LEARN GRAMMAR

"Why do I have to learn grammar?"

Have you ever wondered why you have to learn grammar? Here are 8 answers for why learning grammar is important.

1. Core knowledge. If you're educated, you know grammar. It's like learning state capitols. No one yet has asked me the capitol of North Dakota (it's Bismarck). But it's one of those things educated people learn.
2. Jargon. Grammar provides a vocabulary to communicate about writing. When your teacher says, "Great vivid adjectives," it helps to know what adjective means.
3. Be able to apply rules. One rule says, "Avoid passive voice; it makes dull writing." You can't avoid passive voice until you know what it is.
4. Understand writing better. Can you compose music without knowledge of music theory, major/minor chords, and dominant sevenths? Well, yes. But you'll write music better if you know music theory.
5. Analyze others' writing. A knowledge of grammar lets you analyze, describe, and eventually imitate the style of good writing.
6. Foreign Languages. Knowledge of grammar helps you learn foreign languages, especially inflected ones (all the European languages).
7. It's a mental discipline. The Army makes recruits do pushups. Now I've never yet seen a soldier do pushups when he's fighting the enemy. But building up those muscles equips him to perform his other tasks. So also, learning grammar strengthens logic skills, and you use logic elsewhere.
8. Equipping. Even if today you want to become a firefighter, which requires minimal grammar skills, one day you might find yourself needing to find a new vocation that may require strong grammar and writing skills. It is always smart to prepare yourself to be flexible in today’s job market.