Pebblepup's Writing Den

I am not part of the grammar police. I’m not rabid about it. I will say that right off because grammar is important. Most of us use grammar instinctively. That’s fine.
What is grammar exactly? Linguistically, it is the set of rules for structuring natural languages. It governs how the sentences are fashioned. The rules have been agreed on a long time ago, at the very beginning of speech.

Grammatical rules make speech and, by extension, written language clear and understandable. We want our text to be clear and easily understood. That is the purpose of grammar.

That’s not to say we need to rigidly conform to grammar, but we should do our best to ensure that we break them in a way that still lets us be understood.

How many books have you tried to read that you couldn’t follow the action because it was too confusing? Grammar rules help to defuse any confusion in the written word.

It’s very important to be clear in your writing. More important, even, than in the spoken word. The reason for that, is because the spoken word has more nuances in it. There are more cues to meaning involved in the spoken word that aren’t available in the written word. There is no inflection in the written word as there is in the spoken one. Body language is hidden from the reader that can be heard by an audience.

You need to keep that in mind and use the rules in the grammar. If you are unsure of whether you have stayed in the grammar rules. You can find those places easily by reading the words aloud. If it sounds weird to you, then rewrite the sentence because it will seem odd to someone reading it.

That’s the best way to ensure that anyone reading it will understand your work. That’s the goal.

You don’t have to be the grammar police, but you do need to be aware of the rules. That’s the only way to keep your work readable.

Grammar, of course, depends on the language used. Some languages have words that mean different things depending on the words around them. Grammar dictates the meaning there.

So as you write your next piece, think about the rules that help your readers understand your writing. Just read your work aloud, no matter what language you are using, whether it is your native language, or a second one. Reading the words aloud lets you know if it sounds right.

If you are writing in a language not your native one, read your work to a native speaker who will hear any mistakes you might have made while writing it.
That is the reason authors are told to read their work aloud. It’s a good way to stay within the rules of grammar. Let it shine through. Good luck and keep writing.