Grammar’s relevance in today’s society

We took are lovely Grammar Test on Thursday – how exciting!  We now (hopefully) have an excellent grasp of English grammar.  Yes, that knowledge may have got us (again, hopefully) good grades on our test, but how much does that matter?  Do we even need the goodest grammar anymore?

In that paragraph above I make three grammatical errors – one ridiculously obvious, one semi-apparent, and one that I'll be impressed if you catch.  Can you find all three?  The kicker is this: regardless of whether you do or do not see all three errors, my meaning is still clear.  Why, then, does grammar matter?

Sometimes, a grammatical error does change the meaning.  For example: then vs than.  I was taught the importance of that difference when I was shown this humorously errant post on twitter: I’d rather be pissed of then pissed on.  Then refers to time; than refers to comparison.  This person should have used than then, rather than then.  Get it?

In addition, a lack of grammar savvy can totally destroy your credibility, as when a person campaigning to make English the mandatory language in the U.S. became infamous for holding up a protest sign that said: “Respect are country!  Speak English!”

Does proper grammar matter, as long as a meaning is communicated?  What’s your opinion?  Weird Al shares his: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc  Actually, I have his voice in my head every time I think of certain grammar rules, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget them. J