British Grammar Crisis: The Simple Fix Schools Ignore

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-23

David Lott thinks we've been teaching grammar all wrong. And he's not just complaining about it—he's written a book about it. *Organic Grammar* is his attempt to rethink how we teach writing and literacy, and honestly, it's about time someone said it. ### The Problem with Traditional Grammar Let's be real. Most of us learned grammar through endless drills and red pen corrections. Diagramming sentences, memorizing parts of speech, getting marked down for every misplaced comma. Did it make us better writers? Maybe. But for a lot of people, it just made writing feel like a chore—something to dread rather than enjoy. Lott argues that this approach misses the point. Grammar isn't a set of rules to memorize; it's a system that grows naturally when we use it. That's where the "organic" part comes in. ### What Organic Grammar Actually Means Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You don't start by studying the physics of balance. You get on and wobble. You fall. You try again. Eventually, you just know how to do it. Lott's approach is similar. Instead of front-loading rules, he suggests letting students write first—messy, imperfect, real—and then gently shaping their grammar as they go. The idea is to build confidence before correction. To make writing feel like a tool for expression, not a test to pass. > "Grammar should serve the writer, not the other way around," Lott says. It's a simple idea, but it flips the traditional model on its head. ### Why This Matters for Literacy Here's the thing: literacy rates in the UK have been stagnant for years. According to the National Literacy Trust, about 1 in 6 adults in England struggle with basic reading and writing. That's a problem. And while there's no single fix, Lott believes that changing how we teach grammar could be a piece of the puzzle. When writing feels natural and low-stakes, people are more likely to keep doing it. And the more you write, the better you get. It's a virtuous cycle—one that traditional grammar instruction often disrupts before it can start. ### The Takeaway Lott isn't saying grammar doesn't matter. He's saying the way we teach it might be backwards. By focusing on organic, student-led writing first, we might actually help people become more confident, capable communicators. And in a world where clear writing is more important than ever, that's worth paying attention to. So, what do you think? Is it time to ditch the red pen and try something new?