Imagine receiving a message from your employer stating, “Your appointment has been terminated.” A few minutes later, another message arrives: “Your appointment has not been terminated.” What a difference one small word makes! The first message could cause anxiety, while the second offers reassurance.
Such situations remind us that words are powerful. Their choice, arrangement and interpretation can influence decisions, relationships and even livelihoods. Yet, how often do we consider their implications before speaking or writing?
When a single word changes everything
In everyday communication, we sometimes overlook the importance of seemingly insignificant words. Consider the statements: “The committee acted for the workers” and “The committee acted against the workers.”
The difference lies in the prepositions for and against. While the first suggests support, the second indicates opposition.
Similarly, compare these statements: “The student failed because he did not study” and “The student failed although he studied.”
The conjunctions because and although establish different relationships between the ideas. One expresses a reason; the other introduces an unexpected outcome.
These examples demonstrate how grammatical choices shape meaning. The Cambridge Dictionary’s English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press & Assessment, n.d.) explains the functions of word classes in constructing meaningful expressions.
Speaking fluently is not communicating effectively
In Ghana, English plays an important role in education, administration and professional interactions. However, speaking English confidently does not necessarily mean communicating effectively.
A university graduate may possess excellent academic qualifications but struggle to organise ideas during an interview. Another may speak fluently yet produce an official email that leaves the recipient confused.
Should fluency alone determine our judgement of someone’s communication competence?
Certainly not.
Effective communication requires grammatical knowledge, clarity, appropriate vocabulary and sensitivity to the audience. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages recognises grammatical, sociolinguistic and pragmatic competences as important dimensions of language use (Council of Europe, 2021).
A grammatically correct statement may still be inappropriate in a particular situation. Conversely, an occasional grammatical error does not necessarily prevent understanding.
The concern, therefore, is not simply whether people speak correct English, but whether their words communicate their intentions accurately.
When poor communication reaches the workplace
Consider an administrative officer who announces, “The meeting has been postponed to Friday.” Another officer informs colleagues that “The meeting has been postponed from Friday.”
These messages communicate different information. The first identifies Friday as the new date, while the second leaves the replacement date unspecified.
Such misunderstandings may appear minor until employees miss important meetings or organisational activities are disrupted.
In banking, healthcare, law and public administration, unclear communication can have more serious consequences.
The World Economic Forum (2025) identifies skills associated with effective interaction, including leadership, social influence and active listening, among important workplace capabilities.
This reinforces the need for graduates who can express ideas clearly, listen attentively and communicate responsibly.
Rethinking how we teach grammar
For many students, grammar lessons involve identifying nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and conjunctions. While such knowledge provides a foundation, identifying word classes should not become an end in itself.
Students must understand how grammatical choices influence meaning in conversations, academic writing and professional correspondence.
For example, rather than merely defining conjunctions, lecturers could ask students to explain how replacing because with although changes the meaning of a sentence.
Similarly, editing poorly written emails, interpreting public notices and participating in classroom discussions could make grammar more relevant to everyday communication.
The aim should be to develop communicative competence, not simply the ability to reproduce grammatical definitions.
Before you speak or press send
Today, messages circulate rapidly through WhatsApp, emails and social media. A carelessly written sentence may reach hundreds of people before its intended meaning is clarified.
We should therefore consider three questions before communicating: Is my message clear? Are my words appropriate? Could someone interpret them differently?
Good communication does not require unnecessarily complicated vocabulary. Sometimes, the simplest expressions communicate the strongest messages.
Words may be small, but their consequences can be enormous. Choosing them carefully is not merely a grammatical responsibility; it is a communication responsibility.
References
Council of Europe. (2021). Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment – Companion volume. Council of Europe Publishing. https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/
When justice is delivered but not understood: Is legal language still a barrier to justice in Ghana?
By Dr Patience Calys-Tagoe
