Your blog isn’t under the same scrutiny as your other, more direct marketing methods. A blog is more of a place where your readers and potential customers can learn more about you before they purchase, as well as interact with you after the sale. A blog is designed for two-way communication, and that means it should be written more conversationally than articles, for example.
That being said, we can’t just post garbage and expect a decent reputation. Basic rules still hold true. If you want your business to be taken seriously, you’ll have to spend a little time making sure you don’t appear to be an unlearned, unskilled individual that couldn’t have much to offer. All it takes is a little – and I do mean a little – common knowledge, reference material, and proofreading. If in doubt that a sentence reads correctly, wait a day and read it out loud. Errors in grammar are often found there.
If you don’t care, your readers will notice. It’s almost a respect issue. If you have problems in this area, hire someone to help you write or edit. Don’t neglect this detail.
Here are a few things to check before you post:
- Never use could of, would of, or should of. The second word in each pair may sound like “of” conversationally, but it should always read “have.”
- Referring to yourself as ‘I’ is not always correct, although it can sound right. Read the sentence aloud, “Steve and I want ice cream.” If it can be read “I want ice cream.” you’ve used it as it should be. If you say, “That really bothered Steve and I” it would be wrong because you wouldn’t say, “That really bothered I.” Instead, “That really bothered Steve and me,” or “me and Steve” while sounding wrong, is actually proper because you can say, “That really bothered me.”
- Make sure you use actual words, and not made up words that have simply been used by your family for generations, unless you point that out for humor! You can’t assume that your readers know you’re not an idiot. When in doubt, look it up.
Readers will forgive occasional, tiny grammatical errors. It isn’t the end of the world if you realize after posting that you’ve made a mistake. If you do, simply comment on your own blog about noticing your blunder and let it go.
Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to grammar? What are they, we’d love to hear about them!
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