Is there anything you do that people around you find annoying? Maybe you chew with your mouth open, have an obnoxious laugh, or share cheesy jokes. In my case, people find my tendency to correct their spelling mistakes (via IM or text) off-putting. But I can't help it. I'm a copywriter/editor/proofreader by trade, and I manage this blog on the side. Words are my passion. I'm a stickler for grammar, spelling, and punctuation because it's what I do for my job. While some people are okay being a tad more lax when it comes to conversations with friends and loved ones, I strive for perfection at all times -- whether I'm writing an email at work, a post on this blog, or a text message to a buddy. I simply can't turn off the "sound professional" switch. I will use the occasional "Lol" and other such acronyms, but I would never write something like, "wut does it mean 2 u?" Some would call my stance a little extreme, but I enjo...

I recently saw a graphic posted on Facebook with the following one-liner: "Sadly, the days of people using proper English are went." I found it cleverly drives home the point that many people have become far too lazy to check their IMs and text messages for punctuation and grammar before sending them off. We all have at least one friend or relative who does this, and maybe we're guilty of it ourselves at times. As a writer/editor/proofreader by trade, my writing is usually impeccable. If I happen to notice a misspelling on my part after the text was sent, I'm quick to write the word correctly with an asterisk next to it, letting the recipient know it was done accidentally. I realize that this is to be expected from someone who writes for a living, and that others may not be such sticklers for grammar and spelling when having casual conversations with friends and family. But I just can't help it when people are too sloppy, peppering the conversation w...

Many of my friends have me give their resumes and cover letters a once-over before they apply for any job. You'd be amazed at how many glaring typos I find on the documents. It goes without saying that you must proofread your materials before sending them off . Use spell checker to find any spelling mistakes, then print the documents and scan them slowly. If you go too quickly, your eyes will assume everything is error-free -- after all, you've been working on them for quite a while. Have a more seasoned proofreader look over your stuff if need be. You might be asking yourself, "Why should I worry so much about spelling and grammar? I'm not applying for a writing position here!" Even if the actual position requires little to no writing, employers use resumes and cover letters to pre-screen candidates. If they're rife with errors, employers will infer that the candidate is not detail-oriented and will produce sloppy work while on the job. Thus, it s...