Be specific, be precise. It’s good. It’s fun and helps other to properly understand.
Several years ago a colleague at that time showed something he had found on the web. Not without enthusiasm he excitedly presented “the fact” that we don’t have to have the full text before our eyes get the message. Or to be more specific. Spelling isn’t all that important. Our brains will fill out the missing words or twisted spellings.
It was obvious that he found this quite amusing but one could also sense that he, maybe subconsciously, even found it relieving since he himself frequently presented badly spelled and written material from his own keyboard. Even so when speaking (but that’s another story).
He showed an example, and of course he was right. The text was fully understandable even though it was a mess. Probably carefully put together by someone who had decided to prove the theory, thus ridding everyone from the heavy load of having to spell and write by the book.
OK that our mind is an amazing structure, capable of mending faults as we experience them, but does this mean that we can, and should deliberately avoid spelling correctly? No! Get it right and gain efficiency. Or take the easy way out and do as you please for the moment, but then be prepared to lose quality in your communication.
The same principal is applicable for any other area of your choice. Everyone knows that using the correct signs in the correct order is crucial when printing an e-mail address. Just try to make one single print error and see what happens.
So, unless you haven’t already caught it, the message is this:
Learn how to do your job – Make it as good as you can – Experience the result!
It’s OK if you’re not that good yet. You may have to rely on the receptor (the customer) filling in the missing words or subconsciously correcting your errors, but if you try it will get better.
Be specific, be precise. It’s good. It’s fun.
