Do correct spelling and grammar matter any more?

[jimtlange]

Spelling and grammar mistakes in Web site copy, advertising, informational articles, etc. just jump out at me.

Sometimes the typos are easy to overlook (see the word "initally" in Post a poll: section elsewhere on this otherwise marvelous site; that doesn't bother me as the intended meaning is clear).

However, when the typos appear within pricing columns or specifications, they may not be immediately noticeable. Plus, I could be over- or under-charged and my customer could be unhappy that the goods didn't perform as promised. Either way, it's a waste of my time to deal with and an injury to the good will and trust I worked so hard to build.

Most concerning is this, based on my 31 years' experience in business: small businesses that are careless with details in their written communications are frequently just as careless with details in other aspects of their operations -- order taking, picking, packing, shipping and invoicing.

I'm not suggesting that there's a cause and effect relationship between correct spelling and grammar and high accuracy in order entry, fulfillment and billing, but there is definitely a real correlation.

Have we become sloppy businesspersons or has society simply deemphasized the value of correct spelling and clear communications?

How do you feel about this "dumbing down"?

Do correct spelling and grammar truly matter any more?

Please comment.

Jim

[Steve Windhaus]

I rarely see any commentary on spelling and grammar. Reading your post was so refreshing. Yes, there are those of us to whom spelling, grammar and punctuation remain priorities. I am very religious in checking these matters in the 30 and 40-page documents (business plans) developed for my clients, the content on my websites and the columns posted at online publications.

Yes, I do hesitate when finding these types of errors at a website when browsing as a buyer. Of course, I tend to excuse a major brand for that kind of error at its website, but am less patient when surfing a lesser known competitor.

Online reputation is developed, in great part, on the accuracy of spelling, grammar and punctuation. At least, that is what I believe. On the other hand, I read hundreds of emails each week with these errors. Immediately, if the sender is unknown, I am asking myself what kind of person is writing the content. On the other hand, who am I to complain? Email is like conversation. You are more focused on expressing something than with its correctness. Emails are my achilles heel. Even I use LOL and as acronyms and symbols of commuication. This is a linguistic revolution. Only I don't know where it is going. The Industrial Revolution did result in many new terms. I even remember the 1960's and 1970's when linguists where ferverntly fighting the populace over the use of the word "ain't". It remains unpopular with most, but did finally reach the dictionaries.

Not to be too philosophical, I see a continued erosion of proper language, even in major publications. The local daily newspapers continue to mispell, use improper punctuation and grammar with growing frequency. Bring it to their attention, and you are ignored.

As for our youth, "dumbing down" now includes "r" for "our" and "are". Do I need to tell you what "u" stands for? And I now see a disturbing amount of material in public school publications drafted by teachers and administrators with mispellings and obvious errors of word usage. For example, the word "do" is the dumbed-down version of "implement", "incorporate", "conduct" and so many other action verbs.

Regardless, I continue to believe that proper spelling, grammar and punctuation remain important to a good image. I also believe these are signs of a disciplined, reliable origin.

However, will it always be that way? I don't really know, but some signs are ominous.

Oh, and you will still find an error with me once in awhile. My weakness is the impatience born of an anxious need to meet a deadline, or beat the competition to the punch. On the other hand, I will not make those mistakes with my paying customers. They expect correctness in all details.

Stay The Course,
Steve Windhaus

[rdlynch]

I agree.

I'm in my mid-20's but I do my best to make all my professional writing look its best.

If I'm shopping a major site like bestbuy.com or something and see a spelling or grammar error I don't mind because of brand recognition, but if it is my first time on the site I'm gone.

I do agree with the schools not putting much stock in correct spelling and grammar.

I do expect good spelling and grammar in newsletters I get, but if it is me and a business associate I don't really bother with correct spelling and grammar.

Mainly because we know each other. I don't totally disregard the rules I just don't double check everything.

[Steve Windhaus]

Reagan, your response is greatly appreciated. Furthermore, I can totally agree with the patience and lack of concern regarding the communications between yourself and your associates. That is the type of informality to which I relate regarding the spoken language. All of us are quite guilty of not using enough correct English in our spoken words. My experience living overseas (Latin America), traveling to other parts of the world and being bilingual have led me to learn it is the same everywhere you go. For example, there is a distinction of conversational to formal (Castillian) Spanish. Likewise, as is the case with English between the Brits, Aussies, Canadians, Americans and others, there are different meanings for the same word in different countries. The same is also true for colloquialisms.

Email is an extension of our spoken languages. But the informality and patience with others' errors should stop there.

I continue to believe and strongly support the need for correct formal spelling, grammar, punctuation and word usage in our formal written works.

Steve Windhaus

[Webturtle]

When I started my first business almost a decade ago, I did not have ANY business background - not even an intent to start a business - it just happened to me (I was doing what I loved and it ran away with me!). The two skills I DID have though were the ability to type like a maniac, and to write well. Obviously, typing has been extraordinarily important - but being able to write has proven to be essential to my success. I'm sure I make my mistakes, but like you, I've got a built in spell check and am driven crazy by the writing mistakes I see online and in business, in general. I probably do give it some negative points when choosing who to work with. And I agree that in emails and on forums like this, being a little more relaxed is probably the norm.

But what has really struck me over the years is how being able to write, and well, has served me in ways I didn't expect. Writing articles, both for online and offline media, has been a huge avenue to free press and exposure. Writing a monthly newsletter puts what I know in front of hundreds of SMBs (and growing). Talk about free marketing - just last month, writing got me exposure to approximately 1.2 million people. In today's economy and being in a highly competitive industry, that doesn't actually always amount to being swamped - don't get me wrong - but over time, you can be sure it has results, as I've seen.

Sometimes I see other writers online who post things that are really poorly written and I don't think its helping them much. And editors of newspapers are not going to let you out there if you can't write or spell - conversely, they love it when you give them something they can run with, without of wrangling. And then once you have a relationship with them, when you want to do something new, it's just a matter of a phone call pitch.

So I would say that writing, while not necessarily going to make or break a small business, is something to develop and not disregard. It has been an invaluable tool in my arsenal!