Why should you prioritize the practice of proper grammar in business? Think about it this way: as a business professional, you have likely adopted techniques to improve the practices that lead to success in your work. Your company will typically train teams on ways to improve performance. However, an important technique often ignored is proper grammar when speaking and writing. We offer this brief review of the importance of proper grammar in business.
As a business communications company, we at Easy On Hold are committed to maintaining proper grammar in all that we do. Here are eight reasons why we believe using adequate grammar in business is essential.
Generate Authority
Correctly structured sentences help us sound like experts. We appear detailed and knowledgeable. Good grammar shows that you value attention to detail.
Generate Trust
Is it evident that you are well-trained and educated? Do you appear as trustworthy when you tell people about your products? When trust is gained, people are more likely to buy from you.
Generate a Positive Image of Your Organization
When you speak for your organization, it is essential to use correct grammar. It can be seen as a reflection of your overall company. Managers should require proper grammar from all employees.
Become More Competitive
Why give the competition an advantage? Poor grammar means being less articulate, which leads to being less competitive. Good grammar may help your efforts to strengthen relationships with your customers.
Demonstrate How Much You Care
Poor grammar can be seen as laziness. You make an impression whenever you speak, as explained by well-known business trainer Jeffrey Gitomer, who says, “Your grammar reflects your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression. And like all impressions, you are in total control.”
Be Courteous
Proper grammar and sentence structure are often perceived as a courtesy to those you communicate with. Clients and coworkers appreciate hearing you speak politely and in a positive tone.
Ambiguity Can Be Costly
Casual communication is fine for social media and texting, but it can cause confusion and misunderstanding in business. Be precise in your language.
Connect With Diverse Audiences
We at Easy On Hold sell across various locations, languages, and cultures. We generate clarity by adhering strictly to the standards offered by proper grammar.
Common grammar mistakes made by native English speakers
| Improper | Correct | |
| 1 | Should of, could of | Should have, could have |
| 2 | My friend and me went shopping | My friend and I went shopping |
| 3 | It makes a difference to Joe and I | It makes a difference to Joe and me |
| 4 | 20 items or less | 20 items or fewer |
| 5 | I’m doing good | I’m doing well |
| 6 | Pro-Nown-see-A-shun | Pro-Nunn-see-A-shun |
- Because we often speak quickly, should have can sound like “should of,” which is incorrect. Articulation is important.
- Remember this test: remove yourself. If you take yourself out of the sentence “My friend and me went shopping,” you will say, “Me went shopping,” which sounds terrible. Therefore, use “I” in this case. That way, the listener hears, “I went shopping,” which is correct, as part of “My friend and I went shopping.”
- Likewise, we can incorrectly use “I” instead of “me.” Using the same rule, removing the other person(s) from the sentence, “It makes a difference to I,” is wrong. This tells us to use “me” instead. “It makes a difference to me,” the listener will hear when you say, “It makes a difference to Joe and me.”
- Use less when you refer to an amount that cannot be enumerated. For example, “I spent less time reading last summer.” This is correct because we didn’t use a quantification such as “hours” or “days.” We would want to say, “I spent fewer hours reading…” The next time you’re in the grocery store, it’s alright to scoff at the sign that reads, “20 items or less.” Since 20 is an enumerated amount, we should say, “20 items or fewer.”
- Psalm 37:30 says to trust in the Lord and do good. “Good” is an adjective to describe something morally right or of high quality. “How are you feeling?” he was asked. It is a question of well-being. Here, well, the adjective is correct. “I am well.” You would not say, “That chocolate looks well.” You would say, “I did well on my final exam.”
- It’s easy to mispronounce words. Ironically, one commonly mispronounced word is the word pronunciation. We used some phonetic spellings in the table, above.
Tip-of-the-hat to “English With Greg.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, speaking with proper grammar ensures that you, your company, and your message resonate with clients and coworkers. Correct grammar is a powerful business communications tool that should be prioritized across your organization.