I don't doubt that many famous writers have done "quite well without
having studied grammar."  I am wondering though if you have some
documented instances in mind.  I think that it would be instructive to
contemplate some specific examples.  (I already know about Homer and the
other Greeks pre-Aristotle.)

On Thu, 15 Feb 2001, Richard Veit, UNCW English Department wrote:

> At 02:10 PM 02/15/2001 -0600, Mary Evans wrote:
> >The problem is not so much with spoken English, but with written English,
> >and it seems to me there is a big difference between mastering speaking and
> >mastering writing.  High school students often have not even mastered the
> >art of beginning sentences with capital letters and ending them with periods
> >(the conventions of English), much less the finer points of the language.
> >You DO have to be taught how to write in your own and in second languages.
> >It does not come naturally.
>
> Asolutely. But written conventions such as capital letters and punctuation
> aren't "grammar," as linguists use the term. Nouns and verbs and
> appositives are grammar. Many famous writers have done quite well without
> having studied grammar. Of course, as a grammarian, I highly recommend
> studying grammar.
>
> Dick Veit
>
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