Grammar and Punctuation: Why bother?

6 May 2010

"Writing is all about expressing yourself. Whether or not I've got my grammar and punctuation in order, is not important. Writing is Art. I am the artist and therefore am not bound by any rules."

Really?

If you adhere to the view expressed above, you are really saying that it doesn't matter whether your reader can understand what you're actually writing. But is that what you really want? Isn't writing about communication? What's the point in writing, if you fail to get your message across to your audience?

With that in mind, let's have a look at some basic mistakes that every self-respecting writer should avoid at all costs, because they make him look illiterate.

• There, their and they're

Do you know the difference? If not, look at this example: Their book is over there; they're reading it for literature class.

Just imagine I would have written something like this: There book is over they're. Their reading it for literature class. Would you have been able to make sense of it?

I didn't think so. But what's the difference?

It's quite easy, really.

Their is possessive. Their book, their home, their car, their child.

There refers to a place: 'The books are over there, in the bookcase.' 'Look there! A mouse.'

They're is a contraction. It's simply a shortened form of they are.

Now that I explained these three, let's have a look at this:

• Your and you're.

Do you know the difference? You should. If you can't tell the difference, people will think you're stupid. It's your responsibility to make sure you know these things.

Indeed: Your is possessive, whereas you're is a contraction. Easy, isn't it?

• It's or its?

It's is a contraction. It means it is. Its is possessive, and does not get an apostrophe.

It's about time. The door is about to come off its hinges.

• Than or then?

You should use than when you make a comparison: More than, fewer than, larger than, smarter than.

Then can mean several things. It could refer to a moment in time: It was then, that I saw him.

Then can mean next: She showed us the gadget. Then she went on to explain how it worked.

Then can mean in addition to: First she gave Ed a punch on the nose, and then kicked him between his legs. (Ouch!)

Finally, then can mean therefore: If you want to be a writer, then you should mind your grammar.

Last but not least, one of my pet peeves.

• Should of, would of, could of

Please, please, please, don't do that! It's wrong, and frankly, I think it's plain dumb, too.

It's should have, would have and could have. Of is a preposition, not a verb.

If you're at all serious about being a writer, please, do yourself a favour and get your grammar right. It will save you lots of embarrassment.