Studying grammar is an outdated practice

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Teachers and professors from New York City to Australia are arguing about whether to ban online writing software. New York City banned ChatGPT, an AI writing software, and Australian Universities are returning to solely “pen and paper” exams. The argument is that students often write papers without learning advanced grammar skills, and there’s truth to this.

Twenty-seven per cent of Canadian University graduates can’t write proficiently, yet this is not an issue. Some professors say writing software corrects technical errors in students’ writing without additional effort, saving both a student’s time as well as the teacher’s. And with teachers being in short supply, this is more important than ever.

While this may seem like a band aid fix, it’s not. The purpose of grammar is to standardize writing to make it accessible. Thus deep knowledge of grammar isn’t important, only the accessibility of writing — the means are not the end. 

Some may argue that writing software gives students an unfair advantage, but most writing software like Grammarly only deals with grammar and sentence clarity. Most programs won’t write a paper for you, it only offers suggestions. 

Even software like ChatGPT, which will write for you, only creates F-to-F answers, according to Jacqueline Antonovich, history professor and creator and co-founder of Nursing Clio. Software can only improve the accessibility of the paper, so no student would earn a grade they don’t deserve. Software takes the place of a neutral second opinion. 

Writing software isn’t going away. Microsoft came out with autocorrect in 1993. The technology is still advancing with software companies like Grammarly, one of the larger companies, reporting more than 30 million daily users. 

Many writers in fields ranging from marketing to journalism use writing software. Authors like  J.K. Rowling and Stephen King use Microsoft Word for final drafts because of its built-in grammar checker. Furthermore, authors like Truman Capote and Maya Angelou never had a formal education. 

Besides, fighting technology doesn’t work. For example, Surrey spent $65,000 of taxpayer money in a failed attempt to stop ride sharing apps. Software allows students to automate grammar so they can focus on communicating.

Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Newton means that he could only achieve what he did using previous knowledge. 

These apps function in the same way by allowing students to spend time focusing on ideas and content. Besides, no one other than online commenters invalidate an argument based on punctuation. If software automates grammar and saves students time, it should be used. 

With 40 per cent of full time Canadian students working, time is valuable. This is not to say grammar shouldn’t be taught — it should. In fact, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has free tutors available to teach grammar. 

The consensus at KPU is mixed, where some instructors allow software and others do not. I think software should be allowed for essays and exams in all departments. It’s a waste of time and money to learn advanced grammar which will soon be obsolete just like cursive writing. As motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “don’t major in minor things.”