No matter the position or industry that you\u2019re involved with, writing has become a requirement for almost each and every one of us. Whether it\u2019s a text, social media update, blog post, or email, we rely on written messages to communicate with each other.<\/p>\n
While it may not seem like a major concern, making even the smallest of mistakes when composing these written messages can have a major impact on our careers since poor writing skills can give colleagues and customers the impression that we\u2019re not really educated or skilled enough to do our jobs properly.<\/p>\n
Out of all forms of communication, email deserves special mention since it\u2019s the preferred communication channel. In fact, Marketingsherpa discovered that an astounding 72% of customers prefer communication with companies through email.<\/p>\n
Because email is such a powerful communication tool, it can have serious implications for your career if you don\u2019t use proper grammar.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret that first impressions are important. So, what kind of impression would you get if you received an email from a job applicant or client that was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors? In most cases, you probably would have serious doubts about whether or not you were going to work with this person or take the individual all that seriously.<\/p>\n
In fact, in a study of 1700 online dating sites, 43 percent of users considered bad grammar decidedly unattractive and 35 percent thought good grammar was appealing. In another study conducted by psychologists Jane Vignovic and Lori Foster Thompson that focused solely on electronic communication, writers of the message were found to \u201cbe less conscientious, intelligent and trustworthy when the message contained many grammatical errors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixIt, writes that, \u201cIf you think a semicolon is a regular colon with an identity crisis, I will not hire you. If you scatter commas into a sentence with all the discrimination of a shotgun, you might make it to the foyer before we politely escort you from the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiens, like many other executives, places a high value on grammar because if you\u2019re sending out an email with errors, it\u2019s a reflection on your entire organization. If you can\u2019t take the time to spell check an email, then how can customers or clients be sure that this organization can deliver quality products or services?<\/p>\n
Do you think your employer will take your pitch, suggestion, or proposal into consideration when your emails are full of unjustifiable mistakes like not knowing the difference between there and their? Such mistakes can hamper your ability to make a case for yourself since your boss or colleagues may constantly be second-guessing your work.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven worse, including the wrong email grammar can completely change your intended message,\u201d says John Rampton in his content marketing guide. \u201cFor example, if you email your boss that you have a \u2018cleaver idea,\u2019 what do you think their response will be? Unless you\u2019re in the hatchet making industry, that message wouldn\u2019t make a whole lot of sense. But your boss could sure have fun rubbing the error in your face for a week or two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leads to more mistakes.<\/p>\n
There was an interesting study conducted at the University Michigan where it was found that spelling errors made while filling out the forms for peer-to-peer loan requests at LendingTree.com made an impact on the likelihood of funding. In most cases these errors lead to an unhappy outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found that people who make fewer mistakes on a grammar test also make fewer mistakes when they are doing something completely unrelated to writing\u200a\u2014\u200alike stocking shelves or labeling parts\u201d writes Wiens. For example, \u201cprogrammers who pay attention to how they construct written language also tend to pay a lot more attention to how they code.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, those who make fewer errors in their emails are more detail-oriented, which means that they\u2019ll make fewer mistakes with their overall responsibilities.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s an infamous story of how one little punctuation error cost NASA $80 million. When launching the Mariner 1 in 1962, the \u201comission of the hyphen, part of a code that set trajectory speed led to an explosion.\u201d<\/p>\n
While you probably won\u2019t be in a situation that could cost you that much money, improper email grammar could cost you thousands of dollars. If you were to send out an email blast to your customers detailing an upcoming sale, do you believe that they\u2019ll find you credible if the email is full of mistakes?<\/p>\n
How to avoid spelling errors.<\/p>\n
Email grammar is an area that shouldn\u2019t be overlooked. It showcases your professionalism and increases your trustworthiness\u200a\u2014\u200awhich can help you get hired, attract new clients, and ensures that your message is clearly delivered to customers and colleagues.<\/p>\n
To help prevent you from making common mistakes, here are some pointers that you can use the next time you\u2019re sending out an email.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t rely just on spell check.<\/strong> Spell checking software and tools have come a long way since the early days. And while they are beneficial, spell checking software isn\u2019t 100 percent foolproof. Reread the email before you hit send. If there\u2019s an extremely important email, ask someone else, like a colleague, to review the email. They\u2019ll often spot any errors that you may have overlooked.<\/p>\n