Grammar Column: “Does it Sound Right?” Doesn’t Work Anymore

By Dr. Robert F. Stevenson

I recall a conversation I once had with a friend concerning the pervasive problem of poor grammar. The discussion centered on the fact that one of the biggest complaints employers across the country have concerning those applying for entry-level jobs is the potential employees’ poor grasp of English grammar.

I contributed my observation that in the not-too-distant past a good test for writers frustrated over a grammar conundrum included the simple question: “Does it sound right?” Unfortunately, a problem facing today’s youth is that poor grammar has seeped so deeply into daily conversation that, “Does it sound right?” just doesn’t work anymore.

A little research confirmed the existence of that problem. Nearly 20 years ago, in an article entitled Poll finds grammar not prized by high school teachers, published in Education Daily, author Michael Cardman reported, “Among six general writing skills, high school teachers in a recent poll rated grammar and usage as the least important.”

In a separate article, “The 10 Worst Resume Mistakes to Avoid, on Monster. com/career-advice/, author Peter Vogt listed grammatical errors as the number one mistake to avoid. 

Are you one of the countless cohorts with a “closet” grammar problem? Maybe you were absent when your sixth grade English teacher discussed pronoun-antecedent agreement. Or, maybe the pluperfect tense makes you tremendously tense. Or, maybe you are one of the lucky ones — who invariably “gets it right,” without a clue as to why. Whatever the reason, if you have been concealing a grammar phobia, it’s not too late to conquer the comma!

Why not make this the day that you begin to liberate yourself from that cloud of confusion surrounding English grammar? It can be done. When I teach English as a Second Language to international students, one of my most common replies to my students is, “That’s another exception to the rule.” I sometimes felt a little guilty that I was fortunate enough to grow up speaking English because English seems to me a relatively difficult language for a non-English speaking adult to master.
 

Shown below is a quick test of common grammar and spelling problems. Why not take a minute to see how you fare?  

 

TEST

 A. My cat lost (its or it’s) collar.

B. Give the package to (whoever or whomever) you like.

C. Studying may be difficult (comma, semicolon, or no punctuation) but it can be very rewarding.

D. The (effect or affect) of the experiment would negatively (effect or \ affect) the group.

E. Our garden has (a lot or alot) of unwanted visitors this year.

 

F. It is (all right or alright) that you are finished (all ready or already).

 

G. You (two, too, to) have (two, too, to) much time (two, too, to)!

 

H. She made this gift for you and (I or me).j. The committee discussed the issue amongst (themselves or itself) before rendering (their or its) decision.

 

 

ANSWERS

 

A. its (“it’s” only means “it is”); 

B.  whomever (we need an object to fit with the preposition “to” in this sentence – “whoever” is nominative case or a subject; whomever is the objective case pronoun); 

 C. comma (there are two independent clauses [phrases with a subject and a verb] combined by the coordinating conjunction “but.” The rule is to “always precede a coordinating conjunction with a comma.”  
 
D. effect (“effect” with an “e” means result); affect (“affect” with an “a” means change).

E. a lot (“a lot” is always two words); 

F.  all right (alright is non-standard English); already (already means “by now”).

H. me (the pronoun “I” is always a subject, and “me” is always an object. In this sentence we need an object).    themselves (“committee” is a collective noun; it can either be singular or plural depending on its usage. [In the first reference, “committee” is plural, so we need a plural pronoun) its (committee is acting as a singular noun in the second reference.] “Its” is therefore the correct pronoun).

Score:
If you missed 0-2, go back to your reading; you’re doing fine.
3-5, maybe a little brush up wouldn’t hurt.
6-8, time to dust off your library card and enhance your writing through reading
9-10, time to get a grammar book.
If you felt a little rusty with this English grammar challenge, I recommend acquainting yourself with either of these two books: THE LITTLE BROWN HANDBOOK or STRUNK
AND WHITE’S ELEMENTS OF STYLE. 
 
Don’t let a comma come between you and your next job.