I am a spelling, grammar and punctuation fiend.
There. I've said it. Anyone who knows me, knows this is not new. My co-workers know it. My friends might know it. My students definitely know it.
Spelling, grammar and punctuation are the order that tames the chaos of thought. When we put pen or keyboard to a blank paper or space, these rules guide us. They provide a framework so that we might understand each other.
I'm all for adventure and spontaneity, but when it comes to communication, I need to know what you're trying to say. It's like driving. If you are driving on the wrong side of the road, you can't get very far. If you don't read the signs, you'll end up at the wrong destination. It might be just as fun (or not) but it's not the point you were trying to get to in the first place.
Road rage is everywhere. People are packing guns, getting out of their cars to fight, throwing things... it's all a little crazy. It doesn't stop us from getting home or to work (unless it's extreme) but minor delays, such as those from red lights, being cut off, or not permitted to merge into a lane can send us over the edge.
Being able to write or speak a coherent sentence is no different. Poor spelling, grammar and punctuation slow us down, but we still get there. Why is there no "word rage"?
(One of my favourite blog posts on grammar is The Alot is Better Than You at Everything. It's awesome.)
I received an email from a co-worker/friend. This person has done several years of post-secondary education, and I don't mean trade school. (Not that there's anything wrong with trades, but I should think you don't have many essays in a trade school.) The email was littered with punctuation. Multiple exclamation marks. Everything she wrote looked like this!! It was a little crazy!!! I had no idea how she meant her words!!! Was she really this excited about EVERYTHING?!?!!?! OMG!!!!
If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be able to communicate well in written form. It's true. If u writ lik thiz tryna git a gud job, u wont get far. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. It's your job to write the message. Do it well, please.
If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be able to communicate well in written form. It's true. If u writ lik thiz tryna git a gud job, u wont get far. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. It's your job to write the message. Do it well, please.
