Americans are particularly proud of speaking a globally popularized language. Nearly every other country in the world has adopted the English language as a common speech. A writer must be clued into context, though, in order to appropriately use language and effectively communicate understanding. This includes a conscious awareness of not only what is said, or written, but what sort of meaning is contained in words and phrases. Taking a side trip to the world of basic grammar and syntax, remember that words have a commonly understood, or dictionary, meaning. This is called denotation. But words also carry an aspect of significance that represents another meaning, a connotation, or derived meaning.

Understanding the nature of language is vital to writing well. It is simply not enough to look up words in a thesaurus and substitute them in hopes for variance. A simple way to keep language in perspective is by creating a list of words that are overused. There are many reasons why a writer would use the same word or phrase over and over again. The most common is familiarity. The second most common is limited vocabulary. When making a list of words-not-to-use, keep in mind that using these words isn’t a crime. Using them repeatedly, and especially when other words could be more precise, is detrimental.

Another common misunderstanding regarding syntax is that when trying to reach a ‘hipper’ ‘younger’ or ‘cooler’ audience, it is okay to throw the rules out the window. While I am a big advocate of breaking rules, it is important to use discretion, and by that I mean you’re only allowed to break the rules when you can identify exactly which rules you are breaking. No matter how outside-the-box your audience is, they still read with a common understanding of traditional syntax and grammar. If what you have to say is going to get across in writing, it will do so most effectively when it follows order.

Keeping up with grammar takes work. Invest in a resource that will help troubleshoot confusing phrases and terminology. Depending on the venue of publication, a variety of guides may be found at a local bookstore. Try being conscious of the number of words and the use of words in writing. Paying attention to details of syntax and structure in writing will only better the finished product.