Becoming a professional writer is a process that takes several years to master. One simply does not come out of the womb knowing proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and so on. However, after an individual graduates from either high school or college and begins working in the field they choose, most employers would expect that these skills are developed and mastered.
In an article written by Kyle Wiens titled “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why,” Wiens explains his reasoning behind his zero-tolerance approach to poor grammar and why he requires his employees to take a mandatory grammar test during the application process. Wiens states, “I hire people who care about those details. Applicants who don’t think writing is important are likely to think lots of other (important) things also aren’t important.”
However, Wiens also mentions extenuating circumstances such as individuals with dyslexia or English language learners. The call to question is, “Is Grammar all that important?” As a future educator specializing in English, the question is a no-brainer. Of course, grammar is important… however, do I think individuals who have not mastered grammar can be detail-oriented workers?
As a first-generation college student and the product of immigrants, I also recognize that for many individuals, education was not as accessible compared to people who were born in America. In an article written by Carmen Bugan titled “Being an Immigrant Writer in America Today,” Bugan shares the importance of uplifting stories of immigrants now more than ever. I can confidently say that immigrants are some of the most hardworking people I know. For many, grammar is not something that they mastered, but that is okay because there are plenty of jobs where that is not the main priority.
However, it is also important to understand that there are several jobs where grammar and the quality of writing are highly important in ensuring the effectiveness of your work.
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