David - I cannot agree with you more! Spelling errors are totally my pet peeve too (in addition to horrible photos).

I would have also gently pointed out the error.  It will help them to save embarrassment now and for the next time.

How about adding a photo to your profile so we can see who you are?

Maybe you should have reached her through the contact me link and let her know about her mistake.  Just a thought.  Have a great day.

Spelling certainly counts.  Manners do too.  Lorinda is right.  That help could have been private.

And, people who defend poor expression, such as abysmal spelling and grammar are kidding themselves.

i not seee nothin badz bout disk

A big pet peeve for me is spelling errors in MLS remarks.

Way too many errors on the MLS / websites...  Another tip is to write your copy in Word, and then use Spellcheck. This way you get everything right, and then you can begin to abbreviate to fit the MLS requirements. If you abbreviate 1st, you will become frustrated!

I have sent agents an email when I find something drastically wrong, however most would prefer that I mind my own business. With more 85 -96% of the homebuyers using the internet to find their next home, you would think we would all be more careful and help each other. I just read another post regarding agents "helping each other". It sure is nice to see the cooperation and support on Active Rain.

Thanks for writing this.  This is also a pet peeve of mine.  I understand that people make mistakes but I think that sometimes on here people rush to post their blog and get their points that they don't take the time to proofread what they write.  I tried once to point out to someone nicely that they had spelled debt, debit.   However they didn't take my hint and wrote a second posting spelling it the same way about 6 different times. At this point, I began to question if this was how they wrote their sale listings too. "Great Horse for sale with 2 car Garbage". 

PS- You do realize your headline says "Speling" right?   I couldn't tell if this was a joke or typo? 

Ok, I see you spelled business wrong too.  Now I know it was a joke. I didn't catch that the first time.

Many of us were handicapped by the "New Teaching" in the 60's. I am now in my 50's and I still struggle. Two teachers in my immediate family liken poor spelling to that of any other learning disability. I think it is sad when people can not look past a persons handicap. According to my High School teachers I had everything it takes to be a great (yes I said great) writer. I even had several short stories published before I was 17 years old. However when I came home to show my pride and joy to my mother the only thing she saw was spelling errors. It was so disheartening I quit writing all together. I know that today we have spell check but for many of us that is not enough. Spell check still misses many of my mistakes or can not come up with the word I intended. Being spelling challenged is a real thing and before you look down your noise at us as if we were stupid or lazy remember that when you point the finger at us there are more pointing back at you. Thanks,

Bob

Ps I spell checked this and it wanted to change both 60's and 50's to W's, now that makes a lot of sence to doesn't it.

Dave- I happen to be a very good speller. I would win the spelling bees. I love English, spelling and grammar. So I thrive in that subject. But I do know that there are many people who can not spell well.

I point out spelling errors in posts all the time but I do it through the AR email form so as not to embarrass the person publicly. I want people to point out mine as well, especially in my title! But I too, would rather it be in private. That way the consumers are not seeing it too.

I made a typo in a mailer once and one man just had to call me just to tell me there was a spelling error. I said, Great, thanks for telling me, my postcard worked, it made you call me:). He laughed and I laughed too.

David,  Tahnk goodnses AR got teh splel chcek fiexd on tihs stie I wsa havnig all kidns of prolbems bfeore tehy got it fiexd.

Wow...a lot of terrific responses here!!  

Lisa,  

Your wish is my command. This is a picture of me with my daughter Madalinn...I think she was 2-3 years old when it was taken. She turns 10 at the end of this month...but needless to say, I look exactly <cough> the same. LOL!! Thanks for posting!

 

Lorinda and Mike,  

Several on that particular post had suggested the same thing. Since I was brand new here, I wasn't sure what was "politically correct"...and what was "off-limits". I had certainly read many, many blogs where the comments were dissenting viewpoints from the original poster's perspective, so it seemed completely reasonable to point out a simple spelling mistake.  

I actually thought the 40+ comments which preceded mine were the ill-mannered, less-thoughtful ones....for NOT pointing it out. The graphic which accompanied the post showed the error as plain as day. They all had taken the time to write "You go girl. You're the best!"....but not a single one of them pointed out the obvious. Too nice perhaps?? But if too nice means letting her send that pre-listing package to a dozen prospects with the word "personnel" instead of "personal", I'll be the bad guy any time.  

Then again, I've always been the one to tell the teacher his fly was down, while everyone else snickered and jeered.  

