It doesn't matter to me. I think the public makes mistakes just like us!

In relib,

I have decided I just didn't care. Type away and without a spell check - Hit send and off it goes. Can't have it proof read by assistant before it heads off to the land of sheets and giggles.

Todd

Phil – I am one of the worst when it comes to using the correct grammar or failing to put in paragraphs or punctuation where required. I am sure in a perfect world we can all possess the writing capabilities of Mike Farmer or John Bourassa, however, the world is not perfect and I look at the message more than how well it was written grammatically.

I was a math major and I never gave a whole lot of thought to the style of the message but more important to me was the message itself. I am sure that if someone is proficient in writing that some of the post will drive them up a wall since they are fraught with errors.

In Math an incorrect formula makes the equation obviously wrong since it can not be proven.  In the written word the objective is to convey a thought and not set something in stone.

We are not blogging because we are trying to set anything in stone but to convey our opinion of something.

I do agree that it does hurt our message when we turn the English language into something that resembles a new dialect but some of us are not as good as others putting our thoughts in written form. We sometimes write as we speak. When you talk, you don’t have to worry about spelling or proper placement of punctuation but the message is conveyed without criticism or doubt that the person delivering it does or doesn’t know what he/she is talking about.  This is because we hear the message and make our judgment based on the message.

My wife has never allowed me to send anything before she goes over it because if I write a letter it is probably not going to be correct. My message is there but my delivery in written form is not up to par. I had a secretary for years that made my corrections for me and that is a big reason I still use “your” instead “you’re”. When you are typing they sound the same in your head, even if you are on Med’s.

In summary, I don’t judge comment based on their ability to write as a proof reader might, as much as I judge it on the message they are trying to send.

I would also hope that all bloggers will become more proficient in the written word so that the message is not diminished by the way it was presented.

You know, Phil, I think this is a venue (have no idea if I spelled that right) to just be ourselves and let our hair down. I know (now, no) the public (publick, publik) reads this. I can't see (si, sea) it being very important (improtant, imporint, importint) to them, so I wonder really (realy,riley,rielly) how often they do.

It would be cool to have two sites, one for public, one for us so we can act up and crack jokes and carry on like we do without worrying about the public reading it.

I can see you writing a whole series of these though. Your next one can be Blogging 102-staying focused!!  :) Now back to your question, is it important to have good spelling and grammar-yes. Do we all mess up-yes. Do I think less of other agents because they don't take the time to spell right here, no. Is it important to spell in real life-yes! It is important on contracts to spell everything right.

Waiting for your next blog on staying focused. You owe me big!

Blogging 101 - Spelling and Grammar

If you download the Google tool bar it has a spell check there and it works really  well, I use it here and on our message board, try it.

Now grammar is another subject can't help there.

Vance

I agree with Gary, I think on a blog, it is more important to get the message across. I am as guilty as anybody here to let my fingers fall behind what I am trying to think causing more typing errors than actual spelling errors.

I don't believe the public will think less of us with spelling and grammar errors as long as we keep the blogs here on a professional level.

I agree with Mary 100% that spelling and grammar are very important when a contract is concerned.

I think it is important to a point. If the spelling and grammar make the message hard to follow, then I usually give up and move along.

If the message is a flow of thought that may not be correct grammar-wise and there are a few understandable spelling errors but otherwise makes sense and is clear, then I don't have a problem with that style of writing, and I would be surprised if many reading here have a problem with it.

I belong to a group unrelated to real estate and the participants are very grammar-conscious, so I have been trained to be as close to correct as I can be, although I don't obsess over it, and I don't expect others to be as conscious of it as I am.

I always catch errors in my writing after I have posted. If we had an edit function here, I would be using it constantly. It's probably a good thing to just let it flow here without too much concern for perfection.

Trying to use the guidelines of grammar helps me clarify my thoughts, although I am far from a grammar expert. It's just way I think.

Grammar, shrammer. Spelling, shmelling.

I feel quite bright when I spot someone else's mistake. As an Art/English major - oh - so many years ago, I never make mysteakes! But I usually get my point across.

