Knowing the ins and outs of correct grammar is essential to authors. To be able to speak and write words appropriately is a dying art, obviously no longer stressed in schools. It's been reduced to text-size communications with abbreviations we've all come to recognize – well, at least some of them. LOL.
"Back in the day" grammar was emphasized and insisted upon. That didn't mean everyone could or would speak it appropriately, but it was correctly taught.
Much of yesterday's grammar was formal – too formal for contemporary fiction in most cases. For authors writing historical novels, some of that formality can be retained.
I have an ongoing argument with some of the rules of the trade pursuant to correct grammar. For example, it seems ridiculous to me to use quotation marks around a particular featured word or name and to include the following punctuation, that being either a comma or a period, inside the final quotation mark. In my opinion, it should be outside the final quotation mark. (I'm not talking about dialogue.)
That's my pet rant for this Monday. If you've got any complaints you'd like to share about grammar, feel free!
Father, apart from you, I can do nothing, write nothing. Thank you for all the stories and words. Help me to honor you with them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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