If English is one's first language and one is composing in English - it is nice to make a decent attempt at spelling a grammar.

When we get rushed (esp., in informal or quick emails) we all make mistakes and I believe most of these are 'forgiven' by our friends.

The answer to your last question is: sometimes.

posted September 22, 2008

Dear Colin,

(good formal start... 1 mark)

Let's take this seriously and still have fun.

I think it will depend upon your choice of vocation (one mark... good word) or career. My personal view point is that the ability to create an image, implant that image into the personal consciousness of the recipient (another good word.. one mark) and then attach something to it that makes it unique that would attract them to come back to you later, whilst still being genuine is more important. (good argument top marks,100 marks).

I think it is important, I spell check everything, but as I demonstrated in about three questions about a week ago, it is useless tool unless put through the brain as a fill ter

posted September 22, 2008

For native English speakers, yes, I think it's important. A give more of a pass to non-native speakers. Maybe you can't judge solely on one or two experiences, but over time you can see who is a better communicator.

posted September 22, 2008

There was some research done a few years ago which demonstrated that the order in which letters appear doesn't matter as the words will still be readable, so long as the word is spelt correctly. The human brain has an uncanny ability to subconsciously sort the sequence and hence the apparently mis-spelt words are still readable.

knid fo lkie thsi, I iamgein. :-)

Links:

• http://typographica.org/000687.php

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin,

I dont think it is very nice or polite either to view someone in a nagative way because they spell something wrong.
We gain more success and at times close friendships if we dont focus on a persons mistakes!
Are any of us always perfect?I know I am not.

Wishing you a great day
Bianca

posted September 22, 2008

"the reason I asked this question was to illicit a response " Love it, great joke. The worse you can spell, the greater your chances for power in the corporate world. Smile a lot, Lie thru your teeth, Dump on your underlings. you dont even need to be competent or spell correctly to gain power. And that's what the business world is about, isnt it?

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin,

In my opinion the ability to communcate is one of the most important skills we can possess. Taking time and care in constructing our communications has two key benefits; 1 - we take our time and re-read our work which means we are less likely to say or write something inappropriate, 2 - we demonstrate a degree of care that shows respect for the recipient of our message.

Modern communication methods enable us to communicate more quickly which often correlates with less valuable communications. These methods decrease the ability to convey tone and appropriate emotion to the recipient leading to potential misunderstanding.

When we speak face to face we convey as much about our intentions through visible and oral signals as we do through the content of our spoken words.

So, in my view the more remote the method of communication the more effort should go into constructing the message.

However, we need to acknowledge we communicate with human beings who vary in their personal styles, skill levels and emotional states. When the language used is obviously not native to the speaker some allowance must be made for error or potential misunderstanding. Likewise, when the native language is used we should still make allowance for potential misunderstanding since we may not know the speaker.

The onus is on us to manage the way we communicate both in the way we construct our messages and in the way we listen. Generally, I find that well considered communication rubs off...

Steve

posted September 22, 2008

I think that it is vital, when talking/writing in your own language.

When you communicate, obviously, first thing is to send a message that is understood across. If you succeed, then the main issue is met.

Secondly, from the correctness of the writing you can gather some information about the sender and, very important, his commitment to the task at hand, if the person doesn't bother to write correctly then he may not be the right person, or he may take this same attitude in other aspects of the business or relaionship.

A different issue is when you are not using your mother tongue (my case, as I am Spanish). In this situation we need to be permissive. We cannot expect everybody we interact with to be proficient in English or in our own language. In this case we need to value the effort, the message and not the grammar.

posted September 22, 2008

There are different types of communication, and the level of accuracy required for them is different. I agree that it isn't fair to judge someone based on a simple misspelling or grammatical mistake, but in interactions with people that we do not know, people make judgments based on a variety of factors that may not be considered fair. With limited information, people try to make decisions based on the information available. That's human nature.

So for regular daily interactions with people you work with regularly or know well, spelling and grammar are not terribly important. For interactions with people you don't know well, spelling and grammar provide some indication of the time and care with which you are treating your audience. Communication with many spelling or grammatical mistakes shows a lack of care.

I try to provide extra consideration for people for whom English is not a first language. Sometimes awkward phrasing or word order are simply a sign of translation from another language. I read an essay by the author of the Joy Luck Club expressing her mother's frustration. Because English was a second language for the mother and her first language was Chinese, word order was a real challenge for her. Even though what she said was grammatically correct, it was structured in a way that sounded awkward in English. As a result, people tended to dismiss her opinion or treat her as uneducated even though that certainly was not the case.

