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The Importance of Grammar in Finding a Job

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While today, more than any other time, people are communicating via the written word via text messages and instant messaging, it seems instead of improving the overall grammar of the population it has in fact led to its deterioration. Perhaps overuse of anything leads to diminishing its importance. But, when it comes to landing a job during an economic downturn, the importance of proper grammar cannot be stressed enough.

Many people with an excellent education, exceptional qualifications, and good references do not understand why they are not hearing back from employers after submitting their resume or an online application. There is a good chance that their written communication skills are lagging due to their frequent use of modern shortened communication. It is equally likely that these applicants are not even aware of this deficit on their part.

One way to make sure that written errors are not keeping one out of job is to have several people look over one’s resume and cover letter for errors and ensure that one is using proper grammar. Additionally, although it may seem like an elementary point, it is important to use the grammar checker software that comes with the word processor program used to create the resume.

While it is true that today people are much more accustomed to written communications than perhaps ever before, it is equally true that people of today are less likely to follow the traditional rules of the English language. Yet, employers, when looking for their perfect employee, value proper written communication skills perhaps now more than ever.

Homophones Made Easy

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Have you ever seen sentences such as these, perhaps on a social networking website?

“Hope your having a good day!”

“There little boy is so cute!”

“I here you got a promotion. Congrats!”

Among the most common grammatical errors seen in the written word today, the above examples represent the three most commonly misused homophones in the English language. With all the technology at our fingertips, as long as the word is spelled correctly, no grammar checker can detect the error. It is up to the writer to know what he or she is trying convey and the proper words to use.

Your: a pronoun, used to replace a noun.
You’re: a contraction, short form of “you are”

When using one of these words ask yourself if you mean to indicate possession of another person (e.g., your book) or shortening you are. In the above example, “you’re” should have been used.

There: a direction or state of being
Their: pronoun, used to replace a group and indicates possession
They’re: a contraction, short form of “they are”

There and their are the most commonly misused of this group.

Please put the books over there.
Joe was there for six hours.

Their little boy is so cute!
A friend of theirs came by for a visit.

Hear: present tense, as in one of the five senses
Here: a direction or state of being

I hear you were given a promotion.
Here are the receipts you needed.

Similarly, the past tense of hear also is confused.

Heard: Past tense of hear
Herd: A large group of animals such as cows or horses

She heard the car rumble in the night.
The herd moved closer to water and food.

Grammar checking when proofreading is the best way to spot these errors. When reading, the mind may overlook the flow of the sentence because it sounds correct. By looking at each word singly you may find a stray homophone or two before it is too late.

The Importance of Checking to Ensure Good Grammar

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Having good writing skills is a neccessity for succeeding in school and on the job. Grammar is one of the components of good writing. Good grammar involves a few things. It involves making sure that words are used correctly. It also involves making sure that sentences are well written and free of run ons or fragments. When typing any paper, it is very easy to overlook these things. That is why it is important to always proofread the paper to make sure that grammar is up to par.

Most word processors have built in grammar checks, which will correct most mistakes. All one has to do is click on the grammar check button, and the processor will highlight the mistakes. In the case of a word used incorrectly, it may even suggest a better word. While a grammar check may seem like a God-send, it may not catch all mistakes. That is why it is always important to proofread even after using a grammar check. The human eye and brain may catch things that a word processor may not.

Proper grammar is required to be successful in school and on most jobs. It is very easy to use a word incorrectly or write a sentence that is a fragment or run on. However, using a word processor to check and proofreading, will prevent any major grammatical mistakes from occuring. Before submitting any work that will be read by another person, it is essential that a person check his or her grammar thoroughly.