Is Grammar Important?

[the_7th_swan]

So, reading a story where the author used the word 'preposition' several times. Problem? She meant to use 'proposition'. A single letter difference but a meaning apart.

Preposition: A word that tells the author where something is located: under, by, in, beside, on. I parked my car under a tree.
Proposition: A suggestion, proposal or offer. I have a

Comments

[ferneberga]

You sure, you don't translate on the side? LOL

[the_7th_swan]

Yeah, that sort of job would slowly drive me mad. I'd probably take to carring around a two-by-four so I could bash people over the head if they annoyed me too much! :P

[la_mariane]

*puts on pro-grammar hat* OK, those grammar mistakes can be just a blip for native speakers, but for me (English is my second language), they actually make understanding difficult. Same with SMS writting or really obscur slang (but the last one is fun to learn). So I'd say good grammar is pretty essential to a story.

[the_7th_swan]

This is a very good point and one I'll admit I didn't consider. If it's hard for *me* to understand, it must be doubly so for ESL individuals. That must get so frustrating!!

[sasha1600]

Yes!!! Grammar is vital! Incorrectly used words, poor sentence structure, even a typo, can be distracting in the middle of an otherwise delightful read... it's like hitting a speed bump that pulls you out of the story. Those whose own writing is weak probably aren't distracted by such things, though, and they seem genuinely not to understand what we're complaining about when we say we can't read something because it's so full of errors that it's too painful to try to get through!

You just made my morning, by the way. I've been getting thoroughly discouraged by the incomprehensible drivel that a class full of uni students just handed in.

[the_7th_swan]

This was my feeling exactly!!

And I'm glad I made your morning more enjoyable. I'm a teacher myself and it's assessment week so all I've been doing is marking poorly written texts. Then again, my students are 6 and 7, so it's much more understandible!!

[tabithella]

Grammar is important to me. If I'm reading a story I like to get lost in it. It's really frustrating when I come across something that pulls me out of the story. One of the worst things for doing this is coming across a misused or mispelled word. I have often given up on stories that I've been reading due to bad grammar.

[the_7th_swan]

Interesting you feel this way. I must admit, the story in question was quite rife with such mistakes. While I *like* the story, I feel I would *love* it were it correctly written. Every time I came across the word 'preposition' I was (as you said) pulled out of the story. Thanks to contributing to the discussion!

[starbuckssue]

Having done proof reading as part of a previous job role I find poor spelling/grammar and incorrect usage of words to be frastrating when reading as they just leap out at me and 'throw' me out of the story. If a story isn't too badly written I can still read and enjoy it, however, there have been some stories, even ones that were recommended, that I have had to give up reading because the spelling/grammar etc was just too bad, especially with incorrect usage as this makes a sentence mean an entirely different thing, occasionally even making something which should come over as serious hilariously funny, but for the wrong reason!

[the_7th_swan]

This is so true! I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way.

Proof positive that beta's are important!