How important is grammar... REALLY?

by 138 replies
169
Aye Warriors

I was just thinking about this because I have seen people call out other people over grammar in their blog post, article etc.

Do you really pay attention to grammar? I know it's important in a professional market, however - I get the best results when I just talk like I'm talking to a best friend.

I don't mind bad grammar, because some people understand better on a different level, and most people know what you're trying to say either way.

The only thing I have a problem with is when someone uses bad spelling.

What do you think, is grammar really a big deal in your eyes?

Do you think it makes you look less professional as a marketer?
#main internet marketing discussion forum #grammar #important
  • grammar i can tolerate. but missing words and periods drive me nuts. it happens though.
    • [1] reply
    • ^^This. Poor grammar I can tolerate, since it sometimes makes the writer seem more of a real person. Blatant mistakes in spelling and punctuation drive me up the wall, and I've actually closed web pages for serious spelling errors. There's really no excuse for spelling mistakes anymore, since every browser and editor has a spell check function built into it.

      Another pet peeve is misuse of pronouns. You're instead of your, it's instead of its, that sort of thing. I don't know why, but those irritate me more than anything else.
      • [ 7 ] Thanks
      • [3] replies
  • Yeah, of course it makes you look less professional. I like to write the way I talk as well. And even if I talk like a street thug, I still feel the need to put it across as best I can.

    Someone told me this long ago. There are three ways to communicate:

    Good
    Neutral
    Bad

    Always strive for good or neutral. You're not going to piss off your target audience by getting it right. But you will alienate some (meaning they won't buy) if you get it wrong. So always get it right or neutral.

    Most people, and this isn't directed at you because grammar doesn't appear to be any kind of problem for you, who defend sh*tty grammar are people who couldn't get it right if their lives depended on it.
    • [ 6 ] Thanks
  • It really depends who you ask. Personally, I am particular about grammar and spellings. It shows that people really do care about what they say and how they say it.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Poor grammar in small doses is fine. Making mistakes and being authentic will sell over being perfect on most occasions. Large amounts can get annoying.

      Spelling mistakes are unforgivable.
  • I do indeed think bad grammar and bad spelling are big negatives. I was a magazine editor for over 16 years and considered myself the Grammar Police for our publication. Grammar and spelling were pounded into our heads in public school and as a result I am quite good at both. To me, if you can't spell properly you need to get a dictionary. If your grammar is that bad, perhaps you need some lessons in correct usage. It turns me right off to see poorly written and edited articles and text. It looks like the person doesn't care and I would not likely buy their product as a result.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I completely agree with you. Great post. I personally feel people tend to buy stuff from you if you look the part (i.e. a professional).
  • It's all about YOU'RE vs. YOUR

    which, though i have a college degree, i didn't know the difference until i was 30
    • [1] reply
    • I do have to admit myself. I didn't know the importance of your and you're until about 1 year ago and I'm 27 - so we're in the same boat...LOL
      • [4] replies
  • Terrance, I think proper use of grammar and correct spellings go a long way in helping you. Agreed that some people will overlook such things but why take a chance?
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Grammar is valuable. This isn't even a question, really. At times, people find credibility in the way contents are constructed/written. How can you win your readers' trust when you can't even write with the appropriate grammar? Think about it.
  • I've heard that small grammar and spelling mistakes can hurt conversions on sales pages to an amazing degree. But I've also heard that ugly and/or amateurish ads and landers can convert better than professional ones.

    Ultimately, I imagine it depends on your market, and you won't know for sure until you test.
  • For me,grammar is not an important thing,as long as u not losing your meaning or in other word people know what u talking about..
  • Try this idea on for size......there is a lot of discussion here about how "I" don't mind it, and how "it doesnt' bother ME that much".

    I learned an important lesson many years ago while here in the forum (early days). Stop thinking about you and your process. If you are an Internet Marketer, or are trying to BE one, you do the following things;

    You do NOT buy online like the general public.
    You do NOT notice the same mundane things that others do.
    You do NOT offer the same level of INTOLERANCE outsiders to because you know what it takes just to get a site up and going.

    I agree, I don't often take that into consideration, depending on the offer, the page, and the frequency. But that is ME. I'm an Internet Marketer.

    You and I cannot...I REPEAT CANNOT think about WHAT WE DO, we must detach ourselves and think as a REAL, OUTSIDE, NON INTERNET MARKETING consumer.

