Each of us probably knows someone who might as well be a member of the grammar police. Such a person has a tendency to point out particular grammatical errors with indignant energy and enthusiasm. It’s just how some of us happen to be wired.
Personally, I can be like this on occasion. However, I make it practice to let such tendencies go, as could probably be seen on occasion right here through my own mistakes. One could probably go through each of my posts and numerous instances imperfect grammar and sentence structure, yet I don’t care. I’m comfortable with my writing, regardless of how imperfect it is.
While I’m realistic that nobody is perfect, and I too could get ridiculed for certain mistakes, there are a few that do grate on me. Honestly, they get me to question the capability and intellect of those who make such mistakes. It’s not fair, but life isn’t fair. Which gets me to the idea that how we present ourselves can influence our ability to make money.
Many of us have probably heard of stories indicating how it’s important to dress for success, how people who are in shape are perceived better in the workplace, or even how attractive people might be more likely to succeed. There are many factors other than hard work and talent that can influence wealth. As I mentioned earlier, life isn’t always fair.
However, do you think there is a connection between grammar and wealth?
If I see poorly written emails, or hear people butcher their primary language, it just makes me a bit less confident in such people. Here are two examples of words that come to mind:
“Anyway” vs. “Anyways”
Here is an example of misuse:
“The weather sure is hot today. Anyways, it’s June so this shouldn’t be too surprising”
Wrong: “anyways”
Right: “anyway”
Why do so many people have trouble with this? In professionally written work, you don’t see “anyways” in this context. In the workplace, I rarely see it or hear it. However, occasionally I do see it, and often read it on personal blogs and websites.
PLEASE stop with the “anyways” misuse!
“Moot point” vs. “Mute point”
Here is an example of misuse:
“As a result of her moving to Chicago, the property tax increases in Boston became a mute point”
Wrong: “mute”
Right: “moot”.
As a disclaimer, I once again reiterate that I know I make mistakes too. I just want to point out that some mistakes are particularly annoying, and may reflect poorly on the person making the mistakes. It’s just smart to put the odds in our favor by avoiding these mistakes, and presenting ourselves in the best possible professional light.
Okay, my cranky rant is over 🙂
My Questions for You:
Do you think that poor grammar can negatively impact one’s chances of financial success?
Are there any such mistakes in particular that bother you?
“Labtop” instead of “laptop” really bothers me. You put it on your $%#$#$ lap, not your lab. I don’t usually call people out unless they are close friends or family, but I’m gonna be honest: if I don’t know you and you say something like “labtop” or “for all intensive purposes” or “irregardless,” I am silently judging you.
John – I haven’t heard those two crazy ones. Labtop, really? Wow. I too find “intensive purposes” and “irregardless” to be a reason to silently judge.
More than grammar, I think the more articulate are more persuasive. This may be a business plan, a letter or a speech. Most other business people respect smart people.
krantcents – good points.
I always feel bad for kids who get sucked into using street slang. Sure, it’s cool with friends, but it almost guarantees you’re going to never be hired into a high-paying career.
AverageJoe – it helps to speak the language in a professional manner if trying to find a professional job.
It can probably get in the way of advancement etc. I can’t stand when people say physical year instead of fiscal year….
Lance – That’s a new one to me. Almost hard to imagine somebody thinking that makes sense!
YES and yes I do know someone belonging to the grammar police – I rely on him for spelling corrections and Latin meanings!!
My exception is to those who write in English as their second or third language. The nuances are hard to capture, I doubt I would be able to master it if I hadn’t been born to an English speaking family!
What bother’s us most are the obvious mis-spells on the banners on the TV news stations – really, they should have editors catching those!
That said, I too can be prone to grammatical error.
Marie – I totally agree on differentiating between those with English as a first language vs. those speaking it as a 2nd language. Those in the latter group are exempt from such criticism. It’s much harder to learn a new language that many people realize, and people who criticize immigrants for their accents and poor grammar are quite stupid.
One of the worst for me is finished and done. People say they are done eating – they cant be. People are finished, things are done. i.e. the oven is done cooking. Really bothers me sometimes! Glad that I’m not the only one.
Jeff – good one! I am probably guilty of that mistake, so thanks for bringing up this example. I’ll think twice the next time I start to misuse those words.
Sign by my work at a costume shop: makeup kits’s.
No hope at all.
Kathleen – That is both horrible and funny!
To me, language is more like a mutual agreement rather than a set of rules. If two people agree on the meaning of a word it’s all good. If not, then maybe it’s just a matter of letting the other person know politely that the meaning might not be what they intended.
I probably do this myself, all the time. I use “anyways” for sure. 😉
Kevin – I respect that point of view and don’t disagree with it. Additionally, if I helped just one person to become aware of the “anyways” issue and to think about properly saying “anyway”, then I have succeeded with this post! It’s all about helping each other 🙂
Though I am sure he was very qualified, I always found it difficult to listen to my high school biology teacher when he talked about “nuke-u-lar” processes and the “lar-nyx.” I think it is more important, however, to be well-versed in your own career’s vernacular than to speak impeccably at all times.
Wayne – yes, that makes sense that it’s even more important to be up to speed on the right terminology in one’s career!
To an extent this has to do with the automatic wordpress spell checker, which often considers perfectly spelled word as wrong.
SB – that might be the case sometimes. It’s also due to people butchering the language!
I have a friend like that and she sometimes gets on my nerves. During those times, I try to remind myself that a) she edits copy for a living, and b) she has good intentions.
Instant messaging at work is the place where I see the most spelling and grammar issues. My boss frequently mistypes or mixes up their and there, for example. And I am often typing so fast and furious on IM that I make spelling mistakes quite frequently. No one really cares in that context, but its a whole different experience when it comes to copy on a web site.
My biggest pet peeve is in spoken English and its a very personal one. My mother remarried a very kind man. but he was not well-educated. Her spoken grammar really took a nose dive after just a year or two of marriage. I think I’ve stopped myself from cringing when I hear her say “I seen” instead of “I saw.” I’ve certainly stopped trying to correct her, at least.
Linda – that’s actually pretty interesting, if you don’t me saying so. What I mean is the comment you made in your last paragraph about grammar going downhill after just one or two years. It’s quite remarkable how the company we keep can influence us to such a high degree.
Grammar is tough! I ask my readers to point things out for me all the time so I can go correct the work. Getting better is what I care about the most.
Speaking is more important. Who writes anymore?
Yeah, I wonder who would actually write these days? 🙂