The discussion we had in class about bad grammar was very interesting to me. I write a lot, and am considering being a journalist once I graduate school. I currently write sports articles for two websites. In my time doing so, I have made grammar mistakes. Whether this was due to the fact I was rushing out an article or I simply overlooked it, I am guilty of doing so.
I believe even the best writers will make small grammar mistakes (at least in their first draft), and that is okay. I read Kyle Wien’s piece on their intolerance for those with bad grammar. I also read Carmen Bugan’s article on being an immigrant writer in America, and I would like to share my thoughts on each.
Starting with Wien’s piece, I only half agree with their feelings about grammar. I understand that in a situation where the job entails mainly writing, as do the jobs for their company, it is essential that your writers have great grammar. Anybody who has been through at least high school should know the difference between too and to. However, I don’t think it should be everything in hiring somebody, unless they are making elementary mistakes. Not mixing up a colon or semicolon every so often.
Bugan’s piece resonated with me because of my personal life. My best friend moved here from Greece in 2014. When I first met him in middle school, his English was so bad to the point he could not tell me his own name properly. We sat together in English, and I often peer reviewed his writing. At first, it was not something anybody could understand. After a lot of practice, he got a lot better and became a great writer. Now, at 21 years old, Theo and I are still like brothers. He now has no accent, perfect English and loves to use slang to make fun of me. I feel for those who have to learn the language and learn how to write at the same time. I saw how frustrating that was, and I know that with time it can be drastically improved.
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