The Blog Herald notes that a recent survey indicates that consumers of new media content really do care about about things like spelling, grammar and syntax. From the survey...- More than 42% said that they had “often” or “very often” left a website upon noticing spelling, grammar or factual errors; another 36.2% reported “sometimes” having that experience
- 87.8% of respondents said they find spelling or grammar errors distracting when reading online content and have spent less time browsing a web site than they otherwise would have because spelling or grammar errors on the page became too distracting
It's sort of like driving and using turn signals: checking your spelling really doesn't expend that much time or effort but it can make one heck of a difference in how some people perceive you and the value you place on making their lives a little more pleasant.
.
11 comments:
Not only do most blog platforms have Spell Check built in, if you're using Firefox, you get spelling checked by default. Heck, even in this comment box I get a red wiggler if I make a tyop.
:)
Meanwhile, the Miami Hurled itself is more liberal with its spelling, grammar, and word usage than it is on its editorial page. I've lost count at the number of times that paper uses "regime" when it means "regimen;" "it's" for "its;" "lessened" where "reduced" is proper, etc. Last week I spotted (and blogged) "toe-headed."
And they're not nearly as drunk as I am when I write.
Typos are my downfall as a writer. I'm so spell check reliant that I've forgotten how to spell most words.
I'm also guilty of not checking my work after hitting the publish button on my WP blog.
After reading this post, however, I'm motivated to change my ways.
Thanks for the much needed info.
Spelling and grammar can damage an otherwise professionally produced website. I will reconsider spending money with this company, especially if it is what I consider an important purchase.
speaking of, could someone relay the message over to Alesh that "than" & "then" are actually two different words (for the most part) and not necessarily interchangeable?
k.thx.bai.
Using your turn signals is an act of weakness. In order to protect the sheep you must become the wolf. -HOWL-
I agree with Joe: A couple of typos are one thing, but if I see that a person obviously has no command of English, they very quickly lose any credibility they may have had.
Even outside of the blogosphere, every day I see BUSINESSES that can't take the time to proofread their type. I'm gonna trust someone to give me a root canal when they can't figure out the difference between "there" "their" and "they're"?
Word. Today, is it not mostly pidgin english we hear? So the written follows. It's like- i walked into a Papa John's, asked, "a slice of pizza pie por favor" and the lady said, "we don't do slices, just boxes". Let's encourage an appetite for vocabulary building and get on with the busy-mess of articulating blogging-ly.
God made Turn Indicators, people aught to use them.
just saw this in bloomberg.sri-lanka..when spelling counts.
...The UN convoy had been trapped for days in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, in Mullaitivu district, before the Tamil Tigers gave permission for the vehicles to leave.
This is South Florida, we aren't inclined to use turn signals.
As long as the person I'm getting a root canal from knows what they're doing, I don't care as much if they know the difference between their they're and there.
My carpenter left me a note saying he 'wood of' finished but had to leave early. He doesn't know spelling, but the cabinets sure are pretty.
The problem, to me, is more bothersome when the person is a blogger, or writer, whose purpose it is to commmunicate effectively.
Post a Comment
Spam, vulgar language, trolling and off-topic comments are not tolerated at SFDB and your comment will be removed if it meets this criteria.