How does grammar and punctuation impact your writing?

Answer 1

before continuing to the answer below (written by someone else) I would like to point out that grammar and punctuation don't "impact" my writing at all, however both HAVE an impact on my writing. IMPACT is NOT a verb, except in the case of e.g., a meteorite impacting the earth. I would also like to point out in this wiki-question the fact that "how does" should be "how do". i.e., "how do grammar and punctuation affect your writing" would be the correct way to write this question. "How does" would only be correct if one were asking either about grammar *or* punctuation, not both. In short: Significantly. Punctuation is a set of instructions to the reader, almost as important as the letters themselves. Where letters tell which sounds to make, punctuation acts as direction for silences and pitch. For instance, a question mark means you raise the pitch of the words before it, and a comma indicates that you pause briefly. A full stop indicates a lowering of the pitch and a pause. Punctuation is the musical annotation of the language. Grammar is important in a different way. It structures the sentences. While different people may have different accents and thus pronounce words differently, what grammar ensures is that there is a regularity to the order the words are used in. When we listen (or read) we naturally expect a certain order, a certain use of different forms of words, based on what we've heard / read before. Grammar is that structure. If someone speaks with a different grammar from what we expect, it makes it more difficult to follow the conversation / text.

Answer 2

Grammar and punctuation are essential for clear and effective communication. They help convey meaning, avoid confusion, and enhance the readability of your writing. Proper grammar and punctuation also lend credibility to your work and demonstrate your attention to detail.