How to Grammar

What is a gerund? What is a participle? What is a prepositional phrase?

If you're curious, I'm sorry to say you won't find the answers to these questions here. I don't really care for formal grammar instruction. Even if one learns all the vocabulary and rules for grammar perfectly, her writing may not improve. Reading, practice and intuition will help the writer connect with her reader in a meaningful way.

Reading will help the writer learn how good sentences are supposed to sound. If the writer reads enough different styles for long periods of time, writing her own work will be as easy as practicing good mimicry. If one doesn't know how to mimic authors, she can still learn good writing habits through practice.

Practice will help the writer recognize her own errors and learn to self-correct. If she writes enough and receives feedback, she will likely start to notice poor structural tendencies in her own work. She can compare this to the structural tendencies of good writers to see what she needs to do differently. This is likely more effective than formal grammar instruction for the writer because she can focus on what she does poorly rather than confusing herself with complicated rules. Chances are, she is already using most grammatical rules correctly even if she can't explain what the rules are.

Intuition is the last factor that will determine whether a writer can write well. For many writers, intuition might actually be the result of years of reading, but I believe some people naturally know how sentences are supposed to sound. Intuitive writers risk second-guessing themselves when receiving formal grammar instruction, which could harm their natural voices.

Formal grammar instruction can be fun for those of us who are very strange, but I don't think it helps most writers become good writers. It is better to use trial and error.

Comments

  1. Melanie Springer MockMarch 17, 2020 at 2:06 PM

    Hi Ana, I am completely in your corner when it comes to grammar and formal instruction, and I appreciate the way you outlined your understanding here. Wanted you to know that I read your blog posts this week (since I cannot give you an in-person response sheet).

    ReplyDelete

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