Forum presentation and spelling

I make mistakes and I continually get things wrong. Considering I spend a lot of my time writing (professionally??) I do make lots of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. However, I do strive for the best possible result I can and I constantly review my work and make changes, add content or improve layout all the time. Many people see a forum as shorthand - a bit like text messaging slang. It seems that a quickly fired off message, without capitals, punctuation or formatting is acceptable - it's an instant way of making a point. However, stop and think a little; this forum, in fact the whole site, is a shop window for 'you'. I understand that in the garden you might be a different person and literacy skills don't come into your daily work but as far as impressions go, what a client might read here, does count towards them making their decisions - rightly or wrongly - about you and/or your business and service. Before you post into any of the forum or blog topics, have a little think about how your text reads, how the spelling looks, how the page is laid out etc. White space (the buffer between paragraphs) is your friend - use the white space to separate long blocks of text. Make sure that capitals are in the right place too. If you are starting a new post in the forum then you will always have editing permission for the initial post (like the one I am writing here) so you can go back at any time and edit the text, add further info or pictures. There is however, less flexibility when adding a reply or further information using the text box below the main forum post. The author of the text has fifteen minutes in which to make changes (hover the cursor over the text and you will notice the whole text block turn yellow, double click on it and you can return to the editing box. Make any changes and press save. There are a number of spell checking add-on's for web browsers which underline wrongly spelt words, right clicking gives the author the option to change the erroneous word to the right one.

Replies

Graeme @ BGS September 15, 2009 at 1:37pm

Now wasn’t this something we were only briefly discussing on “chat” last night?!

Whilst I am not prefect (well most of the time), I do find it amazing that as a general rule we all take such care and attention to detail in our “work” but let ourselves down when it comes to postings and client documentation.
Kerrie John-The garden design Co September 15, 2009 at 4:45pm

I make dreadful mistakes!

If wanting to post a long discussion reply or sometimes a blog, I write it in Word first, correct it then copy and paste.
Jackson's Landscape Design September 15, 2009 at 7:36pm

I hold my hands high, I admit my written contributions to LJN do fall be low par.

I'll put this down to two reasons:

Lack of vocabulary and plain old idleness.

Must try harder and tag my photos too.

Apologies Phil and all
Graeme @ BGS September 15, 2009 at 7:53pm

But you post cracking replies Kerry
Jackson's Landscape Design September 15, 2009 at 8:08pm

Less is more now isn't it? or is it?
GORDON September 15, 2009 at 9:07pm

I do the same. mostly because the phone is going all night and when I get back I find certain sites have timed out. Makes you want to */!!?@+

Kerrie said:
I make dreadful mistakes!

If wanting to post a long discussion reply or sometimes a blog, I write it in Word first, correct it then copy and paste.
Helen Nock September 17, 2009 at 9:52am

Good reminder Phil,I think I mess up my emphasis frequently. That's another good thing about this network. Our captain engages and supports his crew unerringly (just slipped off to check that spelling!)
It's true, a well laid out string of messages makes sense of the continiuty and context and far more professional as you say. I think my problem is muli-tasking and trying catch up when I'm tired. So, yep...a considered less is more :-)
Classic Gardens September 17, 2009 at 10:28am

I use my phone lot to access the site, which can cause a few problems when typing.
Graeme @ BGS September 17, 2009 at 3:52pm

Can I also add that we try to keep each forum topic related to the actual initial posting? Or am I being petty?

I’m as guilty (if not more) as the next man (or lady) as it is always tempting to go slightly off topic.

The most recent example and please be assured I haven’t singled this one other than it is the latest is the “commercial sweeper” posting and the last reply asking for advise on actually cleaning a patio.

I stand corrected if I am wrong but wouldn’t this make more sense in being a new forum posting and by adding the correct “tags” would help people searching for similar responses?

As I said I put my hand up to being guilty but will try harder in future. In fact I have probably gone slightly off topic from the original posting!!
Graeme @ BGS September 17, 2009 at 5:34pm

Sorry Pete - I wasn't picking on your post other than it was the first one I came across.