I couldn’t help but smile, Tuesday, as I perused my reading material in a bathroom stall in the math building.
 

It’s always disheartening to read the wall and realize someone can’t keep their crap in the toilet, insisting on their right to scrawl racist statements or commit general atrocities against the grammar gods.
 

Some statements on that wall have been there for years now, still visible despite a thin coat of white paint meant to erase the past.
 

At the same time, the thinking seat is, on occasion, a sort of inspiration, capable of reviving faith in humanity when someone points out the not-so-subtle difference between “your” and “you’re” or calls racism what it is.
 

As that wall of wisdom says—is this an institution of higher education or something?
 

Grammarians are, like many rule-enforcers, a bit unpleasant at times. Indeed, conventions and accepted practices have their weaknesses and need to be broken at times. They were, themselves, created by the modification of existing rules, or the establishment of new ones. Yet, discarding some basic respect for grammar is not wise!
 

An English major would not expect to be understood if he or she substituted a “B” for every “3” in a math class, just because they sound and look similar—they would likely expect to be thought stupid.
 

Likewise, while it isn’t really necessary for everyone to completely understand grammar—or math—there are some basics that, if not understood, can make a person of any intelligence level look quite stupid.
 

Ignorance is a choice—not an excuse. Once upon a time (ok, just five years ago,) I wanted nothing to do with grammar, nor did I see how it was necessary to someone intending to major in, and have a career in computer science.
 

Computers, however, expect more precision of syntax and style than even the most robotic grammarian could hope to require. Like speaking with each other, however, this isn’t always apparent while simply using a computer.
 

When communicating in text, whether with a person or computer, correct use of language and syntax are expected.
 

I’d love to see the love letter written by my favorite bathroom Shakespeare, perhaps it would go like this: “I love u, youre smile brightens my day, I hope were going to be together forever.”
 

If you read that and don’t see a problem, chuckle briefly for now, and look up a good resource later, like the one at the end of this column.
 

Since then, words have become my life. Looking back, I can only imagine how stupid I must have appeared and how hard it would have been for someone to take me, and anything I wrote, seriously.
 

I went to great lengths to avoid doing anything that would allow someone to see me as stupid, yet I convinced myself grammar wasn’t something I could get and allowed myself to be seen as such any time I put a pen to paper.
 

Surprise me. Next time I visit the math building, I’d like to think I’m reading the graffiti of educated men. I’m not asking for sonnets or Sapphics here—but I wouldn’t complain.
 

Further Grammar Resources:
Notorious grammar mistakes
Full text of Strunk’s Elements of Style