    And I must tell you, in my honest opinion, people OUTSIDE of IM'ing (and as displayed here, even some INSIDE) really are turned off by a deluge of grammatical errors. It's WORTH it to check and double check your work before giving it to the world. As Monk said above, 'why take the chance'....

    Thank you TC for this discussion!

    Akiba
    • [ 4 ] Thanks
    • [3] replies
    • Great post, AkibaHoward. Thank you for reminding us that we write for the masses, not for fellow marketers. Considering the state of education in the United States, we could probably spend about half of our writing time pursuing other endeavors and still write convincing copy.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • Well said Akiba!!
    • Akiba, Great post I see where you're coming from on this one. We tend to sometimes think about the marketer first instead of people outside of IM.

      Although, most of the people that do buy our products and services are business owners and marketers I can see why people outside of IM would have a problem with grammar.

      Whenever I read a sales page with ok grammar, or some slang, I don't necessarily mind it. I like when people talk to me as if we were sitting across from each other at the bar just chillin
      • [2] replies
  • I'd say it matters somewhat... at least when your trying to market "artikels"

    OP here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ease-stop.html
  • IMO,

    If your providing articles as a service, Yes. Or offering advice to people, the grammar might matter so you seem to have more authority in the given niche.

    If I'm writing on my blog for my self enjoyment and showing my progress as I grow, I think I'd like to be more personal with my readers.

    I've also read a few things online about sometimes it's the spelling mistakes that actually increase E-mail CTR's and get more attention. Example: Crazy - > Krazy. But then again, I'm assuming this is a premeditated tweak.

    I guess it depends on who you're writing to.

    That's just my two cents.

    -Jared
  • Knows who what bad grammer was? Might none some cared not! Wrotten gramer bad no difference not make! Though confusing can it be! Don't not agreed you?

    Yeah, Akibahoward is 100% right. If you stray too much from accepted grammar, or the norm of the target market, you WILL lose customers! That is true of ANY language!

    Steve
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I would try to speak as appropriately as possible for the particular audience you are trying to reach. Spelling mistakes and missing words are probably two of the biggest mistakes I notice immediately. To be honest, when I see several of those types of mistakes on one site, I assume it is unprofessional and move on.
  • Personally, having good grammar is absolutely essential to me. I don't mind a few mistakes here and there, but if someone has a lot it really makes them look unprofessional. When someone looks unprofessional I tend to trust them less, and therefore are less likely to buy from them.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks












  • Bad spelling usually annoys me right away. I type too fast myself, and make plenty of mistakes - however with spell-check, I see no reason why those should ever get through to a live post or page.

    For grammar errors, I'm more forgiving. This is partially because I personally misuse the comma and dashes (and I know I do, it is intentional). I tend to use them to slow down the reader, to force pauses, manage the pacing of the reader, etc... not because it is always proper placement.


    A few years back I had read a piece where it had been written that an intentional typo now and then in a blog post was good. The theory was that the typo brought people out and that they commented; in other words the intentional typo increased comments and participation.

    I looked just now and was not able to find the specific link that I was looking for, but there are a handful of interesting threads on intentional typos.

    Any thoughts from you all about that idea - intentional typos?
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • That's another GOOD point Warren, it can be used for different readers as you mentioned to slow down the reader, to force a pause and get them to take action. I myself use these methods to and I haven't gotten any complaints about it.

      And, to answer your question... I have read something about purposely misspelling words to cause a reaction. I haven't did that on purpose, but one time I misspelled two words in a blog post and had about 3 comments letting me know, so I can say it does work to increase your readers engagement...LOL But I don't think that's the type of attention I would want.

      BUT, you can make some good money finding misspelled domain names and get more traffic
      • [2] replies
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [3] replies
    • Of course, tolerance is important--to you and me. Unfortunately, tolerance is not nearly as important to our target audience. As a non-native speaker, I know I will never be able to speak or write English as naturally as native speakers (hell, those articles alone are often killing me 'cause my language doesn't have them), but I agree with Akiba: bad grammar does take points off your credibility. Sucks, but it is just a given...
      • [1] reply
    • Respectfully, I disagree. I think you have two issues here. You're right that there may need to be a new consideration for the Non native speakers, but the idea that I should 'let down the walls' to accomodate those that don't, I am sorry, I can't.

