I may later come to regret penning this rant, but one can only scrunch up one’s prudish nose so many times before blowing off some steam and expressing concern.

What’s bugging me is the disturbing trend toward poorly written communications.  As an employer, I was continually and sadly astonished to witness the poor caliber of writing skills that came across my desk and computer monitor, especially from the younger “now” generation.  Whether from applicants seeking to make a good impression, but doing just the opposite by butchering cover letters and resumes, or employees with seemingly so much on their plates that they couldn’t take a few seconds to utilize the spell-check function or proof their emails, methinks we’ve got a problem here in the work place and in society in general.  

But the problem goes much deeper than the actual botching of the English language.  What has me most concerned is our creeping acceptance of it.  It is one thing that the use of proper grammar, punctuation and spelling seem to more and more often resemble the scribbling of some sort of undecipherable code, especially since the advent of the Internet, email, instant messaging, blogging and text messaging.  It is quite another that we tolerate it.

Why do I use the term “creeping acceptance”?  Because with each typo that makes its way into a business letter and is deemed acceptable, with each misspelled word on the job application of an employee who is hired anyway, with each professional email that contains neither a proper greeting nor a proper salutation but is allowed to stand with impunity, with each grammatically flawed e-flier that is whipped out to audiences urging action, we offer our approval through our silence.

Yes, we live in a hurry-up-and-finish world.  We have deadlines, crunch times and obligations bearing down on us.  But how much time would it really take to stop and read that email before we hit the Send button?  How hard is it to use spell check?  What happened to the word “proofing”?  Somewhere along the way I fear we have overlooked the importance of words and the impression they have on others.  We only get one chance, as they say, to make a first impression.  So why would you allow yourself to send a business letter or email to a prospective employer, customer or client that has not been scrutinized and at least quasi-polished?  Or even to a member of your Board or your co-worker down the hall?

Here is my suggestion.  Take to heart the adage, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Starting today, renew that pride you felt as a grade-school student over a paper that was well written.  Start making painstakingly sure that any email, text message, instant message, business letter, even a thank-you note you write to your Aunt Hazel, contains the proper spelling, punctuation and grammar.  If you haven’t been doing this, if you’ve been guilty of negligence with your written emails, epistles and pitches, I believe once you start paying attention and stop allowing this to be acceptable, once you make a concerted effort to change your wayward writing habits, you will begin to experience a great sense of personal satisfaction.  I promise that it will make a difference on the recipient’s end, partly because the quality of your message is enhanced, but in part, also, because you will have elevated yourself from amongst the slackness in others’ communications.

If we all begin to take just these simple steps, we can change this trend from one of creeping acceptance of the slow death of decorum in writing to an inclination toward proud intolerance.  Let’s not leave a legacy of illiteracy for our children.  Parents and teachers -- without question, the noblest of professions -- can’t do it all.  Administrators, take time to instill pride in your employees’ writing efforts by gingerly and constructively pointing out less-than-sterling efforts that reflect on your company and the individual.  Let’s -- everyone -- look over our messages.  Together, we can change the future of the English language one word at a time.