Grammar Rules for Everyday Bloggers

September 17, 2011 shelly Grammar, 0

It’s not a subject that gets nearly as much attention as we think it does, but we’ve been learning English grammar rules since we were small children.

From our parents teaching us the proper words to use, to elementary school exercises proper English grammar has always been a part of life. So why as adults in the blogging world have so many of those grammar rules been lost? Many bloggers adapt their blog language to fit their personal style. And we love it! But there’s a big difference between conversational language and just plain stupid.

If you’re an English grammar major, or have been doing professional writing for years, some of this information may seem redundant. But for new bloggers its important to see the connection between the proper use of English grammar and blogging. Not only does well written content gain you credibility in the blog world, but misspelled words and nonsensical sentences make it harder for search engines to rank your blog!

Grammar rules that apply to your blog:

Watch the Contractions:

your vs. you’re, its vs. it’s, their, there vs. they’re

It may be as simple as a typo, but reread all your content before publishing to make sure you’re not using a contraction when you shouldn’t be. It looks uneducated and makes it hard for a reader to grasp the perspective of the sentences.

When To Use a Comma:
(I love blogging, dancing, reading, etc.)

Never put a comma where it doesn’t belong again! Here’s where they go…

• Before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, so, yet) that introduces an independent clause.
• After conjunctive adverbs (however, finally, furthermore, indeed, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore, unfortunately).
• After most introductory phrases and clauses (the part of a sentence preceding the subject and verb is usually an introductory phrase)
• To emphasize an adverb
• When adjectives come after the noun
• In lists
• With direct quotations

Don’t Start a Sentence With a Conjunction!

“But I want to!”

While speaking you may start some sentences with conjunctions and there’s absolutely no reason why your blog can’t reflect this. Just make sure you pay attention to grammar rules about conjunctions and try to keep your post as grammatically correct as you can.

You can have fun with English grammar:

“Sometimes when I’m blogging I feel like a shark!!!”

The most important thing to remember is that it’s your blog and it should be fun! While proper English grammar will lend credibility to your blog, it might not be the best or most appropriate way to get your message across. Stay smart so that the grammatical errors that you choose don’t make you look like an idiot.

blogging, grammar, Writing