Another common error I see in copy is the wrong usage of lose and loose. Lose is a verb and it means to give up (as in a win) or misplace. Examples: I am about to lose the match. In PPC advertising, you might lose the shirt off your back, so to speak. I gave up everything, so I have nothing else to lose. On the other hand, loose is an adjective. Examples: I'm wearing a loose shirt. A person of loose morals. If you want to turn loose into a verb, the word is loosen. Examples: It's hot, so I'll loosen my tie.
Well put beez. This often annoys me seeing this in English content, as a native English speaker. If you were mistaking these two words in adwords you would lose your shirt. Though I'm sure some ESL writers have made some serious cash in certain niches making this mistake.
You can say that again. When I see this mistake in web copy, I click out. If the site owner won't take care to correct his spelling mistakes, he won't take care of his clients.
I am sorry but I would not base my judgment on a person's attitude... simply going by his language skills. English is 3rd or 4th Language for many people around the world and they adopt it, simply to reach out to international audience. Most of these people do take very good care of their clients... just as well, in spite of their inability to perfect their association with a foreign language! People would do well to look at the person's intentions... rather than just the words! Regards, RightMan
More than likely Perry Rose If your belts loose you could end with all sorts of problems as you could lose your trousers at a really inopportune moment LOL
Lol, that is a funny one. Some people don't care about spelling and grammar. I personally place big importance, at the very least, on spelling. I agree with RightMan about making assumptions though: Just because you haven't perfected English doesn't mean you will treat customers the wrong way. I usually attribute poor spelling and grammar with communication problems. If I can foresee communication problems down the road, I won't bite. Its like going with a local service company, that resides in your hometown - as opposed to going with a national, or multinational company that outsources their help desks. That sort of service isn't for me, and I avoid it at all costs. I used to work at call centers, and there are a lot of angry customers out their that can't get simple issues resolved; due to poor communication, or lack of it. I'm not trying to be offensive, just stating my reasons for passing judgment on the issue we are discussing. I'm quite sure if I tried to type in French, I would annoy a lot of French people (I'm terrible ).
I agree but if I tied up a Thai with a Tie and stuck him in the Tye in full view on the village common I would expect the Thai tied up with a tie in the tye to be well and truly tired of me and my fellow dwellers on the tye and I know full well he would never be a happy tied Thai workmen. What's more if I tied up the Thai with many ties and placed him on the Tye he would be even less likely to be happy tied worker to.
If I hadn't been up all night last night after spending all the last night before up looking after my 3 year old daughter due to stomach flu and then spent the day in bed yesterday and on the phone to heaven every other hour or so, I might be able come back with something funny again, but alas the waves of sleep keep turning my M's into N's and my N's into M's, so tonight I have nothing more amusing that comes to mind to retort with ...
I can promise you that I will never buy a product that promises me that I can "Loose 10 pounds..." Sloppy English can be very costly.
True, RightMan, but first impression counts a lot, especially in the Web where it's easy to click out. So care must be exercised if one is to effectively reach out to potential clients. If I were to reach out to a German audience when I don't have a good command of the German language, I'll hire a German writer and then ask Germans to read the copy for errors. I want to be serious with my business and not look like a fly-by-night.