Breaking The Rules!

Grammar rules are not absolute. Breaking them doesn’t disqualify you as a writer.

"My teacher says…[insert comment about grammar rule].”

Students are often taught to follow standardised grammar and punctuation rules as if breaking them them should be punishable by spending a week eating brussel sprouts marinated in marmite. However, grammar rules are not absolute. Breaking them doesn’t disqualify you as a writer or make your writing bad.

One of my favourite books, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, rarely follows conventional grammar rules. It’s immensely compelling despite—or perhaps because of—its unconventional style. Does this mean it’s poorly written? Absolutely not. Would it score poorly on standardised tests like SATs or GCSEs? Unfortunately, yes.

I understand and support the need for teachers to guide students in learning these rules. However, we must acknowledge that these rules are meant to be broken at times. 

Recently, I’ve been learning to play tennis. I’ve been taught me to hit strokes in standardised ways, which has improved my game. But when I watched Carlos Alcaraz play, I saw him breaking many of these "rules"—and winning.

Why can’t I do the same? Because, Simon, you have the flexibility of a stone and balance of a drunken sloth on roller skates. 

This is unfair though. This suggests that only the most talented of players/writers can break the rules, which again is a total fallacy. 

I can break them. I have broken them. I have hit some amazing “rule-breaking” shots. And I won the point. And I did it on purpose. Conversely, I’ve smashed a volley so hard it ended up in a different postcode, and I pulled three muscles in my back trying to whip a one handed backhand slice across the court. 

The difference between failure and success when breaking rules comes down to two things: timing and purpose. For the most part, breaking rules should be considered and deliberate. We calculate that breaking the rules will cause a certain level of impact. But other times, it’s merely instinct. It just feels right. This is fine! You can analyse it afterwards to see why it worked, but there is nothing wrong with trusting your gut as a writer. 

Breaking rules in writing, much like in tennis, can lead to exceptional results. Therefore, it’s unfair to teach total adherence. Also, children read books that regularly break them. Students will say, “But I’ve seen that in Harry Potter,” or “Pullman does it all the time.” They’re right. As far as I’m concerned, we should allow students to break these rules for impact. We should let them have fun with their writing and use grammar and punctuation as a tool to captivate their readers. However, if in breaking the rules they confuse their audience, then we need to discuss it and help them add clarity. But, if it works and leaves an impression, then they’re smashing it!