Apauling Spellin

When you see a job listed and the breakdown contains some of the most atrocious spelling you've ever seen, does it make you more likely to ignore the job or do you give it a go?

Sometimes I think, they can't be all that professional if they can't spell professional!

But what does everyone else think?


  • 14 years ago
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OOPS I spelt "asprin" wrong...sorrreeeee!


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Can't you tell it's sunday ??.. we're going down hill rapid !!!.


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Toni Brooks
Actor

Should that not read rapidly? :-))


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Sorry Allan - hate to be pedantic but I love words and for fear of sounding like a nerd I would point out that, to the very best of my knowledge, forego means to precede whilst forgo means to go without - therefore I have to say my use and spelling of forgo was what was intended! Yes ok {holding my hands up} I'm a nerd! lol!

Am I let off the misspelling hook now? :)


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Toni Brooks
Actor

Also being a nerd here :-)) According to some sources, it seems that the word and spelling have evolved so that it can be spelled either way. However, according to the Oxford ditionary, it is indeed as Sasha says.


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Mea culpa .. to all concerned.


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Hi all.

When I am not trying very hard to be a professional actor I am trying very hard to keep my professional editing, copy editing and proofreading business afloat.

I find that having worn that hat for a while now has spoiled me in that I proofread everything I see .. everything!

I am, as most of you seem to be, appalled at the "typos" that occur in the most unexpected places.

I recently applied for a job at the BBC, Auntie no less, and was completely floored when I received a form to fill in. It was a few pages of A4 and there were 5 spelling errors on the first page alone !! What is the world coming to ?

I do, mostly, take Colin's side in all this though and I did fill in the form for the Beeb but I made the mistake of telling them about their bad spelling .. maybe that's why I didn't get the job!!

Brgds (that's my shortcut for 'Best Regards' by the way).

N.


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Colin,

The forum is for moaning sometimes, I don't want to do anything about it because it isn't my job to teach people how to spell. Why on earth would I want to go out of my way to go around correcting people's spelling? I'm sorry but that is a bit of a silly suggestion.

The tube annoys me too, but I am not going to go out of my way to overhaul the network.

I was just bored and decided to post a thought on the forum .... which I was under the impression that's what the menu "general chat" was about .... general chat about crap. Yes? Am I wrong?

I am quite happy about skimming over a job for only paid expenses when basically the whole post is mispelt.
If it was a highly paid job, then maybe I would reconsider it. Not all is black and white.

You don't think it is a big deal, and it isn't HUGE, but just something to discuss, so we were discussing it ... no need for swatting us down personally for it. Just offer your opinion without the little swipes.

And I still think you are misinterpreting the post, we are not talking about a few pieces of odd spelling here and there, I was talking about having most of the post mispelt and a student production ... surely they should be working hard to get things right, if not then the school isn't doing their job properly (and no, I don't feel the overwhelming urge to write to the school about their students either)


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And Mark, you've inadvertantly hit the nail on the head, it's not the bad spelling that is such a big deal, it's more the fact that in this day and age they haven't used spell check to make it as professional as possible before posting. There's no excuse for that really.

