This writing course, Grammar Essentials with Susan McKerihan, will be held at Writing NSW in Sydney.

We all ‘know’ grammar: we use it instinctively every time we speak or write. But from the 1970s, grammar was no longer formally taught in most Australian schools; as a result, many people struggle to understand how the language works. For example, they can’t explain why one piece of writing reads well and another doesn’t, and they find this frustrating.

Don’t be daunted by those mysterious terms ‘subject’, ‘object’, ‘verb’, ‘active/passive voice’, and ‘semi-colon’. The concepts are easy to grasp when presented through real-life examples, and you will gain a powerful tool for organising your words and sentences.

A knowledge of grammar (which includes punctuation) can help you manage the mechanics and nuances of writing. So, whether you write creatively or as part of a business or technical role, understanding the basics of grammar will give you confidence as a writer.

This one-day workshop with expert Susan McKerihan introduces the fundamental elements of grammar and explains how they work in real life. It covers these grammatical features and principles:

• the eight parts of speech and their functions
• phrases, clauses and sentences
• verbs, including tense, mood, voice, participles, auxiliaries
• grammatical case
• punctuation.

We will also examine the most common areas of difficulty, as well as the language ‘myths’ that are often (wrongly) assumed to be non-negotiable rules.

Through discussion and written exercises, you will gain confidence in your ability to write and to make choices in language and style. And there’s a side benefit for anyone who’s trying to learn a foreign language, as your classes will almost certainly include grammar!

Expected learning outcomes

In this workshop, participants will:

1. Gain an understanding of the basic terms and concepts of English grammar
2. Develop the ability to recognise and fix the most common grammatical mistakes
3. Gain greater confidence when writing, through knowing how to manage the tools that create meaning in our language.

Participant requirements

Pen and paper, and/or a fully charged device.

Is this workshop right for you? Please read our FAQ> for important information before enrolling. 

If you have questions about this course, please contact us.

Reviews

‘The course was very clear and well paced!’ – Carolyn 2024

‘Susan was a good facilitator who shared her editorial experience and examples of good writing by other authors. The practical tips that she shared can be used in creative and business writing. This is a course I would recommend to anyone who is keen on improving their writing skills.’ — Participant, 2023

‘Susan was knowledgeable and engaging. She made what could have been fairly dry subject matter very interesting.’ — Paddy, 2022

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