I'm opinionated...that's for sure. Ask any of my customers! If I'm creating a new branding package for them...a totally new "look and feel" for their marketing, I explain that they HAVE to be honest with me. If there's something they don't like, they need to say "Dave, I don't like it." It's the only way we'll get anything done. And you, as a professional real estate agent....HAVE to tell a seller when their pricing expectation is too high. You can't slip them a note under the table. You just tell them. Straightforward. To the point. You show them why...because that's part of being a reputable, professional and yes, caring agent. It may take them a while to understand that (like 6 months later when the house doesn't sell)...but you sure wouldn't keep it a secret.  

In any case...I now have taken some of the comments I want to make...into more private settings. Example: Recently, I was helping a fellow AR'er with a new custom blog header. I wound up using a photo of him from his website instead of the one he used on his profile. He asked why...and I told him the photo with the sunglasses wasn't "right". In fact, I remember when I first saw it...I thought to myself, "OMG...he's blind and he sells real estate???" LOL!! In any case...that was all handled privately. And then...three days ago, he posts a blog talking about his decision to change his profile pic because a professional marketing person didn't like his other photo. YIKES!!!

It turned out to be somewhat reassuring to read others post things like "Yeah, I hated your other photo. This one is so much nicer." I guess I always wonder why no one speaks up.  

I really appreciate your input...and for taking the time to read my post!  

Tony,  

Thoughs were my thawts exacvlyt!  

Richard,  

Obviously mine too. I've actually had agents tell me it's no big deal because it's only other agents who see them. Oh??? Ever hear of IDX and/or Realtor.com? LOL!

Kathleen,  

I know all about the "Mind your own business" syndrome!! LOL! Thanks for posting!  

Above All,  

LOL...Horse for sale with 2-car garbage!! Priceless! Oh, and yes...it was intentional. :P  

Bob,  

Here's my take on what I read from you. You are spelling challenged....but one would never know from reading your comment. It is thoughtful, articulate, relevant, etc. I DO understand where you're coming from, however. A friend of mine recently shared a story about being estranged from his Dad at an early age (divorce). At age 10, he mustered up the courage to write his Dad a letter...and share his thoughts....and to tell him he loved and missed him.  

The Dad was a professor at a University.  

The letter was sent back with a thank you...along with the original letter with red circles showing where the misspelled words were.  

That broke my heart.  

Not a single person here is pointing a finger at anyone. This post was not intended to look down our noses at anyone. It was intended to have people seek out...as YOU have, ways to work within their challenges. The same way the rest of us do with whatever OUR challenges are! I'm a 50-year old single Dad of the little girl whose photo is shown above. I also run one of the top real estate marketing firms in the country. Guess what? It's a struggle to do all my Daddy things...and hold the reigns to a company like ours. But I do it. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. Some people might look down their noses at me for taking on so much responsibility. Perhaps I'm letting my daughter down somehow in the process. The answer to that is "Nope. No way." We all do what we gotta do to make things work. It's a real thing too....and it looks like you and I both are up to the challenge!  

Thank you for writing..it's VERY much appreciated!  

Katerina,  

Don't worry honey (I can call her that cuz we're friends)...on the marketing stuff we're working on together...."I got your back!"

Hmmm....isn't that supposed to be "I HAVE your back?":P  

Jimmy,  

Aymen bruther!  

Dave

Misspelling personal isn't as bad as those who make typos on the word public.

Elizabeth!!!!

I almost fell out of my chair when I read that!!!!! You're soooo right!!!

"This home will be open to the 'public' this weekend from 1:00-5:00...and includes a free lesson with one of the pros at the 'public' golf course."

(Needless to say, I opted for the correct spelling in the sentence above!! LOL)

Great post!

Dave 

David,

Spellin?  Don't forget the grammer!

Mike in Tuscon

Ahem:

"Sure, we all make typos....but I’m talking about that."

...should be

"Sure, we all make types....but I'm not talking about that."

LOL :)

Mike,

LOL....so true!

Jesse,

You win the free blog header!!!!!!! In my original post....there was a line that said "Sure, we all make typos, but I'm talking about that". Obviously, it was supposed to say "but I'm NOT talking about that."

I was curious as to whether anyone was going to point it out, much less notice it. It actually WAS an error when I typed the original post...but in my proofreading back...I caught it...and thought "Hmm, should I change this...or leave it to see if a.) anyone notices...or b.) will they say anything?" since it seemed so topical given the gist of the post itself. I decided to leave it.

