The writing’s on the wall.
When it comes to good English, there are two schools:
- It’s a load of useless nit picking.
- It’s utterly vital.
When it comes to good English in business, I have one thought:
- Get it right, or else.
It’s not just me who thinks this. Check these quotes:
I’m not going to apply for a company that can’t spell.
Job applicant. From the guide: Optimising Your Job Ad Writing on SEEK.
If a mistake isn’t mine, but my name is on it, I have the offender shot.
Winston Marsh. Business consultant and conference speaker.
Well spotted. / Great catch! / Thanks so much for picking that up.
Three of the world’s most powerful bloggers, whose errors I’ve flagged.
So where do you stand?
All Sorts
I ask because many people don’t think good English is necessary in commerce.
In recent years, I’ve heard a disturbing number of business owners articulate a common theme:
Errors make me look human. I leave (or even put!) them in so I don’t alienate my readers.
I find this philosophy gobsmacking, and not just because I’m a copywriter.
When I was a human resources manager, poorly spelt resumes went straight in the bin.
Not due to some elitist ethic. But because poor attention to communication (just like dirty shoes and blood-test cannabinoids) reliably indicated disorganised thinking and slack attitudes.
Voice in the Wilderness
When I switched from HR to copywriting:
- The ‘Three Rs’ were a faded memory of our education system.
- Software spell checkers had (apparently) removed the need for brains.
- TXT communic8ions introducd a brutl shrt& dat mNE usrs cldn’t differenti8 frm nrmL Eng.
I envisioned a golden age in which I, the modern scribe, would make a fortune perfecting communications for those who’d lost the power.
Unfortunately, plummeting literacy meant those writing bodgy comms were unaware of their errors.
Like most of their readers.
I had to scramble to the high end of the market, or lose my mind (and shirt).
It Only Takes One
I concede that in many day-to-day interactions, you can get away with poor English.
But if you run a business, there will come a day you need to:
- Write a watertight contract.
- Attract a brilliant team member.
- Secure a fat grant.
- Win a pivotal tender.
- Impress a lucrative prospect.
- Outperform an arch competitor.
- Issue a public statement.
- Avert a court case.
And though there may be just one nit-picker per hundred thousand citizens, you can bet your bottom post-GFC dollar that person will be a critical link in your food chain.
Therefore my questions to you are:
- Why risk botching your messages with unforced errors in a fragile economy?
- Do you really prefer dealing with those who can’t tell write from wrong?
I wrmly w31com UR vwz.
Kthxbye!
(LOL, ROFL, LMFAO, Hahahahahahahaha etc.)
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, The Feisty Empire
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Author
Adam Finlay
May 31, 2011 at 9:44 am
Great post, Paul. I’m on your teem. Is ‘utterly vital’ a tautology? Or am I just knit picking?
PS I really arm on you’re teem.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 9:46 am
I think you got me there Ad!
My posts haven’t been the same since you stopped editing them. And Fonnie left for work today without giving this one the all-clear. No wonder I slipped up!
Author
Joanna Maxwell
May 31, 2011 at 9:47 am
Love this, Paul. I teach freelance journalism, and often receive strange looks when I suggest that English style and grammar are core skills for writers. A couple of years ago, a student asked me ‘How optional is grammar?’. Thinking it a joke, I laughed. Not so. She seriously thought her complete lack of understanding of grammar fundamentals was no bar to a successful writing career. Sadly, in some publications, she may have been right.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 9:51 am
Many thanks for your Amen, Joanna. It seems many of us can only learn the hard way. And with GFC II in pre-production, there may well be ample lessons soon.
Author
Adam Finlay
May 31, 2011 at 9:57 am
No, you make a forceful point, Paul. And you make it with exceptional clarity and brevity, as always. Some theorists (e.g. David Crystal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crystal ) argue that comprehension is the thing that counts. So if u cn rd ths txt wht difrnce ds it mk? (Internet linguistics, for those that like to follow their noses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_linguistics .) But I love the elegance of English well expressed. Like yours. Keep fighting the good fight!
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:02 am
Sorry, Ad; there are typos in your URLs.