      There MUST be at least a standard. This is criticism, this is business. And, like it or not, in business, you must follow some basics. Grammar, spelling and more are some of those standards that HAVE to be uphelp.

      To tell you the truth, many (if not most) of the non native speakers I know, work HARDER than most native speakers to 'get it right'.

      I am just saying here, I accept SOME errors, that is natural, and even the 'natural language' concept makes sense, but I, when speaking, TO PROFESSIONALS, don't use broken english. That's just with my 'homies'.....(I'm black...It's ok..lol)

      Seriously, broken english, which I think is a good part of what you are referring to, is not the biggest issue. If I see that someone is TRYING, that will keep me there a bit. But if it's just lazy and horribly put together, they have lost me.

      Just a thought...

      A
      • [1] reply
    • I'm so glad that you took "my" side and spoke up for me. It's my chance to speak for myself to these ignorant "adults" so call "native Americans - proud and highly mighty.
      I don't care if I misspell, grammatically incorrect,.....ect. I'm proud that I've learned and able to communicate with English speaks. Have you tried to learn something to communicate with people outside of your comfort zone?

      I'm Chinese and French and English is my 3rd language. I came to America when I was 21 years old. Spent 4 years serving in the USA Army, speaking very limited English (no one ever complained) and got out of the Army with the highest award ever given to an enlisted woman.

      I went on to earn a BA and a MBA degrees from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and became a CPA. For over 10 years I felt discriminated by people I worked with, people like some of you who insisted that everyone should be like you or else. I am always very good with numbers, analysis but very little patient for spelling (I hardly check my writing except when I need to publish it), so when you can't tolerate my grammar, spelling or even the way I write and speak with an accent, should I also call you stupid for not able to read a "financial balance sheet"? And those who can't even do simple math when they calculator is not on sight?

      I'm an American and have been living in the USA for 20 years. I love America but I'm also global. I suggest you open your narrow mind and try to learn the world outside of your alley, street, city or state, and see if you can see a broader reality.

      If you think this is America and all the people should be like you - my gosh, you must be living in the 18th century.
      WOW! It sure feels good to give a piece of my mind.
      • [1] reply
  • I think grammar is important. Although some of us make mistakes once in a while, it's fine as long as your compositions are still understandable. I consider that tolerable, especially if English is not the first language.
  • Grammar is not, that important! at all?
  • Firstly, as you say, there is no excuse for misspellings. It just give the impression that the site owner doesn't have much pride or care in what he/she's doing or offering.

    On the other hand, I feel that grammar depends on the target audience. In some instances you might use slang, local phrases etc and maybe not have the grammar 100% correct, but in other markets you would expect the grammar to be perfect, e.g legal advice, medical advice. This does not mean that you need to be writing in the manner or at the level of the 'small print' found on legal documents, just that the content is grammatically correct.
  • I think the important of grammar really depends on the writing itself.

    Good writing with so-so grammar will get you much further than bad writing with great grammar.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Bad spelling and grammar tends to result in poor sales and lower conversions. So, yes, it is extremely important.
  • @Fredbou, Well said, always have someone else look over your work. I have did this in the past with some friends, non marketers and they've told me things that dramatically increased my conversion rate. It's funny to see when they say something like, your headline is bright red and big and underlined.... WHY? Lol... Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey, just caught some mistakes and one it's a grammatical error....."I this in the past with some friends", it should be "I this in the past with some friends".
  • Some expert copywriters make bad grammar on purpose.



    Food four thoght
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I can understand that, for people who struggle with grammer, it is easy to descend into a lazy attitude of it not really being important. But, of course, it is important. Yes - people may understand you, either way, but that isn't the point. People want to buy products and/or services from what they perceive to be intelligent people. This includes either being competent at using the English language, themselves, or being willing to find someone to represent them who is. I can usually understand what a toddler is saying to me. But, that doesn't mean that I want to trust them with anything to do with my business.

