For whatever its worth: With my kids, I've always had success making fun of bad grammar - highlighting it with humor. I don't take it too seriously and they seem to learn from it. I took a Linguistics class once and they taught me that as long as you get your point across, you're communicating. So I learned to listen to what people are saying instead of how they are saying it. Besides, our language is ridiculously hard to learn. On the other hand, writers should be capable crafters of the English language, so you've got me there.

I understand your frustration, Eduardo. I think those who love language, not just for the beauty of the sound, but also because of the structure flow, find it harder to laugh off mistakes. Now, we do laugh in our family, but we do so with a "Don't-ever-do-this" kind of chuckle.

I think you have to teach grammar early and consistently. Hold the bar high. We start grammar as early as second grade, and so many people compliment our girls grammar and spelling (although, just to keep me humble, I must say that my oldest daughter did misspell something- a rather large word- in our Christmas letter). Persistence, high standards, and a little fun make learning not only enjoyable, but stick.

from sparkle blog

I would make this longer but I butcher my only language so well that I'm afraid to.

Mrs.E: Good suggestion. About what you were taught in the Linguistics class, this is my eternal beef with my linguist colleagues at the faculty where I teach. They try to rationalize and relativize spelling and grammar mistakes, and yet they fail to note that language is just a code, and inconsistencies or ambiguities in it (such as spelling or grammar mistakes) harm the comunicational process every time, no matter how you think you've got your point accross.

Rae: Thank you, my friend. These are excellent suggestions. I might also add that reading good books accounts for a lot of improvement. At least, in my own life, it was the love of those secret friends what enabled me to be less burdened with spelling and writing expression.

I completely agree, Eduardo.

We have presented the classics to our children and started when they were very small. Picture books were for morning reading, while small portions of chapter books were read after lunch and before bed. This not only taught them patience, but an obvious love and desire for good literature.

I think small grammar and spelling mistakes should be overlooked, unless they ask you to point them out or correct them. I agree with BZZZ, who wants to say anything, or write anything, if you know you are going to be scrutinized (sp?)for your grammar. Perhaps, we should listen to what the person is saying and not how they are saying it.