Is grammar really important in writing?

It is true that in any communication the message is important. If the receipient can understand it, then it does not matter how the message was conveyed. Nevertheless attempts should be made to use proper grammar. Most language teachers or instructors do understand that it is easy for the actual message to be misunderstood if the wrong grammar is used. This does not happen every time but can have a hilarious or dire consequence. I am at odds with the modern English teachers in my country. They adopt the grammar is not important stance. As a result many students are unable to communicate effectively. The fact is most of them are of Level 3 proficiency. When they do a distance learning in order to get a degree in TESL, they face problems in completing assignments and expressing their thoughts. I know, becausse so far I have helped more than 10 of them. Keep on stressing the importance of proper grammar, but do not be too harsh.

If it is grammar for your native tongue, I think it is very important but for foreign languages, it depends on how you intend to use the language. Sometimes, it is enough that you are understood by the person you are speaking with especially if it would just be for casual conversations. However, if it for more strict reasons like competitions or businesses, I believe grammar is really important. In the case of the English language, if you want to be globally competitive, I believe that grammar must be given enough focus.

Grammar is important and very imnportant in professional places. May be some non-speaking english countries may consider itr less important. Good fluent english can make a lasting impression on anyone. May be, not that important for Kintergarten students, but later they will have to learn and conveying the idea is just not enough.

for me grammar is really important. simple errors in grammar could still lead to misunderstanding. yes, writing good english is actually the best way to practice and be really good in speaking the language. since writing gives you more time to think about the correct words or proper stuff to use. it would exercise the brain in getting the thoughts in english correctly, so, when it's time for you to speak, the words that would be coming out of your mouth with also be right.

Grammar is important. Absolutely! Imagine if the preposition is left to the care of the rabbit. He just might go around the sentences instead instead of through the sentences. Would the communication be clear enough for everyone to understand? Those teachers who give shortcuts in teaching the language are nothing but cheap skates.

I agree with you that grammar is important too. I am studying to become a secondary school teacher in my country and I am an English major. It just saddens me every single time I hear someone speak with wrong grammar. It's true that you can still communicate even though you have bad grammar, but IMHO, that isn't the best way to communicate effectively. When I would teach, I would put emphasis on my students learning good grammar. I basically would want to adopt Communicative Language Teaching methods into my class. That way, I won't be teaching English the traditional way they taught it to me since grade school where my teachers first discussed words, type of words like nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns etc and then tell us rules we should follow when writing and speaking. I don't believe that is the best way to teach English to speakers of other languages. I believe they should learn the language by using it in the class and as much as possible, in their daily lives. For me, it would not matter if they do not remember all the rules of grammar, what I would want is for them to learn how to speak and write in the language intuitively. That would make me very happy. But just to be clear, I would not develop only grammatical competence in my students, I would also strive to develop their discourse competence, socio-linguistic competence and strategic competence for them to be well rounded speakers and writers of English. I do agree though that grammar is important. ^_^

Depends on why you're learning English. To communicate well and to look professional and intelligent, yes, you need to learn it. To just communicate at a bare minimum, you can get by without it, but it can be a handicap, especially if you're going to live and work in an English speaking country.

I completely agree with you. Even something as simple as proper placement of a common when written carries over into good speech. I see writting and speech as very similar because it is in the delivery, through proper English, that your points aren't only understood but remembered as well. If a student is taking a language class, they need to fully understand that language. I don't see this as just an English issue, but as fully understanding the a language and how to apply it in writting.

Grammar is important. I am an English minor and have learned that grammar is just as important as everything else. When writing grammar is used to make complete sentences and to write a paper that makes sense for everyone to read. I know you are correct in saying that grammar is important.

Language is an art and art that is well defined is a sight to behold.I can even compare a language well written and well spoken to music which if it has false notes would be jarring to one's ears. No language should be spoken or written without proper grammar and if that is allowed as was done by some teachers it will be a pathetic situation to be condemned wholeheartedly.

hi i am a teacher in different field. i suffered this problem with my students and sons. when i discuss a subject with them and give them more informations, they tell me this is not important and other teachers gave us short information and told us these point not important. i think that the grammar is very important to save us falling in mestakes and to save our selve. but some people have to do somthing good to forigner.

Some believe there should not be an overdue emphasis on grammar; it stifles the creativity. I believe grammar is important in writing because if reader finds your grammar poor; he wonders whether you know your subject properly or not. It is not only important to know what to say but also know how and why to say.

with technologies' text and chat messaging - the importance of grammar is not the priority - it is the delivery of the message that is more important. but being able to know the accurate rules in sentence construction for communications gives you the edge. Messages are being conveyed in clear and comprehensible manner. - when it comes to formality, you gain more favor. i would say, the importance of grammar maybe taken for granted by some, but it is still inevitable- a must equipment especially for those who are teaching the English language.

"Me are go have fun at fairs" Or "I am going to have a fun time at the fair!" Grammar is important Period :D

I think that grammar is very important in learning a new language. Modern teaching techniques have surpassed the old style of learning grammar by heart and thorough grammar exercises. They are emphasizing the spoken language. However this does not mean that grammar is no longer important.

Grammar in writing is really only important when your paper is being graded or you are publishing a research journal or something like that. You wouldn't want to publish anything with a bunch of misspelled words and stuff like that in it but in the end I think that the most important thing in writing is the message that the author is trying to project. In the end a bad spelled paper with great ideas and well thought out should be given a good grade as long as it has a good message.

Personally, I believe that we learn most grammar by reading. When we read, the brain notices the placement of the various parts of speech. I also believe that we learn to write well the same way. Unfortunately, most conversational speech is so filled with slang that grammar seems to have no place in common parlance any longer.

Yes, grammar is really important in writing. Usage of wrong grammar reduces the impression of the person who uses it. Good grammar sounds good and wrong grammar sounds odd. Thank you for starting this wonderful discussion.

I also agree that grammar is important when writing, people need to be able to understand what you are trying to say.

I find it quite worrying that English teachers believe grammar is unimportant. They of all people should be carrying the torch for clarity in writing. Some writing, especially on the internet, is so littered with spelling and grammatical errors that it is impenetrable. The way to write clearly is to write grammatically. Even if you don't know your subjunctives from your dangling participles, if your writing is clear and literate it is almost certainly grammatical.