Workplace Communication and the Privilege of Grammar Expectations
By
surprisetalk
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
The article explores how workplace communication norms and expectations around grammar and formality often reflect privilege and power dynamics. The author shares personal experiences of being overly anxious about email grammar and professionalism in early jobs, while observing that senior colleagues and bosses often communicated with casual grammar, typos, and emojis. The piece argues that strict adherence to formal grammar rules can be a form of gatekeeping that reinforces class and educational privilege, suggesting that communication effectiveness matters more than perfect grammar.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledI would run spellcheck, triple-check the grammar, read over it again and again to make sure my tone sounded professional and mature and not young and stupid.
After painstakingly revising the email for 30 minutes, I would send it to my boss, who would respond right away with a message that looked like it was typed on a phone with one thumb.
I had another job where my bosses were heavy emoji users. I would send them super professional emails and they'd respond with '👍' or '😊'.
The people who get to break the grammar rules are usually the ones with the most power and privilege.
Good communication is about being understood, not about following every grammar rule perfectly.
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