Grammar Makeovers: Before and After
Let’s face it: grammar isn’t always glamorous. But it can be fun—especially when we treat it like a makeover show.
You know the kind: there’s a “before” scene of chaos, confusion, and questionable fashion choices... and then—boom! Cue the music, roll the slow-motion reveal, and suddenly everything looks brighter, clearer, and much easier on the eyes.
Well, guess what? Sentences deserve that glow-up too.
Why Grammar Makeovers Matter
We’ve all written the occasional clunky sentence—maybe it’s long-winded, a little awkward, or just flat-out incorrect. That’s normal. But the good news is that with a little editing magic, we can make almost any sentence more polished, more powerful, and way easier to read.
Clean grammar isn’t about being fancy or formal. It’s about making your message clear. And when your sentences are sharp, your ideas shine through.
So, let’s take a few real-life examples for a spin in the Grammar Makeover Chair.
Before & After #1: The Rambling Run-On
Before:
I was walking to the store and I saw my neighbor and she was walking her dog and then she told me she was moving next week to a different city but I didn’t have time to talk because I was in a hurry.
After:
While walking to the store, I ran into my neighbor, who was out with her dog. She mentioned she’s moving next week—but I had to keep it brief, since I was in a hurry.
What Changed:
We broke up the never-ending sentence into two more digestible thoughts, tightened up the wording, and let it breathe. Ahh. Much better.
Before & After #2: The Grammar Goblin
Before:
She seen the dog run fastly because it was scared of the man who it seen that yelled at it.
After:
She saw the dog run quickly, frightened by the man who had yelled at it.
What Changed:
Correct verb tense (seen → saw), improved adverb (fastly isn’t a word!), and simplified the structure. The result? Smooth, logical, and grammatically sound.
Before & After #3: The Overly Formal Mess
Before:
Due to the fact that the weather was inclement in nature, the event was postponed until such a time as it is deemed more appropriate.
After:
Because of the bad weather, the event was postponed until a better time.
What Changed:
We ditched the bloated phrasing for something more natural. Don't be afraid of short, simple words. They’re powerful, too.
Tips for Your Own Grammar Glow-Up
Read it aloud. If you stumble, your reader probably will too.
Watch your verbs. Strong, specific verbs do more work than fancy adjectives.
Cut the fluff. If it doesn’t add clarity or voice, out it goes.
Break it up. Long sentences can almost always be split.
Grammar isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making your message easy to understand. With just a few edits, you can take even the most tangled sentence and turn it into something crisp, clear, and kind to your reader’s brain.
So go ahead—treat your sentences to a little spa day now and then. They’ll thank you for it.