I agree with Mary. I don't feel like this site should be for public view. We should not have to worry about typos, etc....If we can't do that here, lets find a place to communicate not on public view or under scrutiny of any one.

I come from a mother who was raised on a dirt farm in the Missouri Ozarks.  It has always been very important to me to speak and write intelligently with correct grammar and spelling.  I have always been hard on my children about their grammar, as well.  I am always correcting them because the worst thing in the world to me is to sound like an uneducated hick.

That said, while I always notice when there are errors in someone's post, it tends to be little more than a distraction than anything else.  I'm somehow able to move beyond it and get the point of the post.

So, if I can do it...who couldn't?  :)

Agreed!

They say Realtors ALL had other careers previously. They also say many were teachers in their past life. Any chance those of you checking spelling and grammer fit this? :) I was an Optometrist..."Which is better 1 or 2?"

Wow. It's great such a simple question can stir up such great feedback and it's nice to know people are so forgiving. I always try my best to check my spelling, especially on my marketing materials. Feel free to point out any mistakes on my website, I'd be happy to make updates:)

Personally, I think that proper spelling is a must and proper grammar is also necessary.

I say it like that because grammar can be somewhat subjective.  Depending on the part of the country you live in or if you even live in this country, we say things differently and it is accepted.  It might not be correct in the sense that you could pass an English exam with it, but it is the way English is spoken in your part of the country/world. Maybe you'd refer to it as a dialect.

However, spelling shows two things when done on a consistent basis.  I say consistent basis because an occasional typo shouldn't be cause for trial and hanging.  The first thing it shows is IGNORANCE.  If you can not spell the word, perhaps you shouldn't be using it.  The second thing it shows is that the writer is LAZY.  You can type any word you want into google and get a spelling.  You can always go to webster.com and use the dictionary to type it correctly as well.

I don't buy that spelling and grammar mistakes make you more human to clients.  No, if I were looking for someone that deals in LEGAL forms and technical contracts, I would want someone who was a little more conscientious about their writing than to have it littered with spelling errors.

I DO believe that the public gets an opinion of you based on how you write AND how you conduct yourself on a public access blog.  Why wouldn't they?  You would expect them to make a judgement if you came to their house in jeans and a tee shirt, right?  Of if they saw you cursing out the check out lady at the grocery store, right?  So why wouldn't they judge you based on your actions (spelling, grammar, and content) online?

Now, before everyone gathers up a posse to come get me,  this is MY opinion and to complete my opinion, I believe that we have become TOO dependent on computers to do for us what we should be able to do ourselves.  Spelling and simple mathematics are being lost in our society and ultimately, I don't care how complex the science or technology, it's still the basis for everything.

Phil,

Blogging 101?   Oh, well, I am still in 001.  

Nevertheless, I thoroughly agree with you, Phil, about keeping the integrity of grammar in internet writing of all sorts. However, the English you were taught is gradually mutating, adapting along with the perpetually changing time just as the English you’ve learned would make Shakespeare wanting to kill every contemporary teacher on the planet today.  

I have moderately touched on that notion last Friday on Cathy Clark’s post titled “Loss of Conversation.”  The reality of it, Phil, is that we are becoming the elders and, perhaps, it is what maturity makes older people do – preserve the sentimental values we are comfortable with.  

I’ll bet that, in your garage or in your basement, (if you have either or both) you probably have a collection of old “vinyl” records of Elvis, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, etc., and maybe some 8-Track cassettes of Jim Croce next to the old CB car radio you never had the heart to throw away ( for youngsters under 30 years old who are reading this and don’t know have a clue of the things I just mentioned above, ask your parents).  Phil, when your grand-children reach their fifties, they will then have a hige collection of DVD’s, I-Pods, and old Dell computers lying around somewhere in their house and they will go on their holographic Realtor® blog site asking people to preserve the right usage of “English Internet Lingo” of early 2,000.

______________________

Mary,

Right on, Girl.  In blogsphere, the message is definitely more important than syntax and grammar. Who is giving the 102 class?  I desperately need to sign up for that one, badly.