    It may seem petty, but ultimately, it isn't. When you're advertising, people who read your advertisements do not have much to go on to decide who they want to choose to handle whatever area of business it may be. One simple way of comparing and contrasting between providers is to look at how they have presented their product in words: in fact, this is often the only way. If someone seems more intelligent, literate, knowledgeable or experienced through what they write, then, when looking through dozens of advertisements, websites, etc., one is going to favour them over others.
  • Banned

    I've seen quite a few on a weekly basis and some of these people are downright rude. Now that's more unprofessional than little grammar mistakes...oh yea!
    • [1] reply
    • In general the people who point out mistakes are trying to help, but their reward is often to be accused of being at best mean and at worst linguistic fascists.
      • [5] replies
  • It doesn't bother me when someone else uses bad grammar or typos, but I'm rather hard on myself sometimes. I'll edit my own reply if I spot anything overly amiss.
  • Of course if makes you look less professional.

    If you cannot be arsed to proof you texts, how do I know as a customer that you can be arsed to confirm the quality of your product/service?
  • Casual writing like talking to a friend is OK but doesn't mean it should lack grammar.

    "Hey friend, let talks about some important stuff now. I haved some good experience of this topic"

    I am not joking, I have seen such english floating around on the web.
  • grammer is well important that and spelling as well if you want 2 be suceesfuk in the IM
  • i doesnt pay attention to grammer.

  • As long as you are able to get your point across in a stylish way then that truly is what counts but when it comes to missing words, using the wrong word (than instead of then, to instead of too lol) and of course the missing periods and the run on sentences.

    It can be pretty frustrating for the reader since they won't be fully captivated by the article and instead will be distracted by the many mistakes it has.

    -Will
  • As long as the sentences flow properly and make sense it does not bother me.
  • Why do you ask Ms Wombat?
    • [1] reply
    • There's not many people who would tolerate bad grammar in a hard copy book so it should be no different for articles and reports.

      General forum posts are less important.

      Daniel
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • There's a massive difference between writers that have mastered the conversational style, and writers that say "I wrote it like someone talking, on purpose" in an attempt to excuse their awful copy.

    For the record, the conversational style is typified by short sentences, impactful one-sentence paragraphs and other such devices; not by grammatically incorrect rambling.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Grammar was invented to make communication easier. Not to torture grammar school kids. If breaking the rules facilitates communications, I say screw the rules. But know when and why you are breaking them.

      On the other hand, proper grammar often does aid communication. As Martin pointed out, you want the reader's attention to flow from idea to idea. Some errors create sentences that make readers pause and go "huh?". Not what you want.

      If you'll notice, I don't use perfect grammar myself. I dangle participles, use sentence fragments, and so on. But unless I'm having a particularly obtuse day, I usually get my message across.


      If your intention is to stoke the "Mrs. Wombats" of the online world to call you out on mistakes, rather than discuss or comment on your ideas, this might work.

      I see it as one of the distractions I try to avoid...
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • My theory is good grammar and punctuation never lost anyone a sale.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Grammar is important. It's the rule of the language.
    Without it, meaning would be lost.

    I've found that people who contact me about some
    grammatical mistake in my sales letter seldom buy.

    Did they not buy because of the bad grammar? I may
    be biased, but I doubt it. Some people are more
    easily distracted than others. And we need these
    people. They make great editors, surgeons, accountants
    and engineers, but seldom great sales people.

    So if someone points out to you the mistakes on your
    site, it's the joy of helping you that motivates them
    rather than being your customer.

    If your site was perfect, these people would
    say, "Wow! Well written" and pass on to find some
    mistakes on another site.

    Yet, if you appear "too clean" you can seem disconnected.
    Not only in politics but selling too.

    -Ray Edwards
    • [1] reply
    • Absolutely correct Ray.

      Believe it or not, I have converted three WSOs to Word, corrected the spelling mistakes and bad grammar, sometimes completely re-writing whole paragraphs.

      I have then re-converted it back to PDF, and sent both the Word and PDF versions back to the seller.

      Why did I do all this? As you say, it's the joy of one Warrior helping another, with no thought of financial gain.
  • I would never point anything out to anyone but I am also very judgemental. If I'm talking to someone like I am to you, then grammar doesn't matter to me, but if I am making a purchase I want to see perfection because it tells me that you are all about business. And that you took the time to use a spell checker and checked your grammar. I see tons of wso errors and it drives me nuts and makes me rethink making a purchase. It might be wrong, but it does.
  • From my perspective grammar is really important and so is spelling. To me, if you don't care enoough to get those right I'm not sure I would be willing to follow any advice you might give.
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      That's fair eno(o)ugh.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Conversion depends on good spelling, grammar etc. So, it is important to use proper grammar as long as you are at IM- this is my thinking.
  • I'm not really too bothered about seeing grammar errors, but when people get "your" and "you're" mixed up, that drives me crazy.
  • Petty is important to some people.


