Join the Spinach Patrol
I repeat myself here. Sending out your professional communications with spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors is like trying to impress somebody with a big hunk of spinach wedged in your teeth. You’ll make an impression… but not a good one!
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent such offenses...
Think of your dictionary as a good toothbrush. It gets the basic job done, but it can leave some visible stains if you aren’t careful.
Add a thesaurus to your routine and you'll get the protection of one of those fancy powered toothbrushes.
For even cleaner copy, regular use of a style book is like a good flossing. You’ll dislodge more sticky stuff with the extra effort.
If you aren’t able to perform such advanced hygiene on your copy, you should consider hiring a professional (me!). Think of it as the antiseptic rinse of effective communication. Armed with these powerful tools, I’ll deliver sparkling clean copy that’s sure to make you smile.
Granted, everybody makes mistakes – including me. Just recently, I ventured out boldly only to discover a grammatical fleck of spinach in my own toothy grin. This admitted, I have no compunction pointing out when others have fouled the scene with improper punctuation, poor grammar, or a reckless disregard for correctness. It happens far too often.
Here are some examples I found just this morning…
From a word processing program help window:
“You may want to disable the macros in this document if you are unsure of it’s origins.” (It’s “its” not “it’s” in this case.)
From a chamber of commerce newsletter:
“His material was gleamed from years of research…” (The word is “gleaned.”)
“[He] always looked at the long term verses a quick fix.” (Should be long-term, and unless this is about poetry, the word is “versus.”)
“My answer was its not only normal – it’s a historic obligation.” (OK…It’s “it’s” not “its” here. Kudos for getting it right the second time.)
You get the point. If you find an entertaining example of grammar gone bad, please send me an email. I welcome you to the Spinach Patrol!
Can You Say This About Your Copywriter?
"I'm extremely pleased with Jonelle's work. Her copy is well written, and in perfect keeping with the style my company is going for. She seems to understand, with little or no instruction, precisely what will work for us. She is responsive, answers all emails and inquiries promptly, meets all deadlines, and demonstrates professionalism in all that she does. We are delighted to be working with her and plan to continue to use her services in the future."
Rachel Hillman, Sage Commerce LLC
The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman
This book delivers a solid plan to achieve financial self-sufficiency as a freelance writer in six months or less. It's packed with savvy, relevant content that's invaluable for the writer who plans to succeed on his or her own terms.
On My Mind...