ABSTRACT
The proposition we put to you in this chapter is that a basic knowledge of the English language will help you become a better writer. The proposition probably raises several questions in your mind: What counts as ‘basic’? What aspects of the language should I know about? and, how can this knowledge help me become a better writer? In this chapter, we introduce you to the elements of grammar, vocabulary, and spelling that you should be familiar with. We also introduce you to functional grammar, describing what it is, how it different from other models of grammar, and why we favor this model over its competitors. Succeeding chapters will look at other key aspects of language that you should know about such as language relating to discourse, figurative language, and voice. We also give you an example of how explicit knowledge can help you make informed decisions about revising your written work rather than relying on intuition.