    • [1] reply
    • If you wish to be taken seriously your writing should be prefossional, and grammar is a major reflection upon which readers consider you by.
  • It depends on how savvy your market is; it may actually be beneficial to use poor language in certain situations. Many urban markets and websites (like worldstarhiphop.com) actually see higher conversion rates when, essentially, poor grammar is used.

    Don't forget that poor grammar and bad spelling can leads to a higher click through rate though.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Grammar matters.

    If you want to be successful online, you need to utilize proper grammar in everything that you write.

    If you want to establish your credibility in the eyes of your audience, you need to ensure that your grammar is impeccable.

    If you want to develop customer loyalty, grammar matters.

    If you want to increase your sales conversion rates, grammar matters.

    If you want to reduce your website's bounce rate, grammar matters.

    If you want people to actually READ to the end of your article or to the end of your email, without clicking on the back button (or delete button if an email), then you need to ensure that your use of grammar is flawless.

    And I would have to surmise that grammar matters (or will someday matter, if not already today) to Google. Someday Google will come out with some new update where they will devalue sites with "poor grammar". Who knows!?
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Yes! I heard Yoda too when reading that.

      I love when people talk about their marketing add.

      Is it advertising?

      Or do they just have marketing ADD?
  • Spelling mistakes happen all the time. I am definitely guilty here.

    However, it drives me insane when I notice my own copy with bad grammar and spelling. Bad spelling loses credibility to a lot of people. I try my hardest to keep my writing as clean as possible.

    Most people will relate your style of writing to a certain level of education. You certainly don't want people going around calling you a dodo bird. Take the time to review articles and posts.
  • [DELETED]
  • Grammar is important. It can certainly effect your spam score if you are sending out emails to your subscribers. The last thing you want is your emails ending up in the junk mail. So spend the time and make sure all appears correct and professional.
    • [1] reply
    • There's a big, big difference between deliberately breaking the rules for a reason you can articulate and the kind of gibberish some people put out.

      Try that 'wannabe rap star' language pitching a 7-figure software or consulting contract to a Fortune 100 CEO and see how far you get.

      I see some of the hip hop stars outside of that environment on TV, and most of them sound like your average yuppie in the 'burbs.
  • As far as sales copy or misspelled words in sales videos, I kind of think ugh... it gives it less credibility IMO...

    but just general blogging I say who cares unless you're trying to get the visitor to trust you and click through to check out the product. Spelling & grammar can affect how people see you so if you're trying to convince your visitors of something I'd be as proper as possible is what I'm trying to say...

    yayayaya!
  • Getting simple things wrong makes you look like a moron. Do you want to look like a moron in front of your prospects/clients/customers/competitors/mom/etc?
  • Offline, in person, your appearance and speech makes a personal statement about who you are.

    Online, your personal image comes across in the way you write. It's important to take the time to clarify what it is you want to say, and put it in writing properly.

    People will judge your worth by how you write.
  • Hi mate

    Martin Avis has a point that you should not go too far: but as a fellow Brit I do feel peeved when a fellow marketer goes for:

    "there ok to do that", instead of "they're", or

    "its ok to do that" instead of "it's".

    But then who are we to judge the acceptable level of grammar?

    It does more often seem to be Americans who make these errors: (Whoops - racey) but then America has it more right than the Brits as far as "ization" goes, for example, which is better than our (UK) preferred " isation", the pundits tell me.

    One thing I do know is that the more I use a computer, the more often I have to check spellings. I'm just not as good at spelling as I used to be pre-computer.

    Malc
  • Of course spelling and grammar are important!
    As someone else mentioned, most folks who say that it isn't important are making excuses for their mistakes.

    We hear the line of "That's how I express myself" all the time. You can have a close, friendly tone that's still grammatically correct. You can even use slang, idioms and contractions. But when you rely on formatting or extraneous punctuation to slow your readers down, you're taking a major risk, one that Martin.Avis mentioned - getting your reader off track.

    BIG Mike asks for tolerance, and sure, we can all ignore the errors. But we're writing for customers and leads. Why give them any reason not to trust us? Take a look at this article, and you'll be spell-checking your product descriptions. BBC News - Spelling mistakes 'cost millions' in lost online sales
    • [1] reply
    • Just depends on what you are doing.

