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If there is one way to be taken more seriously and show you are professional and intelligent, it’s by having great grammar skills. Grammar encompasses essentially every aspect of the English language, from punctuation to sentence structure (also called syntax) to proper word use, etc. Basically every error in language can be attributed to incorrect grammar.
When you meet someone new, what’s one of the first things you notice about them? Whether you meet in-person or online, the way they communicate tells you a lot about them. Now consider the fact that just as you assess people’s communication without even realizing it, everyone you interact with is also doing the same for you! Clearly, this is a major area where you can make a lasting impression–and you want to make sure it’s a good one.
From your employer to your relatives to your health care practitioner to your potential romantic partners, the way you present yourself through language has a lasting impact on how you are viewed–and also on how your relationships play out.
What’s an Important Goal for 2022?
Therefore, one of the best goals you can set for 2022 is to keep your grammar in check. It may sound daunting because of how far-reaching grammar is, but improving this skill is actually quite simple. These tips below will go a long way in helping you to have stronger grammar.
Use The Word Counter’s Grammar Checker
Grammar checkers like the one on The Word Counter are one of the best tools for improving your grammar! The Word Counter is a free website with multiple features, including its Grammar Checker, that allows you to type directly into their text box or copy and paste. The Word Counter is a perfect aid to your grammar goal because in addition to its grammar check that goes beyond simply spell-check, it also offers resources on how to improve your writing overall. It has a whole section called Grammar Tips and its blog is chock-full of useful information. Definitely check out The Word Counter for help!
Read Your Writing Out Loud
It always helps to read your work out loud if you want to catch mistakes. When you read in your head you may have a tendency to go into scanning mode and miss errors, but when you read out loud you are forced to slow down and pay closer attention to the words you’re saying. Plus, it’s a lot harder to miss mistakes when you’re speaking because if it sounds wrong, it probably is!
Review Proper English Conventions
In order to improve your grammar, you first have to understand what makes writing correct. To operate from a standpoint of understanding right versus wrong grammar, it helps to brush up on your English language conventions. Some great starting points include reviewing proper punctuation, apostrophes, subject-verb agreement, and the conventions of complete sentences.
Find a Peer Editor
It always helps to share your work with others if you want to locate your strengths and the areas you want to improve. Find a trusted peer who can act as an editor. By “trusted,” meaning someone who is a strong communicator (ie. it’s probably best not to grab your six year old niece for this task). Editing doesn’t have to be formal or complex. Simply put, you want to utilize a second pair of eyes to look over your writing, because often when you reread your work over and over, you can become accustomed to your own words and look right past any errors.
Don’t Allow Yourself to Use “Texting Language”
If you really want to prioritize better grammar, you have to hold yourself accountable, so that means no slacking off and sinking into improper grammar. Texting is one area where proper writing often slips to the wayside. Sure, texting is often a way to casually communicate with friends and family, and because texting lingo and slang exists, the person you’re messaging will probably know what you mean even if you don’t write in complete sentences or fully spell out a word. But texting forms habits.
If you are always misspelling words or ignoring punctuation when you’re messaging friends, it becomes a natural process to accidentally do the same when your grammar really does matter. What will happen when you go to fire off a quick email to your boss, or when you accidentally press send on that text to your accountant? Just think about how second nature it has become to transfer texting language to everyday speech: chances are you’ve said LOL out loud before rather than actually laughing!
Recap
Grammar is an incredibly important part of life that plays a significant role in how professionally you are viewed and how strong of a communicator you are seen as. Make keeping your grammar in check a goal for 2022!