I’ll just fix those up for you …
Nyuk nyuk nyuk.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:08 am
… But seriously folks, I greatly appreciate your kind words, Mate. It’s no secret my writing improved 20% when I partnered with you.
Author
Adam Finlay
May 31, 2011 at 10:08 am
Yet the situation illustrates the point. This interface automatically interprets my grammatically correct full stop as part of the preceding URL. And you must intercede with a grammatically incorrect space! So what is correct in one context is wrong in another. Perhaps that’s the point to note. Txt is fine to ur m8s; not so flash in a job application. Onward!
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:10 am
Seems like you’re that bloke who proved what causes ulcers by creating and then healing them in his own body. Jolly decent of you to take a bullet for the crew.
Author
Adam Finlay
May 31, 2011 at 10:12 am
As a quirky aside (it’s a slow morning) I write full text txts. No abbreviations. Except for antidisestablishmentarianism, which I invariably shorten to antdisestablishmentarianism. I am a traditionalist.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:15 am
I hate txt (TXT?). I’d rather boot up Skype on my PC so I can write things in full with a keyboard than fiddle with my mobile.
I think it comes from needing two hands to eat Vegemite toast as a child.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:15 am
Speaking of grim portents:
http://www.theage.com.au/business/economy-looks-likely-to-shrink-led-by-a-slump-in-mining-profits-20110530-1fd0c.html
Author
Adam Finlay
May 31, 2011 at 10:21 am
You were lucky. I needed FOUR hands to eat Vegemite toast as a child, which is where my pet octopus came in handy (so to speak). But it turned out she needed seven, so we were screwed regardless. Where are all your other punters? I fear we digress.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:22 am
Not sure where everyone is. Penning nasty letters to rich actors who dare to support a carbon price? Or simply working too hard to join our banter.
Author
Micky
May 31, 2011 at 10:23 am
I’m like you. I can’t help myself, but I immediately judge a business that lets spelling and grammatical mistakes appear in any published material (offline or online). OK, so maybe it only bothers 10% of people who read it (probably mostly writers and editors), but I think it simply looks unprofessional.
That doesn’t mean however that I wouldn’t hire a tradie if I thought he was good but his flyer had a mistake in it.
Like you, I always feel the urge to point out errors and typos and have found that most people are grateful so they can correct the mistake. That means they do realise and agree the error reflects badly on them.
As for putting errors in on purpose to look more human? Really? There are people who do that? Even if your target market/audience is an uneducated bunch, surely that can’t look good.
I don’t mind mistakes in casual communications like emails, but as soon as it’s for something serious and decisions are likely to be made based on that piece of writing, it simply needs to be as grammatically correct and error-free as possible.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:30 am
Ah, here she is! Great points, Micky.
When my tradie brother has to fix even the most basic elements in my house for me, I find myself wishing I could actually DO something with my two left hands.
I like your definition of when good writing is required. Many thanks for your beaut comment.
Author
leon Noone
May 31, 2011 at 10:35 am
G’Day Paul,
More power to you for this post. If you can’t spell, can’t punctuate, can’t parse and can’t write grammatically correct sentences, there’s all sorts of things you can do. Writing isn’t one of them.
Grammar is the oil that lubricates writing. And, as communication is the core management skill, it’s essential that we use it well.
Three books to recommend;
* “On Writing” by Stephen King
* “Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Guide To Punctuation” by Lynne Truss
* “The Technique of Clear Writing” by Robert Gunning: an oldie but a goodie.
This must surely be the first time where a reconstituted HR Manager and a reconstructed Training Manager have been in total agreement. No wonder Winno wants to join us!
By the way: words are merely vehicles for meaning. Spell ‘em correctly, everyone understands. Spell ‘em incorrectly, you’re insulting your readers.
And if you think that I feel strongly about this, You’re absobloodylutely correct
Go Bombers!
Regards
Leon
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:41 am
It’s an honour to be in your axis of excellence, Leon.
I think we would’ve got on great guns had we managed people together.
I once sent a jaded technician to an expensive course in the US. The parsimonious MD ripped me a new one for pushing the button without his consent, but the techie returned a changed man and repaid the company a hundredfold.
Thanks heaps for your input.
