Therefore, if you see any typo errors in classified postings via the Internet, you have two options. Avoid that posting or flag it-some online classifieds have that option. Basically, I flag it so no one will apply for that individual or company.

Happy Easter all. Time for me to go through some more job posts.

I’d have to say that while I have not corrected errors of any potential employers I did rewrite a job post once that an employer wrote that was mostly a rant about all the bad writers she had hired in the past and she wanted a fair quote since she had already paid these writers for their crappy writing.

I figured, who would want to work for her now with that insulting attitude so I puffed up her job post and sent it to her telling her right out that I didn’t intend to be a smarta$$ but here was a writing sample for her. She hired me and I had repeat business from her when she needed help in topics that we had in common. It was probably more in the timing as she had just posted and I responded quickly with a rewrite, a skill she was looking for.

Sometimes there are snarky employers looking for snarky writers as well, so I’ve done off the wall cover letters here and there and it has paid off as well.

That said, I would never however say, your work is crap. I’d rather say, I’d love to be a part of your team.

I sincerely just wanted to help. Some editors don’t have the time to review their websites and its contents. If errors such as not capitalizing the word “English” fail to be noticed, there is no harm in bringing this to the attention of someone responsible for the business.

If you intend to insult and degrade the site and its writer(s), then you have no excuse for that type of behavior. Act with professional tact and empathy.

I also share the opinion that I wouldn’t want to work for/with someone who was trying to deliberately add mistakes as a secret test. I’m pretty forgiving about such things because I once worked with a guy who was virtually unintelligible – he mispronounced everything over 2 syllables, had no idea what order the words went in, and stuttered. I literally fell out of my chair laughing when I got a project that I would be working with his crew on (he was actually a supervisor) and received my first email from him. He wrote EXACTLY like he talked, complete with stuttering. I couldn’t believe he actually took the time to type, “Um, um, um, Let’s meet today…”, but he did.

Also, I know a lot of young people who were absolutely ruined for spelling by “Hooked on Phonics”. They can read, but spell? Not so much…

Anyway, unless the ad said, “This ad is indicative of the high standards we expect from our writers.” and was full of errors, I wouldn’t say anything, and even then I would be polite.

My $2c worth

I guess we’re hypersensitive to glaring errors because of our line of work. And I understand that some people don’t like being corrected. But, I am surprised at how often I see typos and misuses of punctuation, etc. in ads, menus, web sites, and newspaper articles.

I hope there are no typos in my comment…