1. Over-capitalization — Sometimes business owners capitalize the first letter of every word in their copy, with the idea that it will get more attention. Not every word in your marketing materials should be or needs to be capitalized. Keep the caps for proper names, job titles, etc.
2. You or I — If you refer more to yourself and your services in your materials than to your customers and their needs, think again. Rephrase those passages with more “you” references and emphasize how your products or services benefit your customers.
Example: Let’s connect, so I will give a quick overview of what I do.
Revised: Let’s discuss how Theracare can relieve your pain and get you back on your feet again. Call 555-867-5309 today.
3. Mismatched words — Make sure singular and plural words match. Otherwise, reading can become an awkward experience.
Example: Do you have old postcards stored away and want to do something with them? It could be mementos from people you know and places you’ve been.
Revised: Do you have old postcards stored away and want to do something with them? They could be mementos from people you know and places you’ve been.
4. Punk-tuation — Do you use question marks when you ask a question. Maybe you just love to add exclamation points for excitement! Perhaps apostrophes are they’re, but there in the wrong places. These are some of the most distracting punctuation errors, as you’ve probably just noticed.
5. Redundancy — Cut unnecessary words.
Example: Please RSVP.
Revised: RSVP.
You’ll often see it on invitations. RSVP is an acronym for the French phrase “répondez s’il vous plaît,” which means “respond if you please.” Those of us who truly find French a foreign language might not know what it means, and if you often see the acronym only, you can easily forget the meaning.
Quotes
“If your ad is peppered with misspellings and grammatical errors, not only will it make the description difficult to read, the buyer might wonder if the seller is as lazy about the way she cares for and packs her items as she is about grammar and spelling.” ~ Dawn and Bobby Reno, The Unofficial Guide to eBay and Online Auctions
“Spelling is the clothing of words, their outward visible sign, and even those who favour sweatpants in everyday life like to make a bella figura, as the Italians say –- a good impression –- in their prose.” ~ Mary Norris, Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen
Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.
Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com