Author
Malcolm Owens
May 31, 2011 at 10:44 am
Hi Paul,
With great teachers such as yourself and Adam I have seen the light. The power of concisely written, direct and correct English is fundamental to effective business communication. We no longer accept mediocrity!
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 10:49 am
It warms my heart to hear you say that, Malcom. The desire to keep learning beyond ‘formal’ education is a hallmark of true wisdom. As your lofty station attests.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 11:11 am
I think I just found out what everyone’s doing:
petition @JuliaGillard to #BanLiveExport of Australian cattle. #4Corners http://act.ly/3qb RT to sign.
This is going absolutely bananas.
Author
Sarah Mitchell
May 31, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hi Paul,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Spelling and grammar count, a lot.
I’ve been guilty of dashing off a quick note only to find errors after I push the send button. It’s humiliating. I believe tweets, texts and emails are formal communication and should be treated with the same respect.
Do I make mistakes? Of course I do; you would know this more than anyone since you often find them. Do I correct them immediately? You bet. What’s more, I have a professional proofreader or editor go over client copy before I send it out whenever possible. I also send discreet notes when I find errors in content published by someone else. My experience has been the biggest and best are eternally grateful because excellence is the goal.
But here’s a recent, real life example of how spelling errors cost a small business. I volunteer on the committee for Women in Technology, WA. We needed some help with our website so I checked with my network and was recommended to a web developer with the particular set of skills we needed. The first draft of the changes had two spelling errors on the home page. I wasn’t impressed but it wasn’t my decision. Our Chair noticed the same errors and felt just as uncomfortable because, in her mind, it showed a general carelessness. The designer in question didn’t get our business.
But it gets worse for the designer. I had to tell my contact who made the recommendation why we didn’t award the work to her referral. She was horrified. As a result, she’s refused to refer the designer again.
It’s a great lesson of what can happen when you’re careless with any part of your business. It not only reflects poorly on you but also influences your ability to attract word of mouth referrals.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm
I was hoping you’d weigh in, Sarah, and this tips the scale!
Many thanks for your honesty and war stories. I agree you just can’t beat having a fresh set of eyes on your stuff.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Adam just flagged some ripper further reading:
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-i-will-never-ever-hire-a-social-media-expert-2011-5
Thanks, Mate!
Author
Al
May 31, 2011 at 1:53 pm
While I’m absolutely in favour of the crusade for correct language usage – which seems to become more of an uphill battle every year – something in Sarah’s anecdote tripped me up. Did this designer actually get the flick for not noticing spelling errors in copy which was provided by Women in Technology? Is this not a case of shooting the messenger?
Author
Sarah Mitchell
May 31, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Hi Al,
It’s not a case of shooting the messenger, at all. We didn’t provide the copy; the designer changed our home page and injected errors into the headings and text. That’s exactly why he got the flick. We were asking for help and a quote. His response was to provide us with an mock-up (example) of how he could help us. It wasn’t very helpful and we didn’t hire him.
But, as a result of his own carelessness, he’s also lost the confidence of the person who recommended him to us. Who knows how much lost revenue that will equate to over time.
Author
Winston Marsh
May 31, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Am I over the top or seriously mentally challenged coz I have to scrupulously punctuate my SMS messages?
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 5:02 pm
I do it too, Winston. When oppressors seek to destroy a culture, they often start by attacking language. Purists unite!
Author
Al
May 31, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Ah, he *added* the errors! Fully agreed, then. Sloppy.
Winston: if you can fit it into 160 characters, more power to you. You are not alone!
Author
Belinda Thomson
May 31, 2011 at 5:04 pm
I have a sign on my office door. It says, ‘I am a Grammar Nazi. Achtung!’
Politically incorrect jokes aside, I am one of the pedants. While some people may not recognise poor writing immediately, I think most people recognise good writing instinctively. This is what creates demand for your skills as a writer, in my experience.
And while some errors really are simple typos (I sometimes write ‘manger’ instead of ‘manager’), others are flagrant mistakes. For example, people who write ‘more then that’ instead of ‘more than that’. I honestly saw this error on the front page of the SMH on Saturday. Mind-boggling.
