Get every episode summarized
Each time Grammar Minute publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
“I'm Lauren Smith and people often say you should write like you speak, but there's one important caveat. The bar for grammatical and technical correctness is higher in print than in spoken English.”From the transcript
That's conventional writing wisdom, but when is it not a good idea? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
Get every episode summarized
Each time Grammar Minute publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
Transcript ready
12 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.
Full transcript
Grammar Minute — Should You Write "Conversationally"?. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.
Welcome to the grammar minute where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith and people often say you should write like you speak, but there's one important caveat. The bar for grammatical and technical correctness is higher in print than in spoken English. The goal of most conversational speech is just to get a point across. You don't need to over complicate telling your neighbor about your new cat. But the goal of most writing is to be convincing. You not only need to be right about your point, but you also need to make your case in an aesthetically pleasing way. One of the best ways to establish your authority on a topic is to also establish your authority over the English language. If you can write well, your reader will assume you can probably also do other things well. All that to say conversational writing is a good thing, but don't take it too far. That's your grammar minute. Visit the grammarminute.com for more tips and tricks. Thank you.
More episodes
