Hey! Spelling Counts!

The great global conversation on the internet has many virtues for communicators … and not a few vices. One of the biggest sins — and one which has proliferated, at least in part, because the teeny-weeny keys on mobile devices encourage freeform abbreviations — is the devil-may-care way in which many people treat the matter of spelling and grammar today.

Maybe it’s because I am a marketing communications specialist for whom a basic understanding of language is a fundamental requirement, but it makes me crazy when some otherwise smart, articulate people can’t tell the difference between “it’s” and “its” or “than” or “then” … especially when they’re professional communicators.

So I was especially delighted to discover that Matthew Inman shares my sentiments. A 27-year-old web designer and online marketer, Matthew writes and illustrates The Oatmeal.

Check out his “Ten Words You Need to Stop Misspelling”. It’s a must-read for anyone who knows that there’s a difference between “affect” and “effect” … but can’t always remember “which” is “witch