      If you are trying to attract a high level crowd, grammar/spelling etc. is "important".

      Your time is better spent maximizing revenue and not worrying about the Grammar Police. Hire an English major looking for extra cash on fivver or oDesk to review your work if it's that important to you.

      Be yourself. Many people who point out grammatical errors are looking for a reason to tear you down for one reason or another anyway... F*&# them. I'd rather absorb solid information with grammatical errors from someone who is accomplishing the goals I've set for myself than read a bunch of garbage from someone who is grammatically correct.

      I've learned quite a few "golden nuggets" from people with extremely hard to understand accents and poor English. That's all that matters.

      Some of the most successful internet "marketers" are from China and Russia.
  • If you do not know the difference between you're and your, I have a very difficult time trusting you to know very much of anything.

    Consider this sentence:

    "There is a way to put $108,458 in your pocket by tomorrow."

    Now compare this one:

    "They're is a way to put $108458 in you're pocket by tomorrow."

    Or this one:

    "their is a way 2 put $1084,58 in ur pocket by 2morrow"

    All three are legible and understandable, and the words are the same, but which of the products are you more likely to buy?
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Imperfect grammar is not that bothersome as long as I can still tell what the writer/speaker is trying to communicate.

    I find downright bad grammar to be quite bothersome and even problematic.
  • Of course both are important!

    I would like to know the reasoning behind those who say it isn't important.

    I think what bothers me the most is the influx of text speak. People seriously think two is 2 and your is ur.

    Usually, the person is also unable to put a coherent sentence together and communicate clearly. I believe the day you can no longer communicate clearly except with your group of buffoons using text speak, you are done in life unless you realize what you are doing is not correct and seek out help to learn the correct way.

    To those of you who have a first language other than English, are the young people also butchering your language with text speak?

    People do often get very angry when it is pointed out. They have every excuse in the book for why they can't communicate properly. I think it is just laziness and they don't care.

    There are plenty of sites online to learn and brush up on spelling and grammar.

    I also don't like broken English. I have seen power point presentations and white papers written in broken English. There really is no excuse for that. Find someone who is a fluent speaker to look over the paper and correct it before publishing.

    When you are on a mobile or casually writing, I can overlook more lapses than writing and grammar presented in a professional setting.

    I have found the older I get, the worse my spelling is.
    • [1] reply
    • Yes, but they do it because they think it's cute.
  • Banned
    Personally I strongly dislike it when I see someone make a basic mistake, such as misspelling "you're". Whenever I read a salesletter or an infoproduct that I've paid for that has typos in it, it comes across as lazy and unprofessional in my eyes.

    If a person can't be bothered to hire a proofreader to ensure there are no jarring mistakes in their copy, I can see no reason why I should be bothered to buy their product.
  • Haters gonna hate (as they say).

    Way too many grammar nazis out there. I am pretty keen on my spelling and grammar when making blog posts (but not forum posts... just saying). All I do is correct something when it gets pointed out (either by me or someone else).

    Simply thank them for pointing it out, nothing more.
    • [1] reply
    • Isn't it a maxim that when someone introduces Hitler or the Nazis into any debate, they have already conceded the argument?
      • [1] reply
  • I believe that grammar does matter maybe that's due to the fact I am still in school, but either way that's how I feel. I can't at all claim that I am good at it myself, but the teachers and people make sure we know how to spot the mistakes. I couldn't say that because of grammar issues I wouldn't buy your product but I would notice it.
    Hope that helps
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • I find poor grammar to sound very unprofessional and unintelligent
    • [1] reply
    • Indeed it is. Do you like your readers to read poor grammar material?
  • As long as it doesn't confuse the reader with the meaning of the sentence, I have no problem with poor grammar.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Nooo!! I hat bad grammar, it sucks. And it makes the peson look like they didn't get past third class. Not so bad on a forum, but what impression does it give potential clients or visitors? Not so bad socially but not for business pleeeeeeeeeeese.
    Just for the record I also hate bad spelling and punctuation. It can make the meaning unclear and even change the meaning if you put a comma in the wrong place.
  • I guess it kind of depends on the subject you are writing about and the target audience.

    If the posts are educational/scientific/professional in nature, I believe it matters a lot. There is really no way to sound professional with bad grammar.

