Do Typos Matter? Asks Bob Bly…
By: Lisa Manyon www.writeoncreative.com
I admit that I love to follow blog postings. I especially enjoy blog postings about copywriting since the written word is a passion of mine.
Recently copywriter, Bob Bly, posted a blog entry about typos.
I read it and responded (tossing in a few intentional typos to see if anyone took notice or responded). Personally, I was sprinkling in a bit of my own humor. Which, in hindsight, I realize not everyone will “get” or appreciate. After all, not everyone understands the “conversation in my head.”(If you don’t understand this statement, you need to hire a professional copywriter, immediately).
Nonetheless, typos are a topic of concern and exactly why it’s so important to use spell check and enlist an editor/proofreader.
With the immediacy of electronic communications, hiring an editor/proofreader isn’t always possible. But, it’s certainly something we should all consider. I’ve touched on a few more tips about electronic communications in an article I wrote about email etiquette.
Speaking of email etiquette, is there “blog etiquette”? I don’t think Miss Manners has come out with a guide for the electronic age but this posting from Erin Blaskie is particularly insightful in relationship to the impact that blog postings can have…http://bsetc.ca/blog/?p=117
Technorati Tags: Bob Bly, Business Services, ETC, Erin Blaskie, typos, email etiquette, blog etiquette
March 7th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Hi Lisa!
Thank you for linking to my blog entry!
I definitely think that there should be blog etiquette. I think what can sometimes happen is people view their blog as an online, public forum where they can speak their mind (whether good or bad) and although this is true, blog writers also need to have some form of censorship. The written word is powerful and it can affect people in different ways.
Since you can not state with any accuracy what the exact emotion is behind someone’s writing, you can most definitely affect your readers in a way that you may not have been anticipating. I think this is where blog etiquette is most important.
Erin
March 9th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Erin,
Great points and your blog posting illustrates exactly why we should blog with care. In a recent issue of Copywriting TNT, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero wrote about the importance of sitting on issues before responding via e-mail. In our fast-paced, electronic world, it’s easy to respond and later regret what we’ve said.
I wrote an article about email etiquette that you may find interesting. Check it out here,
http://writeoncreative.com/blog/2007/03/09/email-etiquette-6-key-guidelines-to-consider-before-you-hit-send/