Search

The human tendency to judge another person's personality traits can be prompted by as little as a snapshot of that person, and such judgments can have consequences for future interactions (Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid, 1977). We tested the hypothesis that people make judgments about others' personality traits – particularly those desired by employers – on the basis of their written grammar usage. In the study, community adults read a hypothetical job application cover letter and then rated the applicant on a variety of dimensions. Unbeknownst to the participants, there were three cover letters that held the same content but differed in their rate of surface-level grammar usage errors (no errors; an average error rate of 2/100 words; or a high error rate of 4/100 words). Participants who read a letter that contained grammar usage errors downgraded the applicant's writing as well as their standing on personality traits such as capable, hard-working, and team-oriented. The effects were consistent and imply that people should attend to their grammar usage if they want to make a positive first impression. We propose that the effects we documented are due to actual associations between the quality of individuals' grammar competence and their conscientiousness and intelligence.

Herbaceous perennials in a forest ecosystem play a role in seasonal nutrient cycling. Asarum canadense L. (wild ginger) and Hydrophyllum virginianum L. (Virginia waterleaf) are perennial herbaceous plants with different seasonal growth patterns native to mesic hardwood forests. Both flower early, but A. canadense leaves persist after flowering while H. virginianum senesces and produces a second flush of leaves by late summer. Our specific question of interest was whether there is a difference in nutrient storage in leaves and roots seasonally in these two species. We excavated plants in spring, summer, and fall to determine carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentration and content in above and below ground tissues, as well as C:N and N:P ratios. Our findings indicate complex patterns in the location of nutrients in A. canadense and H. virginianum across the growing season. Asarum canadense exhibits relatively consistent above ground growth, with seasonal nutrient accumulation focused below ground for C, N, and P. Patterns are more varied in H. virginianum as a result of the second flush of leaves, notably, the C:N ratio of H. virginianum decreases across the growing season while the N:P ratio increases, but to different degrees in above/below ground tissues. We suggest these patterns are linked to changing photosynthetic capacity across the seasons and a prioritization of vegetative growth over reproductive investment.