Most days, I take time to read the work of other writers online - and today was no exception. Prompted by a link on Twitter, I visited an article which several users were recommending. They were right - in terms of subject matter and content, it was excellent. However, the spelling and punctuation were all over the place. This would be tolerable, if not quite forgivable, had it not been for one thing. The article, which appeared on the author's personal blog, was written by a professional freelance writer, who regularly contributes to national and international newspapers and magazines.
This quite took me aback. Initially because I expected better from a successful writer, and then because of the implications. Clearly, this person submits work to publications, and enjoys regular commissions, without heed to basic rules. Either they don't know how correct English is constructed, or they don't care. Or both. What's more, the editors taking delivery of their work are quite happy to pay for articles which are essentially wrong.
It now occurs to me, with astonishment, that it is quite possible these editors cannot tell correct punctuation and spelling from the opposite, either.
Perhaps I'm just hopelessly naive. Maybe this practice has been commonplace for years and, like a fool, I have been taking needless time and trouble to proofread my work before submitting it to clients. But, if so, I have to wonder what defines the professional writer from a body who just fancies writing something.
This speaks to a greater malaise, of course. Reluctant though I am to accept it, the generation following mine were educated to believe spelling, grammar and punctuation were rather un-cool anachronisms. 'Expressing yourself' was all that really mattered - the technicalities were largely irrelevant. The evidence for this policy is all too obvious. I once worked with an account handler, about ten years my junior, who had no idea of the difference between 'to', 'too' and 'two'. She was a graduate - and she wasn't alone. Judging by the emails and text messages I receive, almost nobody knows when 'your' is correct, and when to use 'you're'. This afternoon, discussing this matter with an acquaintance who teaches, I am told this attitude is still the norm. Which is dispiriting, but at least these errors aren't being made by people professing to be professional writers.
Such a drop in standards must have occurred in the last two decades. I say that, because I started my copywriting career around twenty years ago, and I wouldn't have had a sliver of success had I not had a grasp on these fundamentals of writing. Indeed, I would have been laughed out of the business.
You might argue that none of this matters. If words are misspelt, so what? If apostrophes and capitals are just loosely sprinkled over text, like hundreds-and-thousands, who gives a hoot? Well, imagine if someone was repairing your car, but only had a vague idea of its workings. Or an individual was decorating your house, but used a spoon instead of a brush or roller. You'd get your car back and your house painted, but the quality would be dreadful and the results deeply unsatisfying. You'd only get a proper job from a professional who actually understood their trade.
I suspect apathy is at the core of this problem. If sufficient numbers of people cared enough, then correctly written language would still be the gold standard. It would certainly be the minimum requirement for a professional. For a professional writer isn't simply a person who is paid, but an expert with the ability to present intelligent and compelling copy, properly constructed and correctly spelt.
Magnus Shaw is a copywriter, blogger and consultant
Kristopher Hamilton February 11th, 2014, around noon
I think the rise in the use of electronic devices has contributed to this, as many people don't feel the need to learn spelling or grammar when the computer autocorrects it for them. We all know, however, how terribly that can go wrong at times.