Even people who have spoken English their entire lives, but have done so in a different culture from your own, deserve allowances for word usage and order. The English spoken and written in India is subtly different from that spoken in the United States. The same is true in England, Ireland, Scotland and Australia. When delivering documents internationally, it's always a good idea to have someone local to the recipient review it.

posted September 22, 2008

Colin,

My point of view is that it is always vital to have all the spelling and grammar correct until and unless you are communicating with someone whom you already know or understand.

posted September 22, 2008

Spelling and grammar are important, some times more than less. A company's general communication to a wide public should have good/perfect spelling and grammar. If I stumble on typos or bad grammar when surfing a company's website I instantly think less of them, whether the website is in Danish (my mother tongue) or in English. On the other hand, I don't think less of people mis-spelling or using bad grammar if the communication is more "intimate" (personal e-mails, msn, etc.).
Having said that, I don't hope anybody misjudges me on my non-native English ;o)

Heidi

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin

I think it's important, yes. One can very easily see the level of education from grammar and spelling.
Marilyn

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin

Spelling and grammer does matter. If all of us start accpeting letters and documents wrongly written; it will just become a way of life. Spelling will deteriorate, grammer will go awry. After 100 years there will no language left. It would have all become garbled. The reason we are able to pass on the legacy of a language is because the langauge and grammer has been preserved through an education system.

regards

Rajshree

posted September 22, 2008

Yes, of course it is. If it wasn't then why even bother to try and perfect your written speech. You might as well just learn a language 50% and move on to the next language.

The bare minimum would be to at least do a spell check. At least that will remove some of the doubt that you are dealing with a rushed person. It shouldn't take more than a couple minutes to re-read and correct 95% of your mistakes and the impression you give to the receiving end will be a lot better than some ill thought out wordings.

I believe a perfected written language it is not just an art form or method of conveying something, but simply courteous. Your everyday speech should be the same and if you prefer speaking slang then so be it. I'm sure it will reflect who you are.

Anyone who has been to Japan would know there are 5 distinct forms of speech. Thus the written language also reflects greatly what kind of person you are. If I was to receive a business proposal or someone asking for advice and the email is full of mistakes then forget it. A few extra minutes to perfect an email, which might mean one less email to send will no doubt result in a positive response. Personally, I just can't trust people who have too many obvious mistakes in emails. Even in chats one should pause for a second before hitting the enter button.

People should slow down and take the time to read and write properly. After all I sincerely hope most of you think before you open your mouths and blurt out whatever is on you mind.

Links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorific_speech_in_Japanese

posted September 22, 2008

Great Question, I must say!

Few days back i got a text message in my mobile phone from an old friend, it went like this:
“hi, how u doin, cuming 2 ur twn d aft 2mrw 'll rng u whn thr - cya thn”

I had to take my wife's help to decode this message. I found out that this is the new quick short messaging words that one send over a mobile phone or on Internet chat.

I did a quick search on the Internet and came to know that younger people are all hooked up in this short languages. I found several forums regarding this where people are advocating that by this they save lot of time.

May be I'm old fashioned regarding language but I finally discovered that why some of my team were committing silly grammatical and spelling mistakes, they are all hooked in this short and quick language.

Can you imagine what will happen to a teenager who is using such language when he is going to write something important, may be his examination papers?

I completely agree with Rajshree that “After 100 years there will no language left. It would have all become garbled.”

Thanks and Regards,

Soumya

posted September 22, 2008

My mind "hears" you speaking when I read your written words. I import specific understanding based on the way in which I learned to gather that meaning when I was learning my language - my means of accepting and imparting meaning via the written and spoken word. Poor grammar in speech negatively affects meaning; the same is true using the written word.
Excusing spelling and grammar error as a natural by-product of hurry tells me that I'd better (a) I will probably need to read everything you write closely to ensure what you mean is what you said, (b) ask you to repeat everything you say to make sure you're not tellingme everything you mean becuase "you're in a hurry", and (c) maybe I should just tell you I'm not interested in a business relationship with someone who's too busy to pay attention to little details.

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin,

Thanks for bringing this interesting topic. :)

I believe that apart from spellings even the punctuation plays an important role. Please see the below mentioned example:

I never said you are intelligent.
I, never said you are intelligent.
I never, said you are intelligent.
I never said, you are intelligent.
I never said you, are intelligent.

Please notify the place of comma in each sentence (,). This means that the word we want to focus on or pause upon is also vital.

If you have anything additonal in this regards, please feel free to revert.

Regards,
Vishal Pathak

posted September 22, 2008

I think that there are three parts to this issue.

1. In corporate/business communication, it is extremely vital to have correct grammar and spelling because your credibility can be hampered by poor communication.

2. In non-business related communication within a corporate/business environment, such as inviting folks to a happy hour or other interoffice events, it is not vital, but if there are mistakes in every single message that is sent, then it may look bad.

3. In personal communications, it is not vital at all, but if your friends harrass you about it, you might want to brush up on your spelling/grammar...or get less uptight friends. :-)

posted September 22, 2008

I think It is vital, both Spelling and Grammar. But not the way you are thinking...
In the communication process you have 3 main factors:
Transmitter, Receiver and the Message
The Message must be in a code that both Transmitter and Receiver understand... not allways meaning perfect English...
To make someone understand your message, you must first learn how to comunicate with that person, establish your spelling and grammar and, "voilà", you can comumnicate.

posted September 22, 2008

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin,

Effective communication is not determined by a writer's decision to use spell check software. The extent to which we communicate effectively is a function of our ability to form in our minds a clear thought and design a written composition that precisely articulates that thought for the reader. Unfortunately, most written communication these days falls far short of that mark.