So, keep up the good fight Paul. I am there with you.
Author
Paul Hassing
May 31, 2011 at 5:08 pm
You’re going to fit right in, Belinda! Here, have a tippex.
I’m also frequently stunned at serious errors in Melbourne’s broadsheet, The Age.
Thank you for your thoughts. I’m very pleased to have you on our team.
Author
leon Noone
June 1, 2011 at 2:16 pm
G”day Paul,
My favourite is the misspelt “one fall swoop.” And I’m delighted to know that Winno’s finally embraced scrupulousity. By the way; congratulations on finding a training course that was worth the money.
Anyway, I’m off to find some more excellent people for my axis……. or is it axises or axese?
How on earth do people learn to speak this bloody language?
Regards
Leon
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Hi, Leon. We must be careful, or we’ll trigger a list things we love to hate.
My pet error is: ‘To take a different tact.’
And I often hear: ‘One foul swoop.’
Dreadful!
Unless, of course, they mean: ‘One fowl swoop.’
Though incorrect in the literary sense, that could earn marks for literal wit.
Author
Daniel
June 1, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Howdy Paul,
Pretty sure I’m the epitome of what you’re talking about. In fact, I’m pretty sure the quote “Errors make me look human. I leave (or even put!) them in so I don’t alienate my readers” is near identical to a reply I gave you when you mentioned some errors in a post I did on my blog. haha.
I see your points and agree with the logic. Despite this, I also believe in efficiency – and I think the side you’re coming from advocates bureaucracy, which I hate. I hate it because in my mind it stands for overly complicating simple tasks.
If a message is articulated in a way that communicates with it’s audience as intended, does it matter if it’s not grammatically perfect? After all, we are all human. And we’re certainly not all perfect.
A thought provoking post as usual, thanks!
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Hi, Dan. You were indeed part of my population sample, so I’m delighted to hear your thoughts.
You make great points too. If your audience ‘gets’ your messages as they are, why change them?
The only proviso I’d add (and this assumes a desire for growth) is: how do you know you’re not scaring away potential audience members?
Your blog caught my eye. But if I’m not your target audience (and your current audience is happy and of sufficient size) you’re truly home and hosed.
But I wonder: have you ever asked your audience whether or not they value correct English?
With regard to efficiency, I just corrected a user guide (formerly and cumbersomely known as an instruction manual). I removed 47% of the words without losing any content. It’s now twice as clear and it takes half as long to read. An efficiency gain of 400%.
A lot of angst about grammar and spelling stems from boring, didactic school experiences. Nor do pedantic, semantic fanatics help matters. But I’m yet to be convinced that correct English, per se, is bureaucratic.
That said, I’m very pleased to learn what you think of all this. So best regards and thanks again, Dan.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I’d love to know what every one else thinks of Dan’s points. Perhaps my fanaticism is out of kilter with the modern world.
Author
Sarah Mitchell
June 1, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Hi Paul,
This post is a great seducer of writers with deadlines!
I think both you and Dan are correct. The last thing I want to do is lose a prospect through carelessness. It happens. At the same time, I don’t want to think of everything I write as a potential quagmire to get through.
While grammar is super important, sometimes ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect’. Like everything else about running a small business, the trick is to find the balance.
I don’t expect perfection but I do want my intelligence respected and to feel like the people who supply me with products and services are taking care with their work. While ‘done’ is good, ‘good enough’ often isn’t.
Now it’s time for me to get back to that deadline.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Nice take, Sarah! Could we have found balance?
Author
Julian Smith
June 1, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Hey Paul
A great post – and one that made me cringe at my own failings in this area. I suffer from the “A Type” personality approach when it comes to writing. I think faster than I type – and I get bored proof reading after a paragraph! I’ve learnt to pass important copy to someone else to check before I publish it – but I fear I continue to leave a trail of typos that don’t exactly reflect well on my person brand!
Any advice for an “A Type” like me – to get it right more often?
Cheers
Julian (MYOB)
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Jolly nice to see you here, Julian!
A golden rule of writing is to get your entire first draft down as fast as you can, ignoring all errors. If you stop to edit or proof as you go, you’ll likely get bogged. Especially if you hate that sort of stuff.
