Make No Mistake? Exploring Cognitive and Perceptual Effects of Grammatical Errors in News Articles

Alyssa Appelman, Mike Schmierbach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using four between-subjects experiments (N1 = 106, N2 = 166, N3 = 159, and N4 = 164), this project tests the ways audiences process grammatical errors in news articles. In all, results suggest that readers perceive stories with grammatical errors to be lower in quality, credibility, and informativeness, but the number of errors needed is relatively large. Analysis shows amplified effects for people who report concern about grammar, and, to a lesser degree, people with knowledge of grammar rules. Given these results, the findings suggest a nonlinear, nonuniversal effect of grammatical errors on readers of news articles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)930-947
Number of pages18
JournalJournalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
Volume95
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Communication

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