By: Bill Willard


A small-business owner is someone who runs his own company, but a small business owner is always a shrimp!

Along with incredible conveniences, email communications come with a major pitfall: People are getting careless about their writing. Is this the end of the world? No. In casual communication, a few misspellings and grammatical gaffes are no big deal.

But with prospects and clients? Very big deal.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but email goofs make a sharp cookie like you come across like a dim bulb in life's marquee. Yet, SBOs who faithfully proofread printed correspondence don't bother checking their email messages before hitting Send.

Spelling & Grammar Check On?

If you're using Outlook Express or Microsoft Word, chances are the spelling & grammar checker is turned on. If it isn't, it needs to be.

To turn on the automatic spelling changes in Outlook Express, click on Tools, then Options and then select the Spelling tab; in Word, click on Tools, then Options and then select the Spelling & Grammar tab. Put checks in the proper boxes and you'll be in business.

Want to Know More? The University of Wisconsin's website offers a first-rate tutorial on spell checking in Microsoft Word (among other subjects). Go to:
http://www.uwec.edu/help/Word/w8spell.htm

Common Mistakes

Some words slip by spellcheckers every time if all the letters are in the right places, but the usage is wrong. Here are some common examples. Try This: Put a check mark next to errors you realize you make or others have pointed out to you; then work on getting them right next time.

[] Adverse/Averse

 Adverse means bad or unfavorable: Motion had an adverse effect on his well being.
 Averse means opposed to or disinclined: They were averse to attending the presentation.

[] Can/May

 Can means ability to do something: I can go to the store.
 May means permission to do something: May I go to the store?

[] Data/Media

 Data and media are plurals: The data she presented were convincing.
 The media are expected to report the facts.

[] Effect/Affect

 Effect means to bring about or cause: Lost income can has a bad effect on lifestyle.
 Affect means to influence: Lost income can badly affect lifestyles.

[] Fewer/Less

 Fewer refers to things that can be counted: Fewer visitors dropped in at our Website last week.
 Less refers to things that cannot be counted: She has less to offer than other consultants. Or when referring to time or money: This car costs less than that one.

[] Like/As

 Like governs nouns and pronouns: Garry ran like a deer.
 As is used in constructions with a verb: She acts as a young adult would act. Or when introducing examples: Some business owners, such as O'Reilly, know how to keep from wasting their time (not like O'Reilly).

[] Its/It's

 Its is a possessive pronoun: The cat licked its paws.
 It's is a contraction: It's a great way to earn a living.

[] Lie/Lay

 Lie means to recline or be located: Lie down on the sofa.
 Lay means to put something down: He lay down on the sofa.

[] Principle/Principal

 Principle is a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or rule of conduct: He was a man of principle who followed the principles of good employee relations.
 Principal is person in charge; the leading performer: The President was the principal architect of that policy. Also, a sum of money; a bequest or the corpus of an estate: The investment was part principal, part interest.

[] That/Which

 That introduces a restrictive clause: Henry liked the proposal that I gave him.
 Which introduces a nonrestrictive clause, which adds information and is preceded by a comma: The proposal that I gave to Henry, which he liked, is in his best interest.

[] There/Their/They're

 Their belongs to them: This is their boat.
 There means in that place: The program is in there.
 They're is a contraction: They're going to work.

[] Who/That

 Who refers to people: This is the client who called this morning.
 That refers to things and animals: The horse that Alice rode was fast. Or when referring to a class or type of persons: They are the kind of customers that always want more details.

[] Who/Whom

 Who refers to the subject of a sentence: Ken asked who was handling his account.
 Whom refers to the object of a sentence: The salesperson whom Ken asked for was out of the office. (Or: "For Whom the Bells Tolls!")

[] Whose/Who's

 Whose is a possessive pronoun: Whose book is that?
 Who's is a contraction: Who's going to pay for this?

Is any of this fatal? Not in small doses; but you only get one chance at a first impression, and if that comes in an email message to a promising prospect, why not put your best foot forward by watching what you write?

Right?

Want More? Send questions and comments to w.willard3@knology.net.

Sources: The Goof-Proofer, Stephen J. Manhard, Collier Books, NY, 1987; The Elements of Style (Third Edition), William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, MacMillan Publishing, Inc. NY, 1979; Edit Yourself, Bruce Ross-Larson, W.W. Norton &Co., NY, 1992; Line by Line, Claire K. Cook, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1985.