Grammar Tips

bylauramagz

81 followers

Updated 7 years ago

In our world of technology, we rely heavily on software programs to handle the things we should know for ourselves. For example, how many of us have forgotten simple math because of our over use of calculators? I am at a loss when I need to figure simple multiplication or percentages (20% off discount, 15% tip). If I can't readily access my calculator, (and everyone has one on their phone) then I am at a loss and stare blankly towards the horizon. My dependence on spellcheck has left me second guessing myself when trying to spell words I use to know how to spell easily.

The same holds true for simple punctuation. Between the spellcheck and the grammar tools built in to every writing program, we have a false sense of security believing our content will be flawless.

Computer programs can help with general grammatical concepts, but they can't distinguish nuances the writer is trying to convey. For example, the use of adding commas to a sentence can help achieve the "tone" of a sentence. Simply adding a comma in the wrong place in a sentence, can change the context of that sentence dramatically. Below is an example:

“Let’s eat, grandma." versus “Let’s eat grandma”.

Creating content for your website containing careless grammatical errors, can have a negative impact on how visitors perceive the legitimacy of your business. How many of you have received solicitation emails that contained such poor sentence structure and spelling mistakes that you sent it straight to junk mail or considered it spam?

I have seen these mistakes in some of the posts I have read, which is what prompted me to write this article. My first instinct was to ignore the errors because I did not want to be critical of my fellow members. But after much thought, I decided it is better to point out the errors now, while we are writing internal posts, than to have people post potentially "sloppy" content on their live websites.

The great thing about digital posting is that you can edit your content at anytime. Mistakes are not eternal. So, review your old posts & make any corrections. Double and triple check new content before posting.

I am by no means perfect, so if you see errors above, let me know. We are in this community to learn how to succeed with online marketing, but we are also encouraged to help others achieve success as well. If you see something, say something, but be respectful and let the author know in a private message and not in the comment section of their blog. Positive feedback will always be welcomed.