Aug 6
Am I just being picky?
Posted by madameblogalot at 10:49 am in homeschooling

When I read something that is written for the public, it bothers me to see typos and misspelled words. I understand that we all make mistakes and that errors happen very easily. What I don’t understand is the lack for an editing process. If a work is being presented for others, wouldn’t it be best to gain their trust in you as the author/provider of service?

Here is an example I encountered just today. I found a website which buys and resells homeschool textbooks and curriculum. I like this and think it is a very good service, one which is needed and used within the homeschool community. But on the Home page of the site, I notice a “typo”. Then I went to another page. Another “typo”. By now I am thinking it may not just be a “typo”. When I checked it out on my word processor, I actually found another misspelled word, one not so easily caught because most of us mispronounce it! So now I am wondering if it wasn’t one or more of the students who are actually putting together this website. That is great. I think it’s good experience for them and probably lets them deal with an area of expertise that mom and dad may not have or have time for. All good. But, shouldn’t the site be edited before posting? At least run it through a spell checker!

So, should I email this company to alert them of their editing problems? I have done this for friends whom I think would want to have things correct on their websites. But I have never dealt with this company at all before. I know that I would be more likely to use their service if they had proper spelling on their business website! Or am I just being picky?

Am I just being picky? has 9 Comments

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  1. Montucky wrote:
    August 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    You are not being picky at all! Incorrect spelling, typos and poor grammar irritate me too, especially in professional publications.

    There is a weekly newspaper published near here and their quality became so bad I recently discontinued my subscription. Our last issue came today and in an article about an explosion, written by the editor no less, was this statement: “Pieces of the substation were found 90 years from the site”.

  2. Mike wrote:
    August 6th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    You are definitely not being too picky. This bugs me to death as well. I think it presents a very poor image to your audience if there are mistakes - especially in your homeschooling site example. How do you intend to teach children to spell if you can’t prove that you can spell yourself? But no… I agree 100%.

  3. madameblogalot wrote:
    August 7th, 2008 at 8:58 am

    90 years??? that’s funny!!

    it does bug me to death….so do you think I should say something to the people on this site via the “contact” form. I mean, it’s a homeschooling site!!

  4. madameblogalot wrote:
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:01 am

    hey mike,

    thanks for stopping by my blog w/ your comment. I felt very “put off” by the spelling on the website. I agree that it puts forth a bad image for them. I appreciate your input.

  5. Montucky wrote:
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:04 am

    I would certainly say something to them. If they’re smart they’ll appreciate it.

  6. madameblogalot wrote:
    August 8th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    I’ve been thinking how to word it, but may use their “contact us” form to just let them know….

  7. Shelly wrote:
    August 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    I agree with montucky — I’d rather know, if it were my site. In fact, I’ve had people point out typos or places where my idea wasn’t clearly presented on my blog, and I appreciated it very much.

  8. Shelly wrote:
    August 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    Oh… and I don’t think you are just being picky!

  9. madameblogalot wrote:
    August 11th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    thanks…I am still a little hesitant to even broach the subject….

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