Jesse found it!! (By the way, I really hope it was the only one, because it's the only one I found too!)

In any case Jesse...congratulations! If you're interested in the free blog header, check out one of my other blogs regarding the headers for information I'll need from you to create yours ok?

Good job!

Dave

P.S. I guess I should let everyone know that the original post has been re-edited to show the corrected version.

P.S. #2

I don't want to embarrass Jesse...but...um....I did notice in his response that he said it should be "Sure, we all make "types" instead of typos...but I forgive him for that. ::: smile :::

Speling really can make a big difference. Even on a FOUR SALE sign... LOL

David, If I made a spelling mistake on something very important, I would greatly appreciate someone telling me.  I would be very thankful.  Sorry you had such a bad experience.  Feel free to correct me anytime.  Have a great day.

There you go again David.  Getting yourself in trouble!!!

Spelling is a bug-a-boo of mine as well.  It doesn't mean I don't make mistakes but I would truly hope someone would point it out to me.  Especially if it was in a marketing piece!

P.S.  Nice to see (kind of) a pic of my new best friend of three weeks

David my pet peeve is posts about spelling being a pet peeve.  In the history of Activerain it has to be one of the most written about topics.  I can remember back when there were less than 20,000 members here and someone posted nearly this exact post without the intention of spelling anything wrong like you did, and had 3 spelling errors in it.  The very first person to comment picked it out quickly and posted a comment chewing the poster out and actually had spelling errors in the comments.  You took the high road and intentionally put spelling errors in yours, smart thinking because had you had a mistake in your post, you would have looked awful dumb. 

Roland,

LOL...I love that sign, don't you? I almost actually want to put some in front yards across the country just to see if anyone notices!!

Bob,

I looked for something to correct...and couldn't find anything. But if I do, I'll let you know, ok?? LOL!

Kathy,

My dumb left SHIFT key doesn't work half the time! It causes me to have to cursor back and replace "i" with "I", etc. But I'm picky about spelling....so I do it. And unfortunately, I LOVE this dumb keyboard...and don't want to replace it! LOL! I'm attached to my keyboard in more ways than one!

Jason,

Well...I've only been here about two months. I hadn't read all of those prior posts, but I DID get beaten up pretty well by some agents who thought it inappropriate to correct someone's spelling. I appreciate your comment...and even your ever-so-slight sarcasm. I'm also pretty sure the word in your last sentence is supposed to be "awfully" (not "awful"). I won't go anywhere near the obvious punctuation errors..because I do that too. Heck...look at my overuse of "dot, dot, dots."

Thank, for comentimg............

(I crack myself up)

Dave

I did the same thing a couple of months back. I visited the website of one of our members and found a misspelling on the home page. I send her an e-mail to congratulate her on the great website and pointed out the 2 spots that needed correction. It didn't go well!

I personally would welcome anyone's comments and appreciate their input. If I miss something and someone will let me know before too many customers see it, I would be very happy. So, keep your constructive critisism coming.

David I appreciate the apology you sent me in my email for your poking at me.  I'm glad you crack yourself up, you may be the only one laughing right now.  I do not want you to delete the post, I'd prefer you leave it there.   Notice there is nowhere in my post that I claim that I'll spell everything correctly.  In fact, look at my blog, you'll pick out spelling errors there as well.  I'm an average guy.  This comment may have some as well.  The funny thing is, despite the information you presented, I'm doing business and a lot of it.  I am very certain, very certain that most folks will see past a spelling or typing error.  They exist on every forum on the Internet and I belong to many.  As far as punctuation, this is a forum not an essay contest.  Punctuation is used differently here much like you cited.......  get it?  Either way, I will apologize back if I offended you or got under your skin a bit..... your apology really is not necessary, but I do accept it.  To help you see where I am coming from just for a moment think about this.

AR is a great place to share information and promote yourself and as I said my pet peeve is posts about spelling pet peeves.  Imagine how much time you wasted writing a post that really does not mean anything when you could have been promoting yourself and using that energy to in incoming generating activity.  I don't mean that just for you but for anybody that wants to pick apart others work.  Honestly, its your blog do what you want, I just see it as a waste of time.

