 parts of speech; especially the subject and verb

The eight parts of speech are the foundation of English grammar. Even if you can’t name them all, you already know how to use them intuitively. However, if you can get to a point where you can reliably identify them in a sentence, you’ll be amazed at how much better your writing will be. Here are two good resources to help you begin:

• University of Ottawa’s HyperGrammar site:  Simple and clear breakdown of what makes English tick

• Purdue’s Online Writing Lab: Fantastic all around grammar and writing site