Why is grammar in the workplace a key to success?

1. Grammar in the Workplace
With the rise of social media, it
seems that most people between the ages of
13-30 have forgotten the importance of
spelling and grammar. When common
conversations about making potential plans
have turned into “wyd, hmu”, (what are you
doing, hit me up), the focus has shifted from
content to convenience. All of us are
surrounded by communication technology
with the expectation of an immediate
response. When we text our friend, we wait
for the typing bubbles to appear; when we
post a picture, we wait for the likes and
comments to come in. Since we showcase
our lives in text, shouldn’t grammar matter
that much more? To most people, it doesn’t.
I’m known for being a grammar
enthusiast. Far too often, my family and
friends jokingly point it out and I’m
frequently recruited to proofread emails and
letters before they’re sent. In my mind,
proper grammar is a given. It’s taught for
years in school, used in every written
communication, and can positively
differentiate yourself in a classroom or
workplace setting. How can one get a
bachelor’s degree, but not understand the
difference between weather and whether?
After completing well over ten group
papers, I can positively say at least 50% of
my classmates cannot.
The interest in grammar, or lack
thereof, isn’t just a problem for academic
settings. The Wall Street Journal published a
piece last month about the growing number
of grammar mistakes in the workplace,
especially among younger staff. Saying
things like “there’s new people you should
meet” instead of “there are new people you
should meet”. “She wanted Lindsey and I to
help” instead of “she wanted Lindsey and
me”. While it seems like a minute part of the
conversation, you’re technically speaking
incorrectly. First impressions are made in
the beginning 15 seconds of a conversation
and with poor grammar you’re getting off on
the wrong foot, sometimes without even
realizing it.
With the pendulum swinging
towards more written communication, great
grammar can be wielded as a skill. Kyle
Wiens, CEO of iFixit, stated that he
wouldn’t hire people with bad grammar in
general.
“I give all job applicants a grammar
test. In this digital age, your words
are all you have. We project
ourselves through our written words
and poor grammar shows no
attention to detail”
When you speak, grammar is your projected
level of thoughtfulness and intelligence. It
demonstrates organized thought and
preparation. The notion, “think before you
speak”, seems to be revolutionary to people
these days. By taking an extra three minutes
to run through your statement or proofread
an email, you’re conveying a clear message
and general eloquence.
Forbes cited that out of 430
employers, 45% said they planned to
increase training programs to improve
employees’ use of grammar and similar
skills (Forbes). Most of these executives
claimed that the quick rise of electronic
communication has changed the way
business is done. It’s not only the legal and
contracts teams that need to have great
grammar, but every employee. Good

2. grammar makes it easier for people to
understand each other. In college we’re
taught that communication is the key to
networking, professionalism, and the
external view of ourselves. Why then is it
okay to send an email without commas or
proper punctuation? If I had a dollar for
every misused semicolon and comma I’ve
seen in the past four years, I wouldn’t have
to work after graduation.
While it’s easy enough to drone on
about the lack of grammar etiquette in the
workplace, informing people that their
grammar needs improvement is quite
difficult as well. While I gently inform
friends and colleagues about grammar
mistakes, I can toe the line of being a
“grammar snob”. It’s never appropriate to
publicly shame for grammar mistakes but
sharing feedback is key. Millenials know the
importance of constant feedback, but asking
for it and being open and welcoming, are
two different things. Use resources if you’re
unsure or even buy a book. I gifted
“Webster’s Guide to Grammar” to two of
my coworkers over the summer and was
hailed as a hero; no one knew how to tell
these two that their grammar needed
improvement. It turns out that my parting
gift was the right channel to deliver the
news.
The importance of grammar isn’t
solely reputational, but has farther-reaching
effects. Grammarly reviewed 200 LinkedIn
profiles of native English speakers with no
more than three employers in the first 10
years of their career. They drew a few
conclusions from the analysis.
1. Professionals with profiles
containing fewer mistakes achieved
higher positions.
Those who failed to achieve a director-level
position in the first 10 years, made more
than double the grammar mistakes of their
peers.
2. Fewer grammar errors meant more
promotion.
Professionals with fewer than four
promotions over their 10-year careers made
45% more grammar errors than those with
more than six promotions in the same
timeframe.
3. Fewer grammar errors are linked
with frequent job changes.
Those who remained at the same company
for more than 10 years made 20% more
grammar mistakes than those who held six
jobs in the same period. Clearly, there’s a
correlation to good grammar and a positive
work trajectory.
A teacher recently said to me “the
way you do anything is the way you do
everything.” How we handle situations in
life is most likely how we handle all of
them. By taking time to notice grammatical
errors and think before speaking, the
impression you make can be hugely altered.
It doesn’t matter the context, a $100k grant
proposal or interview follow-up email,
writing reflects the care and skill you take
with every task. Make it count.