I receive newsletters from several coaches who make over 7 figures a year. Each have their own personality and I’ve connected with them for different reasons. While they’re all different, they have one alarming thing in common that drives me crazy: spelling and grammar errors.
I mean, we’re not talking wrangling dangling modifiers. My modifiers dangle like chandelier earrings on a rock climber. I appreciate their conversational tone, but that doesn’t mean we abandon punctuation.
If you’re making 7 figures, you can afford a copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style or invest in anything Diana Hacker. They can be up there on the shelf with Napolean Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. You’re all about education, self improvement, growing and pushing yourself; you can learn how to use a frickin’ apostrophe.
One newsletter I read, I was surprised there were periods in there. I think they made the cut for aesthetic value. Give the read a polka dot feel. Not an apostrophe on the page. Contractions going undercover as regular words I guess. There are commas. Not in the right or logical place, but there are commas. I think they’re also there to for artistic value. Oh your eyes follow the curve to the next line…
I believe language evolves and believe there are choices you can make to create an experience for readers. I am by no means saying I’m perfect. I make grammar mistakes all the time. I commit harikari when I realize I’ve published them, but to each their own.
There will be people who read this and say, “It’s your perfectionism coming out,” or “This is fear speaking.” It is a sensitive area for me because it’s my background. Four years as an English major with professors’ eyes lasering you down, “Really? That sentence made the cut?” Then declaring writing as my career, yes, I can’t believe someone publishes to an audience of thousands “cant”.
They’re in a different industry than me. When writers don’t use punctuation, we’re inspired by E. E. Cummings. It is intentional and we know why we’re doing it.
I’m not saying I’m better or smarter. These people are making 7 figures and I’m working to make money with a heart calling. It’s just a bugaboo of mine. If you make that type of money, you can afford editors and polish your writing.