Let’s start with my case. I study grammar because I want to write English correctly, and to write it well. Knowing a bit more about grammar also helps in the speaking part, but this aspect is not as significant as the writing part. When one writes, one usually has more time to think, go over the material and make corrections. This leisure of time is much more restricted when one is conversing in real life.
I did not take any course on grammar or linguistics in college. I am not a grammarian, nor do I have the inclination to go much deeper than necessary in the analysis of the subject as long as I can rely on some grammar rules to help write a bit better. So to me, learning grammar is only a tool rather than an objective.
What about you? Is it a tool, or is it an objective?
Sometimes, having a better grip of grammar could improve one’s livelihood, or vice versa. Kyle Wiens, a tech businessman, wrote an article called “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar” in the Harvard Business Review. Wiens argues that an applicant’s grammatical abilities, or the lack of them, could carry over to his other job capabilities.
You may agree or disagree with Wiens, but one thing I do believe is that knowing a bit more about grammar is always better than knowing a bit less, in whatever situations.