How confident are you when it comes to grammar?
Many professional copywriters can write to a high standard without having much explicit technical, grammatical or linguistic knowledge. For some, it’s because they’ve honed their writing skills through years of education or experience. For others, it’s just how their brain is wired – they have a natural affinity for language.
But here’s what they don’t tell you – many people acquire this knowledge subconsciously because we learn in a variety of ways – first as babies, through listening, then gradually through speaking, and finally through reading and writing in formal education.
From early childhood, our exposure to conversation, books, our socio-economic circumstances, our ability to learn – all play a part in how we develop our individual writing skillset.
that’s why our personal level of language mastery really varies. Many great writers can’t unpick exactly how they acquired their natural skills, and some don’t really understand their own process – they just seem to have a gift!
So, both our level of writing ability and how we learn to write, don’t come from level playing fields.
What’s more, because many writers have acquired their word wizardry in subconscious ways, you don’t tend to hear much spoken about grammar or technical devices as writing tools. Instead, when seeking advice on how to become a better writer, most often you’ll hear lots about creativity and ideas – and not so much about the foundations.
But what if your career depends on improving the quality of your writing?
Here’s my controversial opinion – grammar and linguistic mastery have the power to transform your writing skills. I’ve been helping people improve their writing for over 20 years, and it’s the single biggest factor that improves the quality of your work.
And the best part? Anyone can learn it. It’s simply a set of rules and tools.
Now, if you’re a marketer who regularly writes copy, you’ve probably picked up some knowledge of grammar or technique over the years, but you’re likely to have gaps – everybody does to some extent.
The problem is, the more gaps you have, the harder you have to work to write to the standards you aspire to, and the longer the writing process takes.
So, how do you bridge your grammar gaps?
You can try reading great literary works, or practising frequently – but that’s not a sure path to a better outcome. Especially if your career depends on it.
That’s why I believe in building solid foundations in language first.
If you concentrate on mastering structural grammar, and invest in learning technique and the tools of your craft – you can take your language skills to the next level. Then you’ll really be able to apply the higher level creative skills with confidence and flair.
Why understanding writing technique will give you the edge
Technique is an aspect of writing that’s often overlooked – but it’s this knowledge that will give you the edge.
Learn your tools, and you gain more:
- Control: so you can write more consciously, concisely and perform at a higher level.
- Understanding: so you can articulate ideas with clear meaning.
- Creativity: so you can confidently play with and manipulate language.
- Accuracy: so you can spot errors, understand why sentences aren’t working and how to improve.
- Confidence: with a greater set of tools at your disposal, you can produce more accomplished, compelling and effective copy.
Imagine you’re an aspiring painter, just beginning to learn your art. As your learn about different mark-making tools, paint types, techniques and processes, you’ll grow in skill.
With a little time, practise and experience, you’ll become competent, and be able to express your creativity with confidence.
In art, no-one questions a beginner learning their craft, building their toolkit and refining their skills. Copywriting is no different. It’s also a craft which needs to be learned and developed in order to produce engaging, effective copy.
Grammar is your friend
Let’s stop treating grammar as the enemy. You may have bad memories of red-penned corrections from school – but if you have an understanding of the mechanics of language you’ll give yourself a huge advantage.
Because we can’t actually write without grammar. It gives us the building blocks of language. It helps us communicate with precision and clarity.
I like to think of grammar as the unseen code behind every page of writing – a bit like the film The Matrix. Once you master the code, you’ll know why a sentence might not be working, and how to fix it. And you can play with and manipulate language for highly creative results – just like Neo bends reality around him to fly!
While it doesn’t sound flashy or exciting, grammatical and linguistic knowledge helps you write more effectively, because every word has a clear place, function, purpose and effect. It even helps with creative short-form copy, like ads, because you have more tools at your disposal – just like the painter.
Here’s how to become a stronger writer
If you Google “How to become a better writer”, here’s the advice you’ll most likely receive:
- Read more: in the hope that famous authors will rub off on you
- Write more: you aimlessly write reams of text with no clear focus or outcome
- Learn a formula or template: you copy one person’s process which has little or no impact on your core skillset.
None of the above improves the core quality of your writing.
What will have an impact is learning the technical foundations of writing, even at a very basic level, covering the things no-one else tells you, like:
- Structural grammar (parts of speech, clauses, syntax)
- Sentence types and forms
- Paragraph structure and flow
- Common grammar rules for proofreading and copyediting
- How to shape an argument
- Planning techniques and processes
- Linguistic devices (alliteration, anaphora, assonance etc)
As you work on develop your writing skills, remember that understanding the technical aspects of language is not about limiting creativity but rather about supporting it.
Grammar and technique provide the structure that allows your unique voice and ideas to come through clearly. By learning these tools, you can communicate more effectively, make more thoughtful choices, and write with greater confidence.
Whether you’re writing for marketing, creative storytelling, or any other purpose, mastering the basics will give you an advantage.
Develop your writing skills with us
- Assess your writing skills with the Copy Catalyst Compass
- Explore our free and paid resources
- Join the next cohort of Copy Catalyst, our 12-week signature writing skills course for marketers