Once the whole thing’s down, leave it for a bit. Overnight if you can. When you return to it after a break, you should find it much easier to edit. Given a chance, your subconscious can be a real ally in this regard.
Reading your stuff out loud is another sure-fire way to shake out clangers. As is giving it to another person. If you find a like-minded buddy, you can check each other’s stuff without feeling bad.
Failing all that, OUTSOURCE!
Author
Daniel
June 1, 2011 at 4:18 pm
You each made great points that resonated with me:
Paul: Making something easier to read through use of correct English is definitely worth while. I know my sentences sound clunky sometimes and wish I had more literary skills.
Sarah: Sometimes ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect’. Can’t agree more with this, not just in regard to this topic. I so often find myself not getting things ‘done’ while I worry about them being ‘perfect’.
As you both said, it’s all about finding the balance; and I guess it’s that intuition that marks the successful!
Now I need to get back to getting things ‘done’!
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 4:20 pm
You’re a good man, Dan. I salute your candour and equanimity.
Author
Daniel
June 1, 2011 at 4:32 pm
(post google search on those words) thanks Paul!
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 4:38 pm
‘True blue’ didn’t quite cover it.
Author
Phil Owens
June 1, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Great discussion. It is interesting what seeing an error in the ‘written word’ has on your impression of not only the person who wrote it, but the organisation (should that be with a ‘s’, ‘z’ or something else????).
An extension to this discussion – writing will be influential when it matches the reality of the client, or their expectation of the communicator. For the masses, that means about year 8 level, with no mistakes. Make mistakes, or use words like ‘candour’ and ‘equanimity’ and you will trigger negative responses in your audience! (they may even resort to Google to find out what you mean!)
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm
‘z’ is chiefly American (and therefore wrong).
You make a fabulous point, Phil:
‘He who is smart with his arse may well shoot himself in it.’
Fortunately, Dan’s predilection for gleaning new wisdom rewarded my high-odds wager in spades.
Had I been dealing with a lesser mortal, I’d be whistling in the wind.
Thank you for playing!
Author
Paul Hassing
June 1, 2011 at 6:53 pm
You just reminded me.
When I’m taking a brief, I often ask the client if their audience is ‘Financial Review’, ‘The Age’ or ‘Herald Sun’.
This simple question really cuts to the chase. The answer invariably delineates my argot like no other.
Author
Phil Owens
June 1, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Thankz Paul! What a great and simple descriptive segmentation of the audience. I love it!
Cheers, Phil
Author
Paul Hassing
June 2, 2011 at 9:29 am
Glad to hear it, Phil. Thank YOU!
Author
Stephen Hamilton
June 2, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Correct grammar and punctuation is essential. I agree that it is a reliable indicator of a persons likelihood to be organised, thoughtful, and thorough.
I don’t always get it right, and even much better writers than I don’t always get it right. But it isn’t about getting it right (or wrong); it is about trying one’s best to convey a thought, idea, instruction or some other communication in an effective way. It is putting your best foot forward.
A couple of comments:
# 45 – Phil, although I personally agree with Paul’s assertion that the ‘Americanism’ (using z instead of s) is wrong, this problem can legitimately arise when communicating to various audiences, such as Americans, or people whose second language is (American) English. In this case a style/grammar guide to use as a single point of reference is essential.
# 26 – Sarah, this is off-topic a bit, but having been given a tiny bit of background, I think I can offer an unsolicited opinion on why you had a negative experience. It sounds like the mistake the designer (and you) made was he committed to spending his time on ‘spec’ work, which is always a gamble, when all parties would have been better off engaging at a higher level to work out how design can (and does) solve actual problems and overcomes real challenges.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 2, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Thanks again, Stephen. You put so much thought into your comments.
I do like your point about effort. I’d forgive a flawed amateur over a lazy ‘expert’ any day.
Best regards, P.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 3, 2011 at 11:17 am
Wow, check these errors:
“With the program that was aired on Four Corners, the producers are very concernd, and we’ve actaully had some producers here in the district that have actually pulled cattle off boats because of that, or are nor prepared to go throguh with selling for live export.”