______________________

Gary and Mike,

Mutual admiration society - I am envious of your writing abilities.  At least, after I have finished reading your posts or comments, I am not confused.

_____________________

Gary,

You are right that Mathematics is unquestionably absolute logic.  However, I am sure trial attorneys would also defend the importance of grammar and syntax because a mere coma can save or cost their clients millions.  For that reason, when it comes to written English, I have to side with Phil and the attorneys.  The precision to which we write special clauses in our contracts is imperative; else, we’ll add more bite marks on our butts down the line.

John

John – Couldn’t agree with you more, however since we were addressing blogging, the content or subject matter seemed to be more relevant. It is probably why I never selected the legal profession as my call in life. Although I have a family full of attorneys they all have a better grasp of the correct way to write and express themselves.

Regardless, it is interesting to note that most people look at the message on a blog more so than how well it was written. I will endeavor to make my printed word more grammatically correct since I think it does bug those of you that are more in tune with grammar than I.  My wife told me that she finds it distracting and causes her distress when she views a grammatically incorrect blurb. But how much faith can you put in that, see married me.

Well as you know I was called on my spelling by another agent.  It was one word. I do think spelling is important.  However, when you are running and moving on to the next thing you sometimes forget to use spell check.  Try to spell it right but if you lose it move on.  I certainly wouldn't want the public to think we, as a group are uneducated.

I'm rather anal retentive about spelling and grammar because of my past profession.  If you're going to release something to the media it had better be well-presented.  Anything that was released, though, went through three other people!  We all don't have that luxury and we do all make mistakes.

I generally don't point out errors in a casual environment such as this.  I'm not the grammar police. I have, however, found errors on websites that I believe may affect the public's perception of a particular Agent and have let that Agent know directly and, hopefully, with some tact.

I also agree that the subject is more important here.  That's where I sometimes will be put off by a post because the way the thought is presented is confusing and no matter how many times I read it, I just can't "get" the point s/he is trying to get across.  This is extremely rare, though.

I do always proof my posts before submitting but that's just habit for me and I don't presume that everyone else does.  

Keep typing!

Good Morning, Gloria.  (I presume you are a mother and, by looking at your picture, you must be a treasured mother.  This special day belongs to you.  Enjoy!)

I hope you weren’t reprimanded by “Anon” who is self-appointed spelling police on Relib and perhaps for the entire blogworld.

My hands and fingers are not designed for keyboards as do most men. I fall in the category of men who were cursed at birth to later developing fat fingers as their bodies mature.  I even tried an ergonometrically designed keyboard (you know the wide V-shaped model?) and it didn’t help.  In fact, I found it more awkward to use. Now I use a keyboard of which keys light up at nigh.  I love it!  However, since the advent of spellcheck, my keyboard and I have developed a more comfortable relationship.

Though I took typing and stenography in high school my objective was actually other than learning how to type.  Why may you ask?  Because I was the only guy in a class full of the most gorgeous girls on campus – No competition, get it?  I still can’t do the five-finger typing method (too many distractions on class) and I still can’t help to hit two or three keys at the same time. For instance, in my reply to Phil above, I wrote my thoughts on Word and, after completion, I read it twice to correct my mistakes and I spellchecked it, anyway.  I pasted my finished essay in the “comment” box.  I gave it a “once-over” to realize that I forgot one word.  So I inserted the word in a meager four letter word (no not that one; that one, I would never mess it up.  It’s a guy thing) and, inevitably, I messed it up. I typed “hige” instead of huge.

__________________

Gary,

Again, Phil and Ron are right.  Shall we, as a society, continue lend forgiving eyes to those errors because they are on blogs (except for mine, of course)? You know what happens when society ignores to correct issues; they amass as a rolling snow ball to the point the damage reach irreparable measures.  Case and point – Bush’s egocentric irreverent dictatorship.

_________________

To all mothers, today, stand proud and make all the roses in the world blush!

Since English is my second language, spelling and grammar was important when I was young.  I think it is still important.  Everybody can spot a typo and not think anything of it.  Spelling errors well that's just something that could have been spotted.  I overlook all errors posted in the wee hours.