Gone are the days when we would refer to our Strunk & White "Elements of Style" to see where to place commas and hyphens, or how to use participial phrases and not to split infinitives. With authors in countries all around the world and its dominance in international businesses and organizations by both native and second-language speakers alike, English has truly become a living language known for its flexibility and – to a point – simplicity. An influx of new words and spelling changes, and often the universal acceptance of what "used to be" grammatical errors has altered English significantly over the years.
So where do we stand? While the global proliferation of the English language has influenced and changed the way it is used, we could also say it has become increasingly important for people to use it properly, i.e. making sure that as many readers as possible understand what they write. Otherwise there is a risk that writers will lose credibility and turn readers away. Many authors complain that they do not have enough time to perfect their texts, but forget that readers often do not have time to read everything that comes their way. All the more reason to write effectively – which means writing clearly and concisely to provide readers the information they need and want.
So where do we stand? While the global proliferation of the English language has influenced and changed the way it is used, we could also say it has become increasingly important for people to use it properly, i.e. making sure that as many readers as possible understand what they write. Otherwise there is a risk that writers will lose credibility and turn readers away. Many authors complain that they do not have enough time to perfect their texts, but forget that readers often do not have time to read everything that comes their way. All the more reason to write effectively – which means writing clearly and concisely to provide readers the information they need and want.