Let's face it. Not everyone is an expert grammarian. English was not everyone's favorite subject in school. This is a given. All people are different, and all people have different strengths and weaknesses. It isn't a criminal offense if someone doesn't know how to make their subject and verb agree, or if they don't know that "cannot" is one word, not two. It is fine, for everyday life. However, once you start trying to put your ideas out to the public...you are expected to know these things.
Reviews will be given lower marks if your grammar is overly faulty. It's true. If readers cannot (one word) follow your reasoning, they are going to mark your reviews lower. Fortunately, Eden does offer the services of editors to help you, to some extent, and there is also the fine mentor program for those who need assistance in any area of writing reviews, including grammar. You don't have to have a high school or college refresher course! You just have to take advantage of the resources here at Eden...other members! I think you will find most people are quite willing to help if you ask.
In addition, there have been multiple workshops and posts in the forum that have been devoted to grammar tips. I am posting a few links here. Read through them. You will certainly pick up on some things you may have forgotten since you were in school.
Tips for people with grammar issues
Grammar Workshop - June 2011
Helpful Tips on Grammar and Article Structure
If anyone has tips they wish to add in comments, you are welcome to do so. Here are a couple from me:
1. After you have written your review, have someone else read it. They will likely see mistakes that you don't see yourself. When we proofread ourselves right after finishing a review, we tend to read what we meant to write rather than what we did write.
2. If you don't have someone else to look over your review, put it aside for a day, then come back to it. When time has passed, it is easier for us to see our own mistakes.
3. If you know your grammar skills are weak, and you don't have someone who can check your review for you, run it through a grammar/spell check (either through word processing programs like Microsoft Word, or through online sites), and get yourself a mentor!
Good luck!
Reviews will be given lower marks if your grammar is overly faulty. It's true. If readers cannot (one word) follow your reasoning, they are going to mark your reviews lower. Fortunately, Eden does offer the services of editors to help you, to some extent, and there is also the fine mentor program for those who need assistance in any area of writing reviews, including grammar. You don't have to have a high school or college refresher course! You just have to take advantage of the resources here at Eden...other members! I think you will find most people are quite willing to help if you ask.
In addition, there have been multiple workshops and posts in the forum that have been devoted to grammar tips. I am posting a few links here. Read through them. You will certainly pick up on some things you may have forgotten since you were in school.
Tips for people with grammar issues
Grammar Workshop - June 2011
Helpful Tips on Grammar and Article Structure
If anyone has tips they wish to add in comments, you are welcome to do so. Here are a couple from me:
1. After you have written your review, have someone else read it. They will likely see mistakes that you don't see yourself. When we proofread ourselves right after finishing a review, we tend to read what we meant to write rather than what we did write.
2. If you don't have someone else to look over your review, put it aside for a day, then come back to it. When time has passed, it is easier for us to see our own mistakes.
3. If you know your grammar skills are weak, and you don't have someone who can check your review for you, run it through a grammar/spell check (either through word processing programs like Microsoft Word, or through online sites), and get yourself a mentor!
Good luck!
