Literacy: It IS That Important

There is the school of thought that since we rely so heavily on technology, we shouldn’t devote as much time to literacy as we did in previous generations. I would assert that the opposite is true. Now, more than ever, it is important to strengthen our written communication skills, because much of our communication is text-based. It is much more difficult to understand the intent of a purely text-based comment than one that is done verbally, where you can hear and see the person talking. Since much of the verbal and nonverbal cues are lost when using text only (even in perfectly worded statements), it is vitally important to communicate clearly.

I can confidently say that a day doesn’t pass that I’m not exposed to something that somebody wrote that is either: a) ambiguously written, b) unintelligible, or c) rife with spelling, grammar, punctuation or usage errors to the point of changing the intended meaning or at minimum, distracting from the spirit of the message.

We’re not all writing experts. I know I’m not, and I make a lot of mistakes or break rules, especially in casual writings. I think even the most literate among us commit errors and break rules, but that’s not what I’m referring to. Let’s first consider what communication is. One of the definitions for communication (which is most fitting in this case), is: “the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings” (New Oxford American Dictionary) - the key being, successful. If your intended audience misunderstands your text-based message, then most likely you have failed as a writer. Part of the responsibility also falls upon the reader (such as reading for comprehension and increasing vocabulary), but a significant proportion of problems occur because the writer failed to write in a way that was comprehensible for general audiences.

What can we do about this? One of the most important things to improving in any skill is to practice. Write every day. But that is not enough. Most of us write every day (texting is considered writing), but nevertheless the end result is horrible for many writers. The key is to learn the rules of writing… and practice them. We’ve all heard the phrase “Practice makes perfect.” But that is only partially correct. If we are practicing, but without discipline or correction, we learn bad habits. A better axiom is: “Perfect practice makes perfect.” Any skill that is worth learning requires many hours of not only trial and error, but also correcting those errors when they are discovered and focusing on those errors to make weaknesses into strengths.

Let’s explore some of the more common breakdowns in written communication.

Grammar

For this example, proper grammar includes sentence structure, word usage, and intelligibility. Whenever you write something, read it back to yourself or better yet (especially if you have been accused of not writing clearly), have someone else proofread it. It’s better to have a friend proofread your work and give you constructive criticism than to post it online and be publicly humiliated. If this is a consistent problem for you, consider taking English classes. There are some that are even free or inexpensive. Grammar can be tricky, especially if you need to improve in your verbal communication as well, because many people tend to write the way they speak.

Spelling

Technology gives us some tools to aid us with spelling, but the trick is that we also need to use some cognitive reasoning as well. Your spell-checker doesn't pick out inappropriately used words that are spelled correctly. As mentioned before, practice is the key. If you learn the wrong way to spell words, you will develop bad habits, whereas if you learn the correct spelling of words, it will become automatic. One of the biggest problems I see is with homophones (words that sound similar but are spelled differently – example: there, they’re, their). Most of the time, misuse is more of an annoyance than anything, but in some cases a homophone error can completely change the meaning of your sentence. Take, for instance, the words accept and except. They can be diametrically opposite in their meaning. If you except someone, that means you are leaving them out, but what you really meant to say was accept, which is to include that person.

Punctuation and capitalization

I included those both together because these are generally problems associated with laziness, but also they are general indications of where to start, pause and end your statements. Think of them as waypoints to guide your writing. One of the things that will cause a seasoned reader to abandon your document without finishing, is run-on sentences. It is almost as annoying to read, a document filled, with misplaced punctuation, having your reader, pause at the wrong times during, your sentences. And sentence fragments.

Reaching toward excellence

When we get beyond the basics of written communication, we can work on improving what we’ve built upon. With so much information to read everyday, readers appreciate clear and succinct communication. In other words, don’t be too wordy. Write what you need to write and see what you can trim while still communicating effectively. For blogs, posts and articles, many readers tend to prefer bulleted lists. Your most important information should be in your numbered and highlighted bullets and then your explanation follows. You can also do the same with conventional paragraphs. Nobody wants to read your extraneous, irrelevant ramblings. At minimum, break your article up into smaller paragraphs. I can guarantee that most (if not all) readers will not even attempt to read an entire page with no breaks.

Keep your works interesting. Avoid awkwardly worded phrases or overused words. Some writers have favorite words they like to use, over and over and over again. After awhile, some readers will find themselves counting the instances of those words, rather than reading for meaning. I almost used the word “actually” in that last sentence, but I realized that is one of my “go-to” words that I need to use less often, and it would have been completely unnecessary in that particular instance.

Whether you like it or not or want to admit it, you are judged by your level of literacy. It may be an unfair judgment, but those who struggle with spelling, grammar, punctuation/capitalization and general readability are seen as less competent or less intelligent than their more literate peers. Those who master written communication are regarded as "educated" and their works are given more credence than their contemporaries - especially those engaging in debates or dissertations.  

Let us strive for more excellent communication by mastering the basics and continuing beyond for readability. I know I still have much to learn and I continue to learn. I hope someday that in every instance, my readers will understand not only the words, but the intended meaning and even feelings behind what I have written.  Now that’s a lofty goal!