The real harm of trying to whip someone here on AR is the fact that you are here to do business with the agents here, I own my own auctioneering company ( www.activerain.com/realestateauctioneer ) and we are very much in the market for someone to take over our flyer printing.  After I had commented above I went to your website and liked your work.  I forwarded your site on to my wife to take a look at.  We have thousands of 11X18 flyers and thousands of 4X6 postcards and thousands of business cards printed every year.  We recognize that we need to take our flyers and postcards to the next level to stand out and while you're look great, and I do mean great, it would be difficult for me to do business with someone that just had to take a shot at me to try to prove me wrong, maybe since my opinion was different?  I would never want to bother you with a potentially misspelled order form, maybe you are the kind of guy that would upload it to the Internet to poke fun of me for that?  What if as your customer we spoke back and forth by email and I misspelled something, would I have to fear as one of your customers you would use me as an example?  Bottom line is I don't think that people like to do business with folks that are judgmental. 

While you feel my minor spelling error may turn off a customer, I feel like your comment and judgment above will turn off a potential customer, and that is why the spelling pet peeve post is my pet peeve, it unnecessarily offends people and starts an argument nearly every time.   Those posts come across as very judgmental.  I tell you it's a dead horse that has already been beat past death, maybe like some of the others above have suggested, if you really want to correct others, maybe using the contact link for them might be a little easier. 

Jason,

You opened your comment with:

"David my pet peeve is posts about spelling being a pet peeve."

That seemed like an unnecessary way to start a comment about another person's post. There are many of us here who are new to ActiveRain. We don't know what was blogged about a year and half ago. We don't know what's a beaten horse...and what's not. Seems like it would have been kinda' nice for you to have started your comment by mentioning that there have been many posts already written about the topic...and stating your opinion (without injecting that it's a pet peeve of yours.) What exactly was the point of that? It seemed slightly combative as a way to start a response. If I misunderstood, and your opening comment was indeed intended as a relevant contribution, then I guess I took it wrong. But it definitely came across as sarcasm.

Then you continued with...

"You took the high road and intentionally put spelling errors in yours, smart thinking because had you had a mistake in your post, you would have looked awful dumb. "

The implication is that you don't believe I intentionally put it there...and you couldn't resist making a comment about the possibilities of me being "awful dumb".

I guess the point is....I don't understand why you felt compelled to even comment at all?? If it was a topic you were tired of, you should have moved on. If it was a post you didn't believe in, or agree with....I absolutely would've welcomed your commentary. But to start it the way you did...and imply an awful dumbness on my part was, in my mind, unnecessary. So I couldn't resist poking a little fun back. I even mentioned that I wouldn't go near the puntuation errors because I do that too. The ONLY thing I wrote in response to your sarcasm, was that "awful" should have been "awfully".

And then....within two minutes, I sent you a private email indicating that I had poked fun...and apologized. I thought you were the type of agent who was out to stir up trouble...and I had simply given you a dose of your own medicine. Then, I read another blog...where I got an entirely different impression of you...and immmediately sent you an apology. I also asked whether you wanted me to delete my poking fun response. Hey, I don't have any problems acknowledging when I may have been wrong. But it was difficult to tell whether you were a trouble maker or actually well-intended.

I also appreciate your compliments on the work we do. It's a shame that personalities don't come through when reading a blog...(or comments). I have fun at what I do...and we're an extremely successful company. Some of our top customers...agents who are incredibly successful in their real estate careers...can't spell worth a damn. They rely on us to ensure everything that goes out is correct....because they know the importance of making good and professional impressions. You may choose to believe that none of your customers care much about the spelling or grammatical mistakes made on your marketing materials. But that's because you're only doing business with the ones who didn't care. The ones who DID care about it...and believed it to be a reflection of who you are, what your intellect is, what your negotiating prowess is and what your professionalism levels are...never called you. They chose someone else. You just don't know about it, that's all.

Meanwhile, my customers and I enjoy a very casual, friendly, and good natured rapport. I can absolutely tease them about spelling Dining Room "Dinning"...and they ask me what drugs I was one when I chose THAT color! I can call them anytime and laugh at the fact that I can't read their handwriting. And they can call and poke fun at the fact that I chose the wrong photo in their layout. We love doing business together. They're exceptionally great at what they do...and we're pretty good at what we do. It's a perfect combination.

It's a shame you were offended. I also can't help but wonder if you, too....could have possibly made better use of your time in promoting your business, instead of coming in to offer up what your pet peeves are or are not. Yes, I once again am poking fun! But for crying out loud...it's a lot easier to find the humor in that kind of poking fun...than to storm off feeling offended.

In your private email response, you wrote, "Unfortunately, your comments and judgement of me earn you an automatic checkmark in my book.  We spend way to much money on our auction marketing to do business with a person that would not treat others with respect."

