Good Grammar in the Workplace Research Paper Example

Employees are not required to have grammar skills when they get hired, however, it is to be expected. When in the workplace you need to have skills that help you get ahead in the market. What happens when that employee has not been taught grammar skills? Is it really their fault for not being able to craft a perfectly error-free email? Lack of education is most likely to blame for the employee not being able to keep up with other colleagues. What happens when the education system has failed the employee? In Kyle Wien’s article “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why.” Wiens writes how “grammar is relevant for all companies”, but is this always true? Grammar is not the only thing that makes an employee be able to do their job effectively. 

Poor grammar is something that Kyle Wiens will not tolerate in his companies. In the article “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why.” Wiens mentions how all potential employees are required to take a grammar test before they are considered for employment. While this may seem like a good thing to some, weeding out those who have poor grammar and would not fit into the company, to others this is not the way it should be. There is something to be said about being educated properly, where grammar falls into that discussion and how it translates into the workplace. 

An article written for Carnegie Mellon University lists a survey conducted by The Chronicle of High Education (2006) that 61% of students have never written a paper more than five pages. It also discusses how students are not prepared for college, and therefore the workplace. If students did not possess the writing skills necessary for higher education, then once they get hired, they would not be ready for the workplace either. When it comes down to it, a lack of education and the writing skills needed for college and the workplace is really affecting future employees.

There is evidence to suggest the education system is to blame for the student’s shortcomings. According to the New York Times, even with the Common Core Standards in the states today and the No Child Left Behind Act, students are not prepared for college and must have remedial English classes for writing. However, employers expect perfect grammar and no mistakes? It does not seem possible given the evidence in the lack of education presented to students. 

According to The Student Life Rosenblatt writes, “Most people who use bad grammar do so because they didn’t have the privilege of an education that stressed “good grammar.” Very few people, if any, use “bad grammar” on purpose.” This is most likely the reason students from poor economic backgrounds, with poor grammar, are not able to get ahead. This is a generational problem that continues because a good education is not widely available to everyone. 

Wiens mentions having a “zero-tolerance approach” to people who use poor grammar that makes them look stupid. Employees should follow the guidelines and policies of their company, however, being completely judgmental is something that should be addressed. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes, even when it comes to good grammar and even if the person is supposed to be an expert in that field. To believe everyone does not make mistakes and using poor grammar makes you look stupid is just an incredibly judgmental thing to write. 

Wiens also writes about how he would overlook a great programmer just because of their lack of writing skills. Is this really the way it should be though? A programmer who may not pass the grammar test needed for the company could be the next great employee. It may be difficult to see past having good grammar but when you could find someone who works hard and does their job correctly, why would you pass just for their writing skills? Writing skills are not so important that we see past the person and do not see them for who they are. Writing skills are taught, you are not born with a knowledge of good grammar. It is not the fault of the person for not being able to provide proper grammar if good education has not been a factor in their lives.

Wiens writes “Applicants who don’t think writing is important is likely to think lots of other things (important) are also not important.” Good grammar does not equal a lack of intelligence or a lack of priorities in someone’s life. This would be quite the opposite. There are many immigrants and people from poor economic backgrounds are in the United States that have been fighting to keep food on the table for themselves and their children. They go out and work very hard for themselves to keep a roof over their head and to pay their bills. No one should write about a lack of grammar skills if they were able to have a good education. People should be able to look at things from both sides of the coin.

While good grammar may seem essential to most, it is really a privilege to be able to have access to an education that taught it. Not everyone has access to that kind of education, and it would be foolish to pass over employees who work hard and meet the deadlines for a lack of grammar. Grammar can be learned, and we should not judge people for not having it despite how we are conditioned to view people with poor grammar.