Grammar Day

Every year on March 4, SPOGG, the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, marks National Grammar Day. It is unclear exactly what about grammar this day is meant to celebrate. It may focus on strict adherence to the guidelines of English grammar, or on ingenuity in grammar, such as the originality exhibited by Shakespeare in his flagrant creation of new words. In either case, National Grammar Day is about honoring the English language.

At WhiteSmoke Inc., National Grammar Day is an opportunity to emphasize the improvement of English Grammar. WhiteSmoke 2011 works with most text-based programs to correct spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as suggesting ways to develop style. More importantly, WhiteSmoke 2011 offers the WhiteSmoke Translator Tab, which is all about helping people who speak English as a second language (or need to translate from English to another language). If English is not one’s native language, it can be quite a challenge to master the complexities of English grammar. WhiteSmoke Translator supports full-text translations of nine languages to and from English. Once the text is translated, the user can scan it for grammatical and stylistic improvement suggestions using the Grammar-Checker.

While the WhiteSmoke Translator celebrates National Grammar Day by focusing on people learning English as a second language, Principal Barbra Wells of Hoover Elementary in Mason City, IA, choose to focus on children developing their English skills in school. Principal Wells told kimt.com that it is essential for kids to learn proper grammar, especially in a world where communication via text and instant message encourage poor English. 

The Value of English, Even as a Second Language

According to Wikipedia, a 2000 census shows that 251,388,301 Americans speak English and nearly 36 million of them speak it as a second language.  Worldwide, there are approximately 400 million native English-speakers, and about another 200 million more who speak it as a second language.

With English as the most popular language of communication, and writing the main method of interaction, people who are less fluent in English stand to face many difficulties in the international world.  Often times, first impressions are made by email as opposed to a face-to-face meeting. It’s so easy to make a simple, silly mistake when composing an email, even if you are completely fluent in English. Now imagine English is your second language. English grammar is complicated enough as it is, without having to worry about insecurities of second guessing your vocabulary and word choice. Fortunately, there are plenty of options to help people with their English.

There are always new technologies popping up to help people learn and improve English, both written and spoken. WhiteSmoke 2011, for example, offers the WhiteSmoke Translator, which supports 9 languages, as of this writing, in addition to a grammar, spelling and style checker. These things are especially helpful in a world where the main form of communication is writing.

It may be worthwhile for people who are learning English, or trying to improve, to invest in software such as WhiteSmoke Grammar Checker and WhiteSmoke Translator. Writing with fluent English has become a must, especially in the business world. 

Checking Online Business Writing for Grammatical Errors May Help Encourage and Maintain Website Traffic

Good grammar is one of the keys to writing convincing, successful business articles online, according to an article on PromotionWorld.com. Small business owners and internet marketers who hope to attract website traffic may heed the importance of proofreading to building readers' trust and confidence in their products or services.
A reader who notes a single grammatical issue is likely to have a strong negative response to the website overall. Writers may have a business partner or colleague point out grammar mistakes when they occur, reports the news source. These errors may prove extremely detrimental to the long-term online presence of a company.
Business writers may also aim for a more stylistic, personalized tone to avoid the feeling of a purely commercial site.
A recent New York Times (NYT) piece highlights some of the common grammatical errors adult writers may make, which can infiltrate professional communications. For instance, many individuals incorrectly use the word "however" as a conjunction to punctuate their sentences, creating an unclear run-on. Others may create inadvertent fragments by placing periods before dependent clauses, the NYT adds.
Running a simple grammar and spelling check may help business workers avoid other issues, including tense inconsistencies and pronoun errors, as they revise for clarity.

Debate Arises Over Automated Grading of Student Essays

According to USA Today, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) recently presented evidence suggesting that its computer testing program can grade freshman writing placement tests as well as human beings can. Their study examined tests that were taken at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
The computer grading program, E-Rater, evaluated short essays that were completed in the SAT writing portion. The ETS found that the human grades and E-Rater grades corresponded strongly, according to the news source. Researcher Chaitanya Ramineni noted that "human scoring suffers from flaws."
Many companies and colleges use or plan to utilize the E-Rater tool to grade placement tests. Last November, for instance, Turnitin integrated E-Rater into its GradeMark tools to give students more detailed feedback, according to a report on eschoolnews.com.
However, Les Perelman, the director of MIT's writing across the curriculum program, has emerged as firm opposition to the automated grading tool. According to the news source, he feels the service punishes student creativity and encourages test-takers to use trite vocabulary over clear, concise language. For instance, because E-Rater examines the ratios of grammar and mechanical errors to the total number of words, longer essays - even poorly written ones - may score higher.
The answer most likely lies in between both solutions. Essay writers are best served by combining their own review of their work with an automated grammar and spelling check. 

