Does GrammarMatter?

Julie Harrison@coffeewithjulie

May 2, 2015

Does Grammar Matter?

You hated it in school; you hate

it now. But that doesn’t change

the fact that poor grammar can

deteriorate your credibility.

Fill up on some caffeine and join

Algonquin College English

Professor and fellow blogger

Julie Harrison for a little tune-up.

Topics to be covered:

#1. Mistakes that grammar freaks like to mock most

#2. How to add sentence variety to your post

#3. Technology that can help

Sure,grammarmatters.

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But does itmatter as muchas somepeople think?

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So, grammar matters. But how much?

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So, grammar matters. But how much?

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Sentence fragment!

Starting a sentence with a conjunction!

Enough to make a reader stop

visiting your blog?

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Enough to make someone question your credibility as a writer?

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35% of respondents will question

your credibility as a writer

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Enough to make someone doubt your opinion on a product review?

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“I often wonder what the brands think and if they even

read the posts as well.”

21%

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I start to question whether I want to believe that blogger's opinions/arguments/thoughts on a topic.

“If they don't take the time to check and make sure their grammar is correct, how do I

know other details of the post are?”

“It makes me feel uncomfortable. It makes me

question the blogger's work as a whole.”

Why do bloggers make

grammar mistakes?

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Likely, for some of the same reasons as my students …

• Learning disabilities

• Writing in a second language

• Grammar was not a subject taught in high school (or slept through it!)

• Dropped out of school for family/personal reasons

• Not taking the time to proofread

• Forgetting to use software tools

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And some additional ones …

Colophon editing team, 1939Artist Don Freeman

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I am a writer, but I’ll never be a “master”

• What ya’ gonna do with an English degree?

• Paid to write since 1995

• I am not an author, journalist, novelist

• Speeches, newsletters, bios, articles, websites, annual reports, white papers, product feature sheets, investor kits, brochures, billboards, case studies, training manuals, performance reports, RFPs, blah, blah, blah, you name it and I will write it …

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www.caffeinecommunications.ca

“We are all apprentices in a craft

where no one ever becomes a master.”

—Ernest Hemingway

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Tune-Up Lesson #1

Avoiding the Mistakes that Grammar Freaks like to Mock

the Most!

Quiz!

A. All occasions require caffeine, including conference’s!

B. All occasions require caffeine, including conferences!

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Common Error #1: Incorrect Use of Apostrophe

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Do use an apostrophe for contractions• “Don’t” for “Do Not”

Do use an apostrophe to show possession• Frank’s puppy is cute.

Do not use an apostrophe to form a plural• It drives grammar geeks banana’s!

Quiz!

A. After a nice hot coffee, its time for chocolate!

B. After a nice hot coffee, it’s time for chocolate!

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Common Error #2: Its / It’s

Source credit: The YUNiversity Source credit: Hudson

Quiz!

A. Holy, Bat Man! This BConnected Conference is effecting my brain!

B. Holy, Bat Man! This BConnected Conference is affecting my brain!

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Common Error #3: Affect / Effect

Quiz!

A. This pen is a great complement to the notebook.

B. This pen is a great compliment to the notebook.

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Common Error #4: Compliment / Complement

Quiz!

A. There are so many prizes today that I’m going to need another tote!

B. They’re so many prizes today that I’m going to need another tote!

C. Their so many prizes today that I’m going to need another tote!

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Common Error #5:

Quiz!

This lunch bag has many handy features that include;insulation, cheerful colours, and zippered pockets.

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Common Error #6: Semi-colon abuse!

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Tune-Up Lesson #2

Adding Sentence Varietyto Your Posts

Think of a sentence as a bicycle …

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The subject wheel and the predicate wheelconnect to form a stable structure.

Tells us who or what

We can have just one word in each wheel…

Students studied.

Children play.

But most of the time our ideas include more details.

We add extra words to the wheels.

The neighbourhood children play at the local park.

Baskets are excellent ways to create sentence variety.

Once we have a stable structure, we can add a basket on the front, in

the middle, or on the back.

The basket cannot stand on its own; it’s not a stable structure.

When the music began

When the music began, everyone started to dance.

Earlier this spring, the viaduct was closed because of flooding.

Eight months ago, we bought a truck.

By the time we got home, it was dark.

Irritable after a long day at work, we took a nap before studying.

Baskets on the front …

Baskets in the middle …

My little brother, unable to sleep, turned on the light.

The elderly couple, walking slowly up the driveway, waved at their grandchildren.

A modern art gallery, funded by a million dollar grant, is under construction.

John Jackson, a friend since grade school, is my math tutor.

Jeff wants a hybrid, his best hope for good gas mileage.

A gentle rain fell throughout the night, lulling us to sleep.

We are building a home with Habitat for Humanity, a national volunteer program.

Everyone wants to leave at noon, even my sister.

Baskets on the back …

Readers are looking for the bicycle wheels (the main idea).

Commas help them see the wheels.

The Logic of Punctuation

So if you begin a sentence with a basket, use a comma to show readers where the addition ends and the basic sentence begins.

According to the weather report, tomorrow will be hot and humid.

If the basket interrupts the sentence, use commas to show readers

where the basket begins and ends.

The art gallery, which opens this weekend, features local artists.

If the basket is attached to the end of the

sentence, the comma shows readers

where the addition begins.

The award was given to James Johnson, the most respected person in our town.

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Tune-Up Lesson #2

Technology thatHelps Catch Errors

I lied.

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For Wordpress users, this helps …

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The proofreading feature checks spelling, misused words, grammar, and style. You can tell the type of error by its color.

• Misused words and spelling errors are red• Grammar mistakes are green• Style suggestions are blue

Learn grammar without going into a coma of boredom…Grammar Girl (www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar)

Grammar Bytes (www.chompchomp.com)

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Proofreading Tips: Before you press “Publish”1. Read your post out loud

2. Triple-check your headline

3. Triple-check your apostrophes

4. Put proofreading in the plan

5. Did I mention there is no secret sauce? (Caffeine helps! )

6. When in doubt, look it up

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Thank You!

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www.caffeinecommunications.ca