I accept that. It's your opinion. But I assure you I have the UTMOST respect for my customers. For that matter, for virtually everyone I come into contact with. However, there will always be those who come into a blog to harrass and dish it out a little...but who can't take a little poking fun in return. As it turns out...it seems you weren't harrassing...or dishing it out....and I drew the wrong conclusion.

For that...I'm sorry. I think we probably could have helped you take your auctioneering business to many higher levels. And you'd have been able to grow your business in a big way...without ever having to worry whether your marketing materials were the most professional out there. They would have been.

They still can be if you're ever in the mood. But you'll HAVE to allow me to poke fun at you saying "dagnabbit" while you poke fun at me for having a Southern California accent.

Those are my terms...and I won't budge.

Dave

Dave,

Forgive me, but there is one last little thing: Your last comment in the original post was "and your presentation simply had to many misstakes. (To)  being the wrong to, should be "too". Sorry if this is too much for you. LOL

David,

        Forgive me for this, but there is one last little thing: In you original post on the last line you wrote "and your presentation simply had to many misstakes". The "to" is the wrong to, should be ""too".  Sorry if this is too much for you. LOL

Oh yeah the "misstakes".... TOO many ss's...

Kevin

LOL....in my original post, THAT LAST LINE WAS ABSOLUTELY intentionally misspelled in order to add a final point to the blog (mistakes was spelled "misstakes"....and too was spelled "to").

And please don't get mad at this....but

In your second post above....it says "In you original post on the last line"....instead of "your".

::: sorry, I couldn't resist :::

You owe me a beer. LOL!!

Dave

Ha! Dave you caugt me. shot thru the hert heart. Turnabout is fair play! Free beer tomorrow!

Wow lets get real here. Spelling does count. Bad spelling makes you look bad or just lazy. It is called spell check!!!

Ah...... spell check.  Have you ever noticed that the AR spell check does not know what the word "blog" is?

Jason,

LOL...you're right!! I just tried that and sure enough, "blog" was underlined as misspelled!! Too funny!

Reminds me of the web design program I use.

It underlines "website" constantly as being unrecognizable or spelled incorrectly!! I actually went to Dictionary.com to check it out...and found that the preferred way of spelling it is "Web site" or "Web-site". Unbelievable!!! I've been spelling it wrong the whole time??? LOL!!

Fortunately (and yes, I'm hanging my hat on this)...it DID mention that the term "website" was becoming more prominent in practical use...and is now considered an acceptable version.

Whew!  :: wiping sweat off brow now ::

By the way...nice to see you back!

Dave

Back?  I never went anywhere? 

Yes that is a question mark at the end of a statement.  It's there to tip you off that I have a puzzled look on my face.

For any of you that has ever taken the time to read or hear great works from the real first and master motivational speaker, Earl Nightingale, he has one comment that sums up just about everything you are talking about with reference to Poor English of which I agree with you 100%....

"As soon as a person opens their mouth, they declare their position on the pyramid of intelligence"

So I say if you want to "sound" uneducated...have at it.

David,   spelling is one of my pet peeves as well.  In working with real estate agents, I have come across several typos / misspellings in their emails, advertisements, website, flyers, etc.  I usually will email them and say "hey, didn't know if you knew this but....".  I have never had anyone get an attitude about it.  Most were very appreciative and a little ticked that the proofer didn't catch it.

I've learned not to comment on the spelling and grammar of others unless they are close friends or Clients of mine, and even then I will do it via a private email. Homophones are particularly problematic for many people, not to mention things like "its" and "it's", "a lot" and "alot" and others.

I've been using VRS for about seven years now, and I have it trained to 99% accuracy. Usually the only errors I have in my posts are when I go to change a sentence structure, which I do on the keyboard, and introduce an error which I don't catch. Ultimately, when someone comments on a post of mine, I'll go back and read the post and will correct any errors I find then.

Sometimes I spend too much time editing, but I just can't help myself.

Yo, I don't thinks it makes no matter. I be a profesinal and knows how to property sell it. I an'it been a realator for to long, but i is very profesinal and use all da modern techlogies that get tha job dun.

Get Serious!  #1 Do you think it's possible to get an email like that?  #2 Would YOU do business with that person or even bother to respond?

You don't have to be an English scholar and know the absolute perfect English sentence structure, but if you can't bother to spell correctly...I have absolutely no intention of doing business with someone that can't even make the effort to click a "spell checker" unless I'm just forced to.