Here’s a little insider tip: there’s no such thing as the grammar police. Those strict rules we often worry about? They’re more like guidelines—there’s no one waiting to ticket you for a misplaced comma.
Author Margaret Atwood masterfully sidesteps conventional grammar to craft her narratives. It’s not just rule-breaking; it’s an art. She hasn’t worried about the grammar police in her career.
You don’t need to be crafting literary masterpieces to know when and how to bend the rules of grammar:
- Split Infinitives: Feel free to split infinitives if it adds emphasis or rhythm to your writing. The iconic Star Trek phrase, “to boldly go where no one has gone before,” is a prime example. It’s impactful and memorable.
- The Singular ‘They’: It’s accepted, inclusive, and incredibly useful for clear and concise communication. It acknowledges gender diversity and is perfect for situations where the subject’s gender is unknown or irrelevant.
- Ending Sentences with Prepositions: It’s perfectly acceptable if it makes your sentence sound more natural. Avoid contorting your sentences to comply with outdated rules.
Using your natural voice, cadence, and tone will resonate much more with your target audience. So, instead of getting everything perfect, focus on telling your story how you would say it out loud.
Easy Grammar Tips
A few things might be helpful if you’re worried about not getting your message across. Here are a few grammar points you might encounter:
- Apostrophes: They indicate possession (the horse’s bridle) or contractions (it’s for “it is”). Remember, ‘its’ indicates possession (the dog chased its tail).
- Your vs. You’re: ‘Your’ shows possession (your newsletter is ready), while ‘you’re’ is a contraction for ‘you are’ (you’re doing great!).
- There, Their, They’re: ‘There’ points to a place (e.g., over there), ‘their’ indicates possession (e.g., their ideas are innovative), and ‘they’re’ is a contraction for ‘they are’ (e.g., they’re expanding their business).
When in doubt, say the sentence out loud. Try to separate the words and see if they make sense.
- Fewer vs. Less: Use ‘fewer’ for countable items (fewer emails) and ‘less’ for non-countable quantities (less information).
- I vs. Me: To decide between ‘I’ and ‘me,’ remove the other person from the sentence to see if it still sounds right. For example, “The client chose Teona and I for marketing” would sound weird if you said, “The client chose I for marketing.” If it sounds funny, replace it with “me.”
Telling Your Story
Your blog is not just a platform for business insights; it’s a space to express your creativity. Understanding grammar is the foundation, but playing with the rules can make your content more engaging and uniquely yours. The ultimate goal? Connecting with your readers. Everything else is just part of the journey. Don’t fear the grammar police. Writing what you say is more important than not writing at all.
Related: Mai Tais and Metaphors
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