The example text from Cambridge University illustrates my point. The idea is clearly formed and communicated in a way most will understand. Although spelling is unorthodox, the sentence obeys strict rules of grammar. Thus, for at least two reasons, and several others that would require far too much space to address, the example communicates effectively.

The question you pose, on the other hand, is not as clear to me. The explanation provided immediately following the question seems to imply that you have already formulated an answer. But the lack of written clarity is further compounded by precisely the type of errors that cannot be addressed by automated computer software, and tends to indicate a lack of conceptual clarity regarding the question.

The explanation begins with a statement regarding spelling errors. But the third paragraph seems to ask a question ("is it just better to get your request out"?) but does not use proper punctuation, and the meaning is not clear. Did the writer make an error in syntax? Is this sentence supposed to express a position statement, or does it invite us to respond?

The fifth paragraph contains the thought "illicit a response." Spell Check will tell you everything is fine. But the thought you intended, I believe, is "elicit a response." I hope there is nothing illicit here!

This is not one writer's problem. It is the problem of an entire nation. And it is not a question of intellectual snobbery. The problem goes to the heart of our ability to communicate and understand each other. On May 15, 2008, Kevin James appeared on the TV show "Hardball." He said Barack Obama was "appeasing" Hamas in the same way Chamberlain had appeased Hitler. After several minutes of pointed questions, it became clear that James didn't know what Chamberlain had done in September, 1938, and he had no idea what "appeasement" meant. With no facts, with a muddled understanding of our language, and with little understanding of history, he was attempting to convince listeners of Obama's bad character. It is precisely this ignorance of language and history that can have devastating effect. James has influence for the same reasons that Hitler had influence. Those of lucid vision and clear voice are nowadays shouted down by those of muddled vision and angry voice.

Are spelling and grammar vital? Yes. Not only to our communcation. They're vital to our civilisation.

All the best,

Pearson Moore

P.S.: I use Canadian spelling.

posted September 22, 2008

Colin,

Yes, we all make mistakes when typing (and LI is no different). But we should strive to spell correctly and use grammar properly. Writing well says something about you, and if you type like the last paragraph in your question (which we've all seen a million times by now, and yes we can read it, but it is annoying) it can cause problems with communication. There is a reason we have languages and correct spelling, communication and keeping it clear.

Forgive the minor errors, but strive for perfection.

posted September 22, 2008

If you are a professional, you will have someone versed in the English language check your spelling and grammar. If you don't, I think you, or the entity you represent, appear unprofessional and incompetent. Also, when one encounters a typo, spelling, or grammar error, it requires that person an extra moment to decipher the meaning of the message.

posted September 22, 2008

Hi, Colin.

It's been my experience that while an occasional typographical error may be politely overlooked (it will be noticed by some, or all), if your text-based communications are known for them eventually you will lose credibility. Forget (or at least don't rely solely on) the spell checker. Always take the time to think through what you write (or say) and review it several times before clicking 'send.' Thoughtful communication brands you as a thoughtful person who will pay close attention to detail. Anything less shows that you didn't care enough about your recipient to spend the few extra minutes to review. This becomes more important as you move up to companies of higher caliber in your career.

Best of luck to you.

posted September 22, 2008

Hi Colin,

When typing e-mails to friends, chatting etc. I don't really care much about spelling/grammar though I do try my best not to have mistakes. But in communication with anyone else I do use English (or other languages) properly.

For the most part, if I see a typo in a question here for example, I might think the person was just typing too fast but a grammatical mistake (i.e. using "they're" in place of "their") makes me cringe and that's usually where I stop reading.

I don't have high esteem of native speakers who don't know how to use basic English.

Cheers! :)

posted September 22, 2008

Perfection isn't critical in most cases, but clarity is. When (in English) you miss subject-verb agreement, create sentence fragments, make antecedents hard to find, and simply use the wrong words it is -hard- for your reader to figure out what you are saying.

Spelling one or two words wrong (as your followup implies) is not the point. The point is that your reader does *not* already know what you mean, so putting up obstacles hurts YOU if you want to be understood.

posted September 22, 2008

Did you make your own spelling and grammatical errors on purpose?

I have infinite respect for someone who can use a second language or a third, with or withour errors. It's more than I can do.

The least I can do is use my own language precisely.

It appalls me that not only are many people unable to do so, but now, we seem to have "experts" (as well as the spoiled parents of precious trophy kids) condemning proper grammar and orthography as snobbish.

For me, English is not only a means of communications, it's an art form. This is an intensely complex, flexible, beautiful, and insane language. I know I'm speaking only for myself, but I can't imagine why people wouldn't WANT to use it well. Beats videogames all hollow.

posted September 22, 2008