Details are important. Whether they are part of a large project or a small article, details can distract from your message. What details am I talking about? I'm talking about spelling and grammar. If you doubt the importance of spelling and grammar in your communications, read the following quote from the CEO of a Fortune 500 company (taken from an article by Chris Widner in the November 5, 2008):"Roger has to go. He's just not the type we need around here. At the next rung of the ladder, these vice presidents will need to spend 90 percent of their time networking to bring in the big clients. They attend social functions, serve on community boards, entertain our biggest clients and their spouses for a week on a yacht in the Caribbean. Roger just doesn't have what it takes at this level. His hair looks disheveled half the time, and his grammar grates on me. In fact, his wife is an embarrassment socially when she accompanies him to client functions because her grammar is even worse than his. They're both college educated,...but just not polished."
And he is talking about a vice-president in his company! It makes you wonder how Roger got as far as he did in the company. There are a few of problems with not being careful with your grammar and spelling, particularly in written material. The first problem is that it makes people wonder if you are paying attention to the details. If you can't take the time to proof your own work, maybe you shouldn't be trusted.
Second, the errors are a distraction. An error can temporarily sidetrack a reader or listener because when they read or hear the error, they automatically think to themselves "that should be _________". While they have been mentally doing the correction, they have not been thinking about your message.
Errors, particularly in your written materials, may introduce errors with a different meaning than your original thought. A mistake in grammar or a typographical error may totally change the meaning of a word, and be a costly mistake for you.
There is nothing more important than communication. Whether it is at work or at home, the ability to effectively communicate your message is the key to your success. Take the time to proofread you materials and think about your grammar when you speak. The time will be well-spent and you will make a great impression.
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