Formally-educated writers know the rules of grammar backward and forward. They get a twitch when their friends end a text with a preposition. They proofread and correct emails from their family. They call the principal of their child’s school when there’s a typo on the lunch menu. You know the type. Or perhaps you’re even one of them. Maybe you’re reading this article with your virtual red pen in hand.
If so, do you know that perhaps, just maybe, it’s acceptable to bend or break the rules of grammar?
Break the rules of grammar? But the gray-haired high school English teacher said to NEVER break the rules of grammar. NEVER!
Flashback. Huge textbook. Mountains of red ink.
Here’s the big secret – it’s okay to break the rules of grammar in creative writing.
Take a deep breath and slowly read that again: It’s okay to break the rules of grammar in creative writing.
Now that you’ve picked yourself up off the floor, here are some thoughts to consider on the subject.
You can’t break the rules unless you know the rules
Randomly and haphazardly breaking the rules of grammar makes you look sloppy and uneducated. You need to know the rules of grammar and have sufficient reason to break them. Is it for emphasis? Is it for entertainment? Is it for a particular audience?
If it’s helpful, you can temporarily mark where you’ve broken the rules as you are writing. Then, as you are revising and editing, you can reconsider those marks and determine whether you had a valid reason to stray from the rules.
Evolution of language
With the development of instant communication, American culture as a whole has become more informal. Business meetings are held via video teleconference. Party invitations are sent through email. Courtships are ended with a text.
As a result, the American English language has become less formal as well. Proper language and the rules governing that language now seem very stiff and uncomfortable when written in a creative environment.
Creative writers should write in the language of their readers. If one writer is stuffy and formal, strictly adhering to the rules of grammar, while another writer presents the same information in a casual and easy-to-read format, the latter is much more likely to be read. And shared.
Acceptable violations
Here is a short list of grammar violations that are acceptable in creative writing:
- Ending a sentence with a preposition — Sometimes a preposition is just the best word to end a sentence with.
- Slang — Suitable for a very specific audience. Remember that it won’t translate well into other languages. Cool, huh?
- Sentence fragments — They can help emphasize a point. Or two.
- Split infinitives – “He decided to quickly jump” doesn’t mean the same as “He decided quickly to jump.” Sometimes there’s just no way around it.
- Contractions — If it helps the sentence flow better, then it’s okay to use contractions.
- Paragraphs can have fewer than three sentences — To add emphasis to a point or to insert a pause, shorter paragraphs can be effective.
- And/But — Acceptable to start a sentence. But don’t go overboard with it.
The purpose of grammar is to enable communication. If the rules of grammar interfere with this purpose, then exercise your right to literary freedom and bend the rules a little. Or a lot. In the end, as long as the meaning is clear, then communication has been achieved.
About the Author: Amy Kirkegaard is a freelance writer who writes on a variety of current topics for many businesses and individuals such as Tim Broas.
