Dear Campus Community,
People love referring to things as “an art.” For example, “editing is an art,” some editors would quip. I disagree. To me, art is fluid and irrational, adhering to rules set only by the artist (Dave can attest to that). The choice to set rules exists, and they can be dictated by inconsistencies: cultural climate, individual morals and precedent. Grammar, however, is consistent. It is elegant and relevant, and we should all take a moment to appreciate it.
Grammar allows us to be who we are by keeping us in check. We need its rules and regulations for the sake of professionalism, communication and consistency. Being able to express oneself adequately is the basis for everything. My love affair with grammar began during my freshman year of high school, when my English teacher imparted to us her knowledge of the positive correlation between grammar and employment. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that having good grammar will get you a job, but having a grasp of the Oxford comma will keep your résumé clean and concise.
Language is, to say the least, very important to me because communication is also very important to me. Discovering channels through which we can reach one another is exciting and sometimes terrifying, but it allows us to embrace similarities and differences that we can learn from and experience. Language is the tip of the iceberg in terms of modes of communication, and it opens up a world of experience that few have the means to access.
Access your own space. Explore your own channels. Deepen your knowledge and broaden your interests. Do so with proper grammar. It will only benefit you in the end,
-Hallie
