On Using Your Imagination
November 22, 2024
Short Story: The Rainwitch
November 29, 2024Doesn't it drive you mad when people are always on the hunt for errors in everything? It drives me mad, and it's my job!
Yes, spelling and grammar are important, but are they the be-all and end-all of everything you write? Absolutely not! Mistakes happen, things can be fixed, and it’s not worth the constant headache. You can still be a writer, you can still share your work, even if things aren't absolutely perfect – that’s what editors are for, after all!
Here are four times spelling and grammar don’t matter (and four times when they do).
It doesn’t matter on social media.
When chatting to friends and family on the likes of Facebook and Instagram, it doesn’t have to be perfect! One of the reasons you’re doing it is for fun and relaxation, so don’t stress too much about everything being correct. As long as you’re understood and you get your point across, that’s all that matters.
(I make mistakes on Facebook all the time… much to the amusement of some!)
It does matter in business.
If you’re running a business and putting out promotional material, or if you’re communicating with clients, it’s best to get it right. If your content is consistently littered with errors, you run the risk of damaging your reputation and making your business look less professional.
It doesn’t matter during casual conversations.
Just like social media, you don’t need to be perfect in anything casual. Emails, personal correspondence, text messages, and the like are all times when there is no need to stress about spelling and grammar.
It does matter during formal correspondence.
Do you need to write a formal letter? Whether it’s to the gas company because they’ve overcharged you or to your employer, getting it right is important. Let them see you mean business and that you know your stuff.
It doesn’t matter when you don’t know.
Do you love to write but are not sure about spelling, grammar, and punctuation? Don’t let that put you off. An editor can fix all that later. Get your story on the page – the world doesn’t want to miss out on your creativity simply because pedants have frightened you away.
It does matter when you’re publishing.
Whether it’s a cheesy romance or the history of the Ottoman Empire, getting it right in published work is vital. It doesn’t matter if you’re an indie author or traditionally published, make sure your work is error free before you share it with the world. If you can’t do it alone, hire someone!
It doesn’t matter at any time!
Yes, spelling and grammar can be kind of a big deal, and sure, we should try our best to get it right. But does it really matter? We’re only human, and mistakes happen. Communication is key, and as long as you get your point across as clearly and correctly as you can, don’t stress about the rest.
