Grammar is a piano I play by ear. All I know about grammar is its power.-Joan Didion

How important is grammar? Do we really need proper spelling and punctuation?

I recently read a post from someone claiming that grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules exist to "invisibly reinforce hierarchy," and that as long as the meaning is clear there is no need to correct them. First of all, I have no idea how these reinforce hierarchy. Second, they made no mistakes in their writing of the post, maybe because they felt their opinion was important enough to express themselves clearly. Ironic.

I understand that social media and other informal communications perhaps don't require as much intense scrutiny for writers to get their point across. But we've all come across the post that uses no punctuation and sketchy spelling which leaves us feeling as though even the Rosetta Stone won't help in deciphering the meaning. After all, who hasn't been caught in a disagreement with someone because of miscommunication or misunderstanding?

Obviously, I believe in the importance of proofreading and copyediting for important works. But the key to all communication is understanding. The writer needs to understand where they are going well enough to show the reader the way. Writing with purpose and clarity is the best way to express yourself. You could say writing is similar to driving. You need to know your destination before you set out in order to get there in the most efficient way. Granted, you can always take a more scenic route if that is your intention - one full of description and emotions. However, the post from before seems to say that as long as you know where you are going, you don't have to obey traffic laws. Can you imagine the mess left in their wake? Punctuation, spelling, and grammar are much like traffic laws and signs. They guide the driver, or reader, to know where the road is leading, what lane they need to be in, and when they have reached the destination and should stop.

So as you write, please drive carefully!