I suppose I could identify dependent clauses and indirect objects if I had to, but I'm rather hazy on them at this point. I would probably do pretty poorly on a "grammar terminology" test, but I could pass a challenging editing test. Really, it doesn't come up very much, even when one is an editor. If I ever feel like I need back-up because someone is being didactic about this sort of thing, I just look it up. There are some terms I do use and refer to, because they actually come up; subject-verb agreement is one. It's just useful shorthand with authors. Dependent clause...not so much.
I may not be a very good example here, since this is an area of high ability for me. But it probably is for most of us here, and for many of our kids. My husband isn't as good of an editor or writer as I am, but he's very good. He doesn't know what a dependent clause is. I can guarantee it. It doesn't matter.
