Today I received a contract for an upcoming program I will lead. In the contract, my last name is spelled wrong. On the program flyer, my last name and company name are both spelled wrong.
In a recent list of recommended business blogs, both my first name and last name were spelled wrong. Frequently links to this blog spell my name wrong.
Last week I sent a proposal to a woman named Candi. Before I clicked Send, I noticed that Candi's full name was Candace–not Candice, as I had thought. Whew–good catch! I quickly changed her name on the letter I was sending her by U.S. mail.
In our rush to get things done, we have all made these mistakes. But let's not kid ourselves. Spelling someone's name incorrectly is a stupid, avoidable, careless mistake.
The spelling of someone's name is a no-brainer. We don't need to argue over it, wonder about it, or worry that we have somehow misunderstood. We simply have to confirm the correct spelling. Using the Internet, it is easy to learn whether Marcia should be Marsha. It's simple to find out whether Lynn is actually Lynne. And checking the name of a company takes mere seconds. If the Internet doesn't have the answer, we can call to find out.
Let's do it. Let's pause before clicking Send or sealing the envelope. Let's confirm: Is her name Michelle or Michele? Is she Judy or Judi? Is he Barack or Barak? A Gerry or a Jerry?
Taking the time now will eliminate the embarrassment later. It's a worthwhile tradeoff.
Lynn (not Lynne or Lyn)
Syntax Training (not Syntex)
