There is no arguing the fact that there are a lot of grammar rules in existence–some that are easy to follow and some that are far more complex. Following basic, accepted grammar rules can not only make your web content more easily understood, but it can also make your web content, and by extension your business, seem far more professional. So how can you follow the most basic grammar rules, without spending the time to get a degree in English?
Following Grammar Rules When Writing Web Content
As a general rule, adhering to basic rules of grammar is as helpful as it allows you to communicate effectively and professionally. To that end, following are five tips:
1. Use apostrophes correctly.
Apostrophes actually only have two commonly accepted uses: to indicate possession, as in “John’s book”, and to create contractions, as in “don’t”. They should not be used to make a word plural, and are entirely unnecessary to use with possessive pronouns such as “his” or “its”.
2. Use quotation marks correctly.
Incorrectly used, quotation marks can invalidate the sincerity of a statement, as can be clearly seen in the following phrase: We provide “professional” service. Use quotation marks when quoting a speaker or for nicknames. Also use them when listing song or book titles, short works, and chapters.
3. Use “they” instead of “he or she” if it fits.
Using “they” as a singular pronoun is becoming more and more common nowadays. One unforeseen benefit is that “they” often flows better than “he or she” in a sentence. For example, “Every individual is empowered to make their own choice,” reads smoother than “Every individual is empowered to make his or her own choice.”
4. Split an infinitive if it sounds better.
A verb’s most basic form, like “to dance” is an infinitive. Our teachers taught us that we should never split it by placing an adverb in the middle, as in “to slowly dance” instead of “to dance slowly”. However, sometimes a split infinitive may just sound better. Use it then.
5. Use the Oxford comma if you’d like.
The Oxford comma is the last one in a series, such as: “He bought pencils, papers, and erasers,” as opposed to “He bought pencils, papers and erasers,” and is acceptable.
If you are consistent in your use of grammar rules, adhering minimally to the above, your web content should do just fine. It may seem like too simple of a solution, but professionalism is a key point online users critique when looking to buy products or services.
Keeping clean grammar in relevant content can make all the difference in boosting your online traffic, which should then follow up with higher sales. If you need help with your web content and having the grammar accurate, Web Content Development can be a lending hand.
Contact us today to ask any questions or have us help with your web content needs.