Guest Article written by Allison VanNest, Grammarly
Are Strong Writing Skills a Reliable Predictor of Career Success?
Quality writing increasingly matters in the job market. Employers are using written communication to screen candidates and identify promising graduates from top colleges and universities. But how reliable is writing ability as a predictor of future performance—and how well are recent graduates prepared?
National testing offers a concerning perspective. The National Assessment of Educational Progress recently administered the first computer-based national writing exam and found that only about one-quarter of eighth and twelfth graders in the United States can communicate effectively in writing, even with access to tools like spell check and a thesaurus. Many colleges respond with remedial reading and writing courses, but limited budgets and understaffed writing centers mean these interventions often fall short.
As a result, too many students finish college without strong writing skills. That trend carries into the workforce: employers regularly encounter entry-level hires whose written communication does not meet professional expectations. A survey from Grammarly found that employers can often predict problem-solving ability and adaptability from a candidate’s writing. Yet many organizations still hire without formally testing writing skills and later invest time and money into remedial training.
Measuring Writing Quality Across Colleges
To better understand how top schools fare in practice, Grammarly examined real-world samples of recent graduates’ writing. We collected 30 LinkedIn profiles from recent alumni at each of the U.S. News & World Report “top ten” colleges and had proofreaders evaluate them for spelling and grammar errors. Among those institutions, students from the University of Chicago made the fewest overall writing mistakes.
If writing skill is an indicator of professional potential, graduates from colleges with stronger writing across the curriculum are likely to be more competitive hires. Clear, correct writing signals attention to detail, professionalism, and intellectual rigor—traits employers value when bringing new graduates into the workplace.
Common Writing Mistakes Students Make
An audit of student writing mistakes conducted in 2012 by Grammarly highlighted several recurring issues. Employers and educators alike will see improved outcomes when students learn to recognize and correct these errors:
- Spelling mistakes: Automated spell checkers miss many contextual errors. Homophones and misused words often slip through because they are correctly spelled but used incorrectly in context.
- Run-on sentences: Students frequently omit the comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, etc.), producing overly long or confusing sentences. A comma is needed when joining two independent clauses or when listing three or more items in a series.
- Sentence fragments: A complete sentence needs both a subject and a verb. Fragments fail to convey a full idea and can make prose feel choppy or unfinished.
- Missing commas after introductory phrases: When a sentence begins with background information or an introductory clause, a comma should separate that phrase from the main clause to improve clarity and flow.
- Wordiness: Using more words than necessary weakens writing. Concise phrasing communicates ideas more effectively and respects the reader’s time.
Why Writing Skills Matter Long-Term
Students who take time to develop solid writing habits and proofread their work are likely to benefit long after college. Well-crafted emails, clear project proposals, and persuasive presentations set candidates apart in the workplace. Employers notice when a new hire’s written work reflects critical thinking, precision, and care—qualities that are difficult to demonstrate in other ways.
Ultimately, prioritizing writing instruction across disciplines helps students succeed academically and professionally. Colleges that embed writing into the curriculum give graduates a durable advantage: the ability to express ideas clearly, adapt to new challenges, and contribute to a team with confidence.
About the Author
Allison VanNest is a self-proclaimed word nerd who works with Grammarly to help people improve their written English. She supports efforts that make writing clearer and more effective for students and professionals alike.