I am probably showing my age and I don’t mean to be a spelling snob but I think it can really put readers off when there are spelling mistakes all over a website.
So, the question is would you contact a complete stranger to let them know of their spelling mistakes?
And, would you want other people to point out spelling mistakes to you if they were on your website?
Max 
11 Comments
September 15, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I think spelling is such an integral part of the image, especially online. Mistakes give such an amateur feel.
November 12, 2009 at 12:15 am
Are they spelling mistakes or typos? There is a difference but either way copy/content should be checked and I am a culprit of typos lol
September 15, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I agree with Neil that spelling errors and poor grammar make a website look less than professional.
I wouldn’t mention such errors if the meaning of the post was clear. But if I know the author reasonably well I might send a private note to them.
On the other hand I have no great qualms about mentioning technical errors in my area of expertise to authors, again privately if possible so as not to embarrass them.
The use of spell checkers is great so long as you remember that all it tells you is that the words used are spelt correctly, but not whether they are the right words nor whether they are in the right order!
September 15, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Pointed out more than a spelling mistake this morning – whole piece of text missing!
September 15, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Thanks for comments everyone. I won’t be shy and will point things out in future.
And thanks Anna for pointing out to me that we had an extra “is” on our data cleansing page (eek!)
September 15, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Just listened to Jamie Oliver (who is severely dyslexic) explain that he spell checked pancetta and it came out as placenta. He posted it on his blog! Hope no one tried to follow that recipe ….
September 29, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hi there
Great blog topic, Maxxy… (Wish I’d thought of it!)
Spelling accuracy is part and parcel of a professional online image. As a copywriter, I’m obviously a bit anal about spellings – but only because I believe your online words act as the voice of your business.
However, that said, people are often oblivious to their own spelling mistakes and if sales copy isn’t proofread, all sorts of errors can unintentionally creep into the public domain.
Rather than seek to humiliate people, I often send a short, friendly email pointing out spelling slip-ups. I find most recipients grateful that someone was honest with them.
Nikki
September 30, 2009 at 10:30 am
Thank you Helen for pointing out a spelling mistake on my website last week. I really appreciate it so guess that others would too as Nikki says
… anyone would think I wrote this article to get everyone to proof read my site LOL (Honestly, I didn’t!)
September 30, 2009 at 11:26 am
It would depend on the relationship with the person. If I know them well then I would let them know about spelling mistakes, broken links etc via an email or DM on twitter.
I’m sure that we all have gone through a piece that we wrote and the brain ’sees’ what you wanted to write
November 11, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I completely agree with Mark. I will only point out mistakes of any kind if either a) I have been asked to comment or b) I know the author well enough to be sure that they will take the comments in the spirit in which they were intended. In other words I am very careful not to be a grammar nazi, pointing out errors to make myself look good. That kind of behaviour annoys me more than the original error
November 11, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I do mentally highlight spelling mistakes… however if it is on a website & I know the owner of the site, I will send them an e-mail letting them know.
If it is a twitter bio, I have been known to DM the person and let them know of the mistake.
A copywriter had spelt partner, ‘parter’ in their twitter BIO, I couldn’t let that one go…