    On the other hand, if your blog/site is kind of casual, talking about personal stuff (experiences, emotions, etc.), I don't think that it matters as much.

    Personally, I get irritated if I see more than a couple mistakes; but the first lesson I have learned in business is what "I" think is irrelevant when it comes to sales and results. What's important is the reaction of the target audience.
  • Grammar is the backbone here.I think it makes our Information clear and makes difference between right and wrong meaning.
  • I think this is a duh! It's super important. Bad grammar makes you look stupid and unprofessional. Common mistakes like your and you're, its and it's, etc. are easy to fix and make a HUGE difference in blog posts, ad copy and anywhere else you post something. Bad grammar only hurts YOU and your sales.
  • with poor grammar on business communication / in promotion creatives you run the risk of putting yourself in an unprofessional light. Though some intentional mistakes can play some key trigger part in ads for instance. So, you'd definately better know grammar rules and could boast a rich vocabulary so that you would be able to play with it!
  • Grammar is really important especially if you are writing or re-writing articles as the main purpose of the article is to attract/engage the user and if grammar and sentence formation is not proper it doesn't look nice.

    therefore if you are writing a article on your own then its always better to prove read it twice before posting it online.
  • Well it depends on the context, if I'm just chatting with a friend online or in a forum I really don't care if they have grammar slip ups, the same for arguing, I'm not the type of person who replies with those annoying comments "Oh your opinion doesn't matter because your grammar sucks" or whatever. On the internet I don't mind if someones grammar isn't perfect but I do feel there is a limit, if some people have such poor grammar that it becomes hard to read... that is where I draw the line (unless they're doing it as a joke). I do believe however that people should at least try on internet forums though, even if it's not perfect they should at least put some effort in. The only place grammar matters to me is real life scenarios, I'd hate to receive a letter from my bank with poor grammar, I'd probably move banks xD if I apply to a job at a company I may not have heard of before and they call me in for an interview by a letter or something and it's poor grammar, I probably wouldn't turn up lol they're clearly not very professional.
  • Banned
    How I felt opening this thread:

    Dead Dove Do Not Eat - YouTube
  • my own grammar is terrible, not good enough..
  • I personally do not have a problem with grammar errors, who really writes properly?


    not many people, less critical, more helpful
    • [1] reply
    • People with a college education maybe?
      People who actually want to be successful in life?
      People who care about things like credibility and professionalism?

      I definitely don't think anyone writes perfectly, but "properly" is a whole different ballgame. The least you should do is try your best.

      Why? Because if you come on this forum asking questions, while typing like a 5 year old, you're going to reduce the quality of the advice you get. You attract in this world precisely what you are sending out. The second I see repetitive spelling errors, no periods, or no caplocks, I'm GONE like the wind.

      So seriously. If you want to attract money, its all about quality and value. The least you can do is try incorporating some quality in your writing.

      ps. Me telling you to capitalize your letters *IS* me being "helpful". Its the most fundamental, easiest thing you can do, So WHY ON EARTH would someone want to help you in other ways, if you can't even nail the fundamentals down?

      Thats my real issue with this. Make mistakes by accident. But If you're too lazy to press caplocks, and add periods to your sentences, then I'm too lazy to help you. Lets be real. Learn English first, then learn marketing second. Common sense doesn't get much more common than that.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • [DELETED]
  • Having mistakes of any kind in your writing should be avoided if possible. Often the simply addition - or omission - of a comma will change the intended meaning to almost the opposite. Take, for instance, the simple sentence: Eats, shoots and leaves -something a gunman might do in a movie. Remove the comma and you get: Eats shoots and leaves - something a koala is likely to do.
    • [1] reply
  • Anyone can make spelling mistakes, but bad grammar in sales letters is very annoying in my opinion. Whenever I read a sales letter with bad grammar I will never buy the product, because it doesn't give me faith in the seller.
  • I can't speak for others but as a writer and proofreader I can't stand bad grammar, punctuation or spelling. To me it is a sign that the person doesn't care enough about their customers to make sure it's right in every respect.

    If I showed you some of the material I have to fix, you would definitely agree with me. Ironically enough, it is often the people with the worst spelling and grammar that claim they have no mistakes.

    If I find errors in a person's website, I send them an email with a few errors included and then offer to fix everything (for a fee of course.) Sometimes they take me up on it and sometimes they don't but I feel at least I have made them aware of the problem.

