Grammar, punctuation and spelling are the fundamentals of writing. They are the tools that make your sentences run smoothly and your writing sing to your audience.

After more than three decades in the wilderness, literacy is enjoying a renaissance amid governmental and industry concerns about deteriorating writing standards among younger people.

I have witnessed the systemic decline first-hand in my experiences as an university teacher during the past five years. It is not a case of isolated students failing to grasps the basic concepts but rather an entire generation that has never been taught.

Mastering the basics is a prerequisite to indulging in the artistry that the English language offers the writer. You must learn the rules before you can flout them. Do yourself – and more particularly your children – a favour and invest a little time refreshing your writing skills.