Grammar, as defined by linguists, is a description of how a certain language operates. Contrary to what a lot of people think, grammar is not a tool to decide whether a language is right or wrong. It is simply an essential means that delivers meaning, provides clarity and that helps the reader’s comprehension. Nevertheless, on account of the internet, emojis and slang terminology in text messages in this day and age, the English language is constantly changing. This change includes both the spelling and the meaning of a number of words.
That being said, this article answers the question that a large number of people ask nowadays: Does grammar matter in these modern times or is it a tool that went out of fashion a while ago?
The main purpose of teaching grammar at schools is to be able to communicate in a clear way that other people understand. Grammar plays a role of a bridge between what one person means and what the reader or listener understands. With comprehensible grammatical skills, it is ensured that people will be able to understand one another even if English is not their native language.
In addition to that, people with good grammar are generally perceived as more educated, professional and even smarter than those who do not. For that reason, having good grammatical skills can play a very important role in both college and job applications.
However, the English language is a living language. And what matters about grammar is not adhering to the rules, but converting the meaning in a clear way. Having said that, sometimes grammatical rules can get in the way of comprehension, which means that it should not matter if these rules are followed. In this case, common sense and knowledge weigh much more than a rule that is a hundred of years old.
In addition the above, sometimes grammatical rules can get in the way of creativity and self-expression, especially in the case of writing a piece that inspires, entertains and persuades other people. In this particular case, authors focus more on the effect their writings will have on other people rather than the grammatical rules themselves.
Grammar certainly makes communication between people clearer. However, when it comes to breaking grammatical rules, it is important to consider whether doing so will affect comprehension or not, and if creativity and poetic effects are worthy.