Good Grammar Is A Life Skill

In a world of instant communication where abbreviations and acronyms have become the preferred way to verbalize, it’s never been more important to instill an appreciation of correct grammar into the minds of our children. It will not only give them the confidence to communicate in an adult-world but, in an increasingly competitive world, where the rules of English grammar are mastered so adeptly by Far Eastern students, a grammatically correct letter of application will shine out like a beacon from among a pile of poorly written missives. According to recently surveyed employers, these letters of application routinely contain a plethora of grammatical errors, mundane vocabulary and incorrect spelling. Far from being old-fashioned, being a grammar whizz means you are astute, alert and ahead in the life-race.

Research has also shown that the reliance on linguistic shortcuts can hinder a young person’s grasp of grammatical rules, especially at an age where they are still in the process of learning how to hone their own writing skills . Indeed, for the purposes of speedy communication, many teenagers have invented their own homophones such as nite, gr8 and wud. Added to this, there is usually a complete omission of capital letters and punctuation. The worrying trend is that many of these teenagers seem unable to draw the distinction between formal grammar and tech speak when they need to.

After years of neglect by successive Departments of Education, the grammatical fight back starts here! Let’s celebrate the language of Shakespeare and know our prepositions from our pronouns, our subordinate clauses from our main clauses and our conjugations from our conjunctions.

What is more, being in possession of sound grammar, can open the door to successfully learning another language, which can in itself lead to many life opportunities. In short, tech speak will never oust the rich vocabulary and structures of the English language and yes, it is time to dust down the traditional grammar book, as the rules enshrined within are here to stay.