Typos on Websites
Today I came across a typo on a website. It was not just in the body of the text on the website, but rather, it was in the midst of a rather complex diagram. It was an otherwise beautiful diagram for a topic that I plan to address in the class I'll instruct tomorrow. I considered using the image for my lecture anyway, but decided against cropping out the offending text.
I was startled by the typo. At first, I didn't think that I remembered the spelling of the word correctly. I double-checked the spelling, confirmed that the diagram was indeed inaccurate, and decided to contact the company.
So, what do you do when you see a typo on a website?
Do you grumble and move on?
Do you assume you're wrong and double-check?
Is your response different depending on the type of website?
Will you lose any respect for a company if you notice an obvious typo in the
product description for something you are planning to purchase?
Do you have any particularly juicy experiences to share about typos?
A few broader questions:
What weight do you place on spelling accuracy?
Do you feel spelling should be taught in school, or is it something one should "pick up" naturally?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you grumble and move on? No.
Do you assume you're wrong and double-check? Yes. Usually.
Is your response different depending on the type of website?
Heck yeah. I won't blink if I see a typo on a forum, blog, etc. But if it's a website that I think people might trust, I'll try to set the record straight.
Will you lose any respect for a company if you notice an obvious typo in the product description for something you are planning to purchase?
Yes, depending. If it's a personal item like a pair of shoes or a new coat, I might not care. But if it's a scientific tool, I'm going to think twice. Poor spelling is a sign of weakness, and I want to purchase my supplies from a company that truly understands my scientific needs. If they don't notice a typo, what does that say about their quality control?
Do you have any particularly juicy experiences to share about typos? Nope, just boring ones. Though I'll never forget all of those e-mails my mom would send back with spelling corrections my first year away at college.
A few broader questions:
What weight do you place on spelling accuracy? It's important, but not essential for most casual settings.
Do you feel spelling should be taught in school, or is it something one should "pick up" naturally? Spelling is not something that I just "picked up", though I can't honestly say that I took spelling tests seriously in elementary school. As an adult, I've found a renewed interest in spelling. It leaves a good impression to have tidy penmanship and accurate spelling on notes and e-mails. There's a solid professionalism that comes along with accurate spelling. One misspelled word or poorly-constructed phrase could leave a bad impression on an associate, and I might not be happy with the consequences. I don't know if spelling should be taught in school or not. People are either going to care about the details, or they're not. It's entirely up to them. I suppose it doesn't hurt to show people how to find properly-spelled words, but I don't think it should infringe upon time that could better be spent on science and math.
__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy
|