Why is it that I feel the urge to correct people’s spelling & grammar when they ask me to check out their website or a document? I always try and be polite about it when I add comments/corrections to the Word document or drop them an email with the details, but I suppose I’m wondering if this is an OK thing to do.
In my work environment I’m much more comfortable about doing this, I think that’s because it’s a professional document that I’ll be reviewing and so it’s important that everything is as correct as possible (especially when it might be sent/reviewed by a client).
So I suppose what I’m really questioning is whether it’s OK to contact individuals about their personal sites and point out an error that I’ve spotted, or should I learn to sit on my hands and let it wash over me?
This post can also be found on my Vox blog which I’ll be using for shorter, slightly more random brain dumps than this blog
I reckon it’s okay to tell people if they’ve got stuff spelt wrong. I know people get a little affronted by such things but it’s far more difficult to proofread your own copy than it is someone else’s so really you’re doing them a favour. I have to say though, as much as I do the same as you with other people’s websites and work, I still haven’t found a way to do it so they don’t get peeved!
Hope ure having a good day!! xx
You can spell check my website anytime!!!
Feedback is always a tricky thing to deliver, but it it is going out to a customer it is always best to have it right. I once watched a CEO eliminate a vendor from the running based on the quality of that vendor’s spelling. I kid you not.
For personal blogs I guess it is a harder call. I’d rather know and fix things, but that might not always be the case. It will depend on the individual. Contacting a stranger and pointing out spelling mistakes on their site is probably not going to win too many people over. However, saving a friend from a blooper is always a good thing to do!