Careless Grammar and Spelling Mistakes Can Close Off One's Career Prospects

Checking important business letters and e-mails for grammar and spelling errors can potentially help one get a job - and succeed in one's career.
Moreover, appearing careless in text that is sent to clients can reflect poorly on one's professional image. The Nashville Business Journal reports that a poorly edited e-mail can be construed as insulting, and can make readers question the writer's competency overall.
Being a careless grammar checker can also prove costly for one's career prospects. In one anecdote in a recent Forbes.com article, a prospective hire at Hearst Magazine completed a writing and editing test without proofreading her work. The headline of her sample press release read, "[Applicant's Name] Hired as Publicity Mganger of Heast Magazines." Though she was impressive in person, her sloppy proofreading may have proved costly, according to the news source.
Professionals should have others proofread their important letters and memos, if possible, Forbes.com reports. They may also set aside their first drafts and reread them with fresh eyes, and aloud, to note any mistakes that could be potentially embarrassing. They may ensure that they appear more capable and conscientious to their clients by completing a comprehensive grammar and spelling check of their writing.

Bad Spelling and Grammar Could Affect One's Dating Life

Today's professionals lead a busy lifestyle that often leads little time to foster new personal relationships. As a result, a great deal of individuals have turned to online dating sites in an effort to maintain their social lives.
However, moving personal communication to an online medium has established a whole new set of dating laws. According to ADI News, these include running a grammar check before any emails are sent to potential companions.
The media outlet advises web-based daters to make sure that their spelling and grammar are perfect before they send any messages to prospective matches. Some individuals may perceive grammatically incorrect emails as a sign of low intelligence or lack of interest, which are generally repulsive characteristics in the eyes of many individuals.
Furthermore, Buzzle.com reports that the way individuals greet potential dates could impact their chances of getting a response. According to the website, members of online dating websites are more likely to respond to messages that begin with phrases other than "hi" and "hello."

Grammatically correct, handwritten thank-you notes can help jobseekers and business professionals

Writing a handwritten thank-you note after an interview may seem like old-fashioned etiquette to some modern jobseekers. However, a neat, well-written letter may help jobseekers impress their interviewers.
Such notes help people both stay connected and be remembered, according to the Boston Globe. John Kralik, the author of 365 Thank Yous, found that many deeply appreciate receiving handwritten letters of appreciation.
The Globe notes that the daily use of electronic media makes for a more transient type of communication. Our interpersonal written exchanges are increasingly brusque and informal. Some individuals may feel an an emailed "Thank You" will suffice after an interview.
Taking the time to hand write a note, however, will help an applicant stand out from the crowd. Emails do not have the permanence of a handwritten letter, which can evoke the writer's presence, the newspaper notes. Notes are also not as easily "deleted" and may prove more memorable.
The trend of increased use of abbreviations and acronyms in English communication is of interest to many linguists, according to a recent report from The Associated Press. However, one should make sure such shorthand does not infiltrate one's letters. Running a grammar and spelling check on one's text will make for clean, thoughtful thank-you notes.  

Get WhiteSmoke 2011!

Grammar and spelling errors common, but not unavoidable

Individuals whose work requires them to communicate in a written form will, inevitably, make a mistake at some point. In fact, a 2004 study from the University Network of Nuclear Engineering reveals that error occurs in more than 60 percent of all human events.
There are several tools that that these professionals can use to ensure that their reputation is not tarnished by poor spelling and grammar. After all, making mistakes is, ultimately, an unavoidable part of the human experience.
In fact, some of the most proficient writers tend to miss simple mistakes because they place a great deal of care and trust in the quality of their work, according to a recent article in the Toronto Star.
Joseph T. Hallinan, a former writer for The Wall Street Journal, told the news source that writers and editors who have a great deal of skill and experience are likely to skim their work and that of others.
"We are blinded by the effects of habit and hubris and hobbled by a poor understanding of our own limitations. We don’t see all that we observe, and yet we sometimes 'see' things we don’t know we’ve seen," he added.  


WhiteSmoke will ensure you never make a mistake when it comes to writing. Check it out!