    I think everyone is entitled to do what they please...but the bottom line is that you have to do what's best for the customer, not just what's best for you.

    If I am thinking about buying an ebook or something else online and I see bad grammar or spelling, I usually don't buy it unless it is just so good that I must have it which is a rare occurrence.
  • I think there is and never will be a concrete answer to the question here. Like so many other topics, it depends on quite a few factors. Obviously there needs to be a lowest common denominator type of grammar that doesn't dip into vague meanings and confusing pronouns and whatnot -- but with that said, this is the internet.

    The beauty of language is its fluidity. You can create new meanings even on accident, so as long as everything isn't blatantly spelled poorly or written in a cave man type staccato tone that reads like a wet piece of cardboard.

    Obviously grammar is good. But too much attention to these things can also alienate an audience. Perfect is another form of fiction that cannot be achieved imo. So get it reasonably close and enjoy the ride.
  • articles and blogs, need not to be really PERFECT... for as long as they make sense and readable, I'm cool with it...
  • I think grammar is important for all bloggers. But I also do many grammar mistakes in my blog. But I try to improve my English knowledge. :-( But it is not a easy task for me as English is not my mother language.
  • In the past, ungrammatical sentences were my pet peeves. (Actually, they still are.) I don't re-visit blogs and sites that are poorly written, have a lot of misspelled words, and have ungrammatical sentences that get in the way of communication. But over time, when I was keen on keyword research, I found out that some of the most-searched keywords don't follow the strict rules of grammar / mechanics. For instance, "womens bucket bags" instead of "women's bucket bags." Because of that, I created articles and Squidoo lenses using these supposedly "wrong" or "misspelled" words and phrases.

    To answer your question, though, I still pay attention to grammar even though I make some of them (deliberately or not). When I blog, I have some friends critique my articles and they're particular about grammar, sentence construction, and the overall flow of the articles. So I make it a point to review and proofread my articles at least twice before posting them.
  • I think there is a HUGE difference if the person using incorrect spelling and grammar is a native speaker or not. If he is not, and still able to communicate in another language, although with some occasional mistakes here and there, he is obviously an educated person who has spent years on getting to the given level.

    But, on the other hand, if he/she is not able to write his/her own language pretty much flawlessly and in good style... well.. this also shows something about this person doesn't it? Lazy, unintelligent, reckless, arrogant... what else?
  • There's a content writer on my Facebook. She's always promoting her services. Twice in the past month in Facebook promotions, she's misspelled "losing" as "loosing". Do you think I'd ever hire or recommend her? Not in your wildest dreams.

    WTF can't people spell "losing" anyway?
  • I haven't read the other posts in this thread, but there is really two forms of bad grammar. The kind of bad grammar most of the internet and myself use. Then there is the kind that goes like "What you want? Buy my eBook. Make rich cause am guru." where there is a sense of laziness.

    I'm a little judgmental and a little educated and my past and current success in what I do has instilled an ego. I prefer to buy and listen to people who I know are smarter than me. Unfortunately I stereotype non-English speakers who don't have a full grasp of the English language as not really holding their understanding of something else to a higher standard. I realized this the other day when hanging out with one of my new friends from Burma (Myanmar) who although he had really good English speaking abilities for being in the U.S. for such a small amount of time, asked me about the similarities and differences of "Can and Can't, and Can and Can not." I then spoke in Chinese to him which I don't do often because I sound like a mentally slow when I speak it to someone who can speak Mandarin better than I can. I was reminded that American English and Mandarin Chinese are both really hard languages to learn.
  • 1. Fix the banner. Right now the guy looks stretched out.
    2. Take the info on the side bar and put it underneath where you say "free phone consultation."
    3. Everything should be properly centered.
  • Very important. If you are trying to come off as professional, proper grammar and punctuation are a must. Misspelled words are completely uncalled for since spellchecker is pretty much standard nowadays. If you are trying to sell something or sound like an authority on a subject, you need to make sure everything is grammatically correct.
  • Good writing is terribly important to me. Good grammar is terribly important to me. That said-it's the offer that matters, and the value your product delivers. Regular people simply don't care about errors in grammar unless the writing is so bad they cannot use the product. Jason Fladlien's stuff used to be riddled with errors, but that never stopped him. His stuff is worth every dime (and now seems to be adequately copyedited).
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed