Yes, Spelling Does Count

by lisa ~ February 23, 2009

Just when you think modern English has been permanently hijacked by texting, Financial Times management columnist Lucy Kellaway writes that proper spelling and grammar are now hip. And, by the way, suits are also in vogue again.

“The fact that the pendulum is swinging back now is no surprise,” she says. “When people are losing their jobs, correct dress and correct usage of words seem like a good insurance policy.”

If, like me, you have read and re-read “Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation” by former BBC Radio host Lynne Truss, this is good news. But, then again, most of us - especially those older than Gen Y - have always know that it’s necessary to put our best foot forward by writing well and dressing appropriately.

For the clueless among us, allow me to explain why good grammar matters. It conveys education and intelligence. It makes you easily understood by people with education and intelligence. And it is just plain wrong to send a thank you text to a potential client or employer.

To read the full article on the Financial Times Web site, “Welcome back, semicolon; c u l8r, informality,” click here.

Lisa Tibbitts (Lisa.Tibbitts@Me.com) is a New York-based corporate communications professional with extensive experience in financial services. Follow her on http://twitter.com/LisaTibbitts.