The Surprising Link Between Good Grammar and Business Success

Everything seemed okay when Keira met Sam at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party.

As a commercial real estate developer, Keira was looking for someone who could enhance her company’s online presence. She thought Sam might be the perfect fit. “Since we were at a party, it wasn’t the right time or place for an in-depth business discussion,” said Keira. “But Sam had a lot of good ideas, so I told him to shoot me an email once the holiday season was over.”

Unfortunately, Sam’s email was much less impressive. It started with a rambling, run-on sentence and it was peppered with spelling and grammar mistakes. “I just couldn’t take a chance on him,” said Keira. “After meeting Sam and then reading his email, my overall impression is that he is a smooth talker with a quick mind, but he is careless and doesn’t know how to be professional. So I kept looking around until I found Michael, a freelancer with great ideas and excellent writing skills.”

Grammar might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about business success, but Keira’s experience shows how it can make a surprisingly significant impact. In today’s global market, communication is key, so your ability to convey ideas clearly, correctly, and professionally is crucial. Whether you’re a CEO, a manager, a freelancer, or an aspiring entrepreneur, mastering English grammar can give you a competitive edge.

First impressions matter

Imagine receiving an email from a potential business partner like the one Keira received from Sam. What would your first impression be? Would you want to work with that person, or would you look elsewhere for someone with good writing skills?

Most likely, a poorly written email would make you question the sender’s professionalism and attention to detail. You might imagine what it would be like to work with this person and always have to worry about their mistakes.

By contrast, correct grammar gives the impression that someone is meticulous and competent. Through their writing, this person is telling you that they care about their work and that you can count on them.

Good grammar can also make a strong impression on LinkedIn, on company websites, and on any document that will be printed on paper. Even on social media, where the writing style tends to be more casual, your audience will expect your grammar to be up to par. As we pointed out in a recent article, it’s okay to bend or break the rules sometimes, but this only applies to certain rules and certain contexts.

Meet Good Grammar, our superhero!

Now let’s picture Good Grammar as an actual character, a superhero of sorts. Whether you are a freelancer working from a home office or the CEO of a major corporation, you want Good Grammar on your side. When your customers, clients, partners, and even your competitors see Good Grammar, they are sure to pay attention.

Here is what Good Grammar can say about you and your company:

• You are a professional.
• You care about the quality of your work.
• You are committed to your personal brand and to your company as a whole.
• You are trustworthy.
• You have confidence in your abilities.
• Even the smallest details are important to you.
• You are efficient.
• You are someone who will take the time to do things the right way.
• Your partners can count on you to get the job done correctly (even if the job itself doesn’t require a lot of writing).
• Your partners can depend on you to explain things clearly.

Good Grammar in international business

In a world where English is the lingua franca of business, professionals who speak English as a second language face additional challenges. Our superhero Good Grammar can help bridge this gap, making communication smoother and more effective. If you are a professional who speaks English as a second language, Good Grammar can significantly enhance your professional image so you will stand out in a competitive market.

How TextRanch can help

Our TextRanch editors don’t put on capes or fly into your office to rescue your imperiled business emails. However, we can help bring Good Grammar’s superpowers to your own writing.

• Quick Text: Our editors can check your emails and social media posts for grammatical errors, enabling you to make a good impression and avoid problems like the one Keira had with Sam.
• Document Editing: If you need a professional editor to carefully go over your business reports, resumes/CVs, academic papers, and other important documents and provide you with constructive feedback, then our Document Editing service is a good fit for you.
• Ask an Editor: Do you want to boost your own Good Grammar superpowers? Our Ask an Editor service provides answers to your questions about how the English language works.
• TextRanch for Business: This new feature offers special exclusive rates for business owners who want to set up one master account for multiple team members to use.