I’m even more surprised at the source:
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201106/s3233658.htm
I suggest this is a case where good English is mandatory.
Author
Stephen Hamilton
June 3, 2011 at 3:38 pm
That’s a Barry Crocker from Auntie!
Author
Carbonite Australia
June 4, 2011 at 7:18 am
I will admit I make mistakes and I do put effort in to proof my work. However as much as I try I (with some help from Microsoft) they still do appear and it does bother me, in fact embarrasses me. However the one good thing about the web is that you can correct it quite quickly which atleast means I can remove it for the next reader.
Spelling mistakes in a corporate website or brochure are not good. They are even worse when they are on a shop front (I saw one the other day where the shop owner and the assistant where arguing about it outside the store).
Yes agreed that software has made us poorer spellers. Whenever I started a new job one thing that always came with me was my Oxford Dictionary. Lately I have been relying on the net, which isn’t a good idea.
So how do we become better spellers Paul – what do you recommend?
Author
Paul Hassing
June 4, 2011 at 9:06 am
Thanks, Arthur. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts.
The two best ways I’ve found to improve spelling and increase vocabulary are:
1. Read classic books (but ditch any that are too hard or boring; it must be fun if you’re to keep it up). My favourite book of all time is http://astore.amazon.com/thefeiemp-20/detail/014200068X Start with this bloke and you can’t go wrong!
2. Subscribe to http://wordsmith.org/awad/index.html
In certain circumstances, good English can be an incredibly powerful tool. One I believe we should all have in our kit bag. After 30 years of reading with a dictionary by my bed, I’m still learning. I’d be delighted to hear all our readers’ suggestions on best how to harness the power.
Author
Sarah Mitchell
June 4, 2011 at 10:12 am
Hi Paul,
I agree, the best way to improve your writing is to read. I’m a bookworm. Most writers share the same affliction. Steinbeck is fantastic. I like Somerset Maugham, too. I find when I read modern Australian writers Tim Winton and Geraldine Brooks I feel like I’m in the hands of masters.
I rarely submit anything to a client without sending it through the gobbledygook grader. http://gobbledygook.grader.com/ It points out a lot of not-so-obvious errors.
I have an editor friend who swears by online tools like the readability calculator: http://www.online-utility.org/english/readability_test_and_improve.jsp
Another good way to improve your English is by reading literary magazines. I read The Sun and Vanity Fair every month because the writing in both is so darn good. Vanity Fair is full of big name writers; The Sun is a bunch of unknowns with skills equal to the rich and famous.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 4, 2011 at 10:23 am
Fantastic, Sarah. Both these tools are new to me.
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on something, you find fresh ways.
Thanks very much for your tips.
Author
Paul Hassing
June 4, 2011 at 10:25 am
BTW, I’ve just started planning our next holiday. Found a promising new travel website. The FIRST LINE had a typo in it. The piccies are gorgeous, but I’m spooked.
I’ve written to them. If they’re interested in having me point out the error (no charge) I’ll feel better about dealing with them.
Perhaps I’m a maniac. But why take ANY chances with something as important as a holiday? (Especially with my shocking record.)
Author
Stephen Hamilton
June 6, 2011 at 10:48 am
I’m also pretty keen to try out those online tools, Sarah. Pretty much anything David Meerman Scott has done in the past has worked for me, so I’m keen to try out the goggledygook grader.
Author
Cheryl C. Cigan
June 8, 2011 at 12:14 am
I love this blog post.
Thank you for taking the time to write about it.
I can not improve on what has already been written here.
Other than to say again, thank you.
(Yes, every point made drives me batty.)
Cheryl
Author
Paul Hassing
June 8, 2011 at 5:24 am
Lovely to see you again, Cheryl. I was hoping you’d dig this one and you didn’t let me down. Many thanks for making the trek. Don’t forget we’re still hanging out for your first guest post. Best regards, P.
Author
Paul Hassing
February 9, 2012 at 8:23 am
NEWS FLASH: In a rare win for residents, superior copywriting defeats a 17-storey megatower:
http://www.squidoo.com/why-you-need-a-copywriter YAY!