March 4 is National Grammar Day, and we are once again celebrating with poetry. The 14th annual National Grammar Day Poetry Contest, sponsored by ACES: The Society for Editing, starts now.
Give us your best short poem in any form (except epic).
The annual contest attracts scores of verses about grammar, usage and style. For examples and inspiration, check out the 2023 winners.
National Grammar Day is Monday, March 4, and the contest is open right now. The deadline to submit is 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 3.
Don’t be shy about sharing your entries on your favorite social media platform. Use the #GrammarDay hashtag so we can find them. But we’re asking for official entries through the Google Form.
Only original, previously unpublished poems will be accepted.
Winners will be announced on March 4, the date chosen for National Grammar Day because it is a complete and grammatically correct sentence when written “March forth.” As in, “March forth and celebrate National Grammar Day.”
Our celebrity judges might pay attention to meter or rhyme, some might prefer free verse while others are big on haiku, but submit in whatever poetry form makes you happy. Entries will be mostly judged on how well they make a point about the language: grammar, usage, typos, writing, editing — whatever inspires you.
The winner will receive a one-year membership to ACES: The Society for Editing and a signed copy of "Grammar Daily: 365 Quick Tips for Successful Writing from Grammar Girl (Quick & Dirty Tips)" by Mignon Fogarty. Plus, the winning poem will be featured on the Grammar Girl podcast.
ACES: The Society for Editing
ACES: The Society for Editing is the nation’s leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students. Founded in 1997 by copy editors, ACES is dedicated to improving the quality of the written word and the working lives of editors. It sets standards of excellence and gives a voice to editors in journalism, government, business, publishing, and beyond through top-notch training, networking, and career opportunities. ACES hosts an annual in-person conference and, since 2022, an annual virtual conference. ACES Academy hosts monthly webinars. ACES also offers certificates in editing, which it co-hosts with The Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism.
