The case for spelling in a fast-paced office
In the hyperfast office world we now live in, e-mails, texts and IMs are sent at a rapid clip. And although you might think that some misspelled words will be overlooked by your co-workers and higher-ups in exchange for quickness, that might not be the case, says executive coach and co-author of the book, “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me,” Kathi Elster.
“Speed is what makes e-mail and texting so attractive but it’s way too easy to misspell,” she says. Here are her top five reasons why spell check should always be on and a second read is always a must.
1 Misspelling makes you look sloppy and careless. If you take a moment and reread what you are writing, you will pick up most mistakes. We are all in a rush, but making spelling mistakes is a subtle area where your carelessness can cause big disappointment from your colleagues and bosses about your ability to be sharp and accurate.
2 Misspelling can be interpreted as: “Boy, he/she is stupid.” An occasional spelling mistake is not going to label you stupid. But if you make spelling mistakes in everything you write, then people may believe that you were at the bottom of your class.
3 Poor spelling can hurt your credibility as an expert in your field, even if you’re the boss. Even with spell check, spelling mistakes can be made. So, if you are the boss or you want to be the boss some day, take the time to edit what you write or ask someone who is a good speller to check your work. It’s worth the effort and who knows — you may become a better speller with someone’s help.
4 More people than you think get insulted by poor spelling. People who are visual find a spelling mistake jarring. It ruins the entire experience for them; that spelling flaw flaws what you are saying. They become so fixated on your mistakes that they miss your message. I know that sounds unfair, but it’s true.
5 A small typo can change the meaning of the word and then the meaning of what you are saying. I wrote to a client yesterday and wanted to say “How did it go?” But instead I sent “How did it do?”