There are some who write or read content on the Internet and find themselves appalled at the "lax" editing process that is often involved in said content. I've had my writing criticized for it, even just recently. This started off as an email in reply to one of these aforementioned "grammar snobs" but instead, I figured why waste my time? Some people just need to feel important and who am I to try to take that away?
But I am going to share it with you here because chances are, you've been part of this equation- either on one side or the other and you might benefit from some insight into the battle over online content and its quality and/or lack of proper editing before publication.
Here's the argument: Online writing is sloppy and those publishing this dribble should not be calling themselves "professionals".
This has been a longtime debate for as long as I have been writing for the Internet and while I certainly see the point (I used to treat it the same way when I first started), I have also learned that most Web writing is just not meant to be this way. I lose money when I nit-pick over every single word and spend hours editing something that isn't going to be up for a Pulitzer or even a publishing house.
When I produce ad copy, books, promotional materials and other business and corporate writing, there is a higher level editorial process that goes into it. Typically, there is also at least 1-2 other people who will read the copy and we all create a final draft together.
Quick articles and blurbs for the Internet don't require this type of fine-toothed-comb editing. While I don't encourage sloppy or unedited writing, there is a limit to how long I will edit a piece that is only paying a certain amount. And the point of the matter is that it really isn't necessary. I've seen major news networks like FOX and NBC make typos, particularly in news they are trying to get out quickly. The Associated Press often has typos or grammar errors in their news feeds due to their attempt to be the first to get it "on the wire". Sometimes these mistakes are corrected later and often, they are not.
Why? Well, because there is no point. The point was to get the info out there. Those who needed to read it, read it, and as long as the typo or grammatical error did not hinder the reader's comprehension of the story, it won't typically be changed. In fact, the average reader won't even notice the type of errors these Grammar Snobs so gleefully point out.
The average Net reader is on a 5th-6th grade level, with the exception of technical and some niche-specific sites and blogs. This isn't to say that all Internet readers are uneducated. Instead, it takes into consideration stress, work, TV and other distractions that the person has going on when they come to read your article or website. Chances are, they were quickly looking for something and they are usually in a rush. Therefore, their reading attention spans are around that of a 12 year old, regardless of who they are, their age or their educational level.
Using large, stuffy vocabulary turns the average reader off. They don't want to read fluffy, flowery content; they want simple, to the point information about the topic they searched for.
"Intellectual" types will see this type of writing as bland, simple or uneducated but 90% of the time, I am not writing to the intellectuals. I'm writing to the average Internet reader.
One recent insult I received was "What are you, in high school?" No, but the majority of my readers have a high school education and possibly some college. It's all about identifying your reader and giving them what they want.
I don't write so that I can puff my chest out and snub my nose at those less educated than myself.
I don't write so that I can join an elitist club and sit by a fireplace sipping cognac and smoking expensive cigars mumbling, "Here! Here!" when one of my snob-buddies makes a self-righteous comment.
I write to help others, to provide information; to get to the point. I write to answer questions, to share my experiences and opinions and I write to help businesses find success.
There are some who will call me a "sell out" or say that I am bringing down the quality of the industry but you know what? These people don't sign my paychecks.
My tagline for Web copy is "Curing Internet illiteracy- one website at a time!" and this is something I have vowed to uphold each and every year that I continue to work in this business. I am human and occasionally I make mistakes but my clients have always felt that I create better content than they would have if they were doing it themselves (and some of them had). They always find a value in my services and I am compensated very well for that value.
So if I get the occasional self-righteous blogger who wants to insult me and debate it every now and then, we can just chalk it up to a casualty of the industry and move on. If you don't like the way I choose to write and run my business, we can respectfully agree to disagree and I'll move on and keep banking my cash.
About the Author:
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content in more than 10 years as a professional writer.
Author of 100 Days to Better Article Writing as well as other books, guides and articles on writing and writing online.
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