Hello.  I'm sure I'll hit some nerves with this one, but that's why I chose this forum.  I get really irritated when I get emails from companies, family and friends with typos and abbreviations.  What has happened to the proper use of the English language?  I know that when I get an email from a company with typos in the subject line, I automatically delete it.  Seriously, if you can't take the time to proof your messages, how do you expect me to trust you to do whatever it is you are trying to sell me.  Typos in business correspondence are the most annoying.  A business or individual automatically loses credibility with me if they send out an email with typos or abbreviations in it.  I know emails are more convenient and faster than snail mail.  However, shouldn't they still be professional, without abbreviations and slang terms.  I also find it really irritating that you can't pick up a newspaper today without finding what seems like a million typos on the first page.  We, as a society, need to slow down and take the time to use proper sentence structure and to spell out words instead of using abbreviations.  Sometimes I can't even decipher what a person is saying because they have used so many abbreviations and slang terms.

I hope there are other people out there that share my views.

I have been informed by friends and family that I take things too seriously with incorrect spelling, improper grammar, usage of slang words, acronymns and other forms of sub-standard speech.  Apparently in today's society it is perfectly acceptable to "just get the words out" without worrying about how they are presented. 

I have also seen where the current trend is to not sound too professional in order to obtain a decent position within a company - appear too smart and your resume' is tossed in the trash.

The best way to proofread is read backwards - or so I've always been told.

I agree!  Personally, I don't even know these abbreviations or slang terms! It takes me forever to text someone back on my phone. I call them instead. Society is moving so quickly in this technology age, and it is only going to get worse. However, I have been guilty of typos and not proof-reading enough. I am a little nervous that someone here is going to find a mistake in my post!

 I agree. I was the biggest offender of not proofreading. It is the most important step and it is often skipped. My horrible grammar had earned me to be called out on it and I'm glad I was because I would just be continuing to make a fool of myself.

This is a general pet peeve of mine. Spelling mistakes specifically. It is so easy to spell check a document before sending it out- and the new Word version will automatically correct some as you are typing. However, spell check will not correct everything- especially the incorrect usage of their/ there/ they're or to/ two/ too. That's where proofreading comes in. I am not going to say that my grammar is perfect- because I know it's not. But I when writing things out, even simple emails, I will read it over before hitting that send button.

For me, this is so much of an issue that I have "disqualified" men who use improper grammar in online dating sites. My thoughts are that if they cannot write a proper sentence in their profile- they probably cannot in person either. Or it shows they were rushing and not putting much thought or effort into how they are presenting themselves. Especially because their profile is the first piece of information I have about them. This has been a disagreement I have had with friends- they think I am being overly picky and too critical. They might be right- but I expect that a guy trying to date me should put as much effort and energy into the process as I have.

However, I give everyone a break when texting or instant messaging. I think texting lingo and typos are perfectly fine. I don't even expect punctuation or capitalization. I guess I consider instant messaging/ texting and emails as different types of communication- messaging is well, instant, quick, back and forth chatter. Email allows you the time to collect your thoughts and use your words properly. Text lingo in an email?? NO NO NO NO NO!!

I think most of the blame can be laid at the door of texting.  Call it old fashioned/relic/cheap but since I don't have a job these days I don't have a cell phone.... so no texting.  I don't miss texting.  Had I wanted to decipher codes I would have become an archelogist or worked within the intelligence community.

There has become an acceptable lack of professional decorum both in telephone and correspondance  etiquette.  I will miss something once in a while, when I'm suffering from the mind generating faster than the fingers can type.  I will go back and post the correction and an apology.

Perhaps the newest generation to take on the roles has decided they are above those business protocols.

The most recent offender emailed with a request that I "male" her a copy of my form 50.  Maybe I should ask her the age,race and educational backgorund of her "male" preference?

putting coz instead of because and other little things really wind me up. i even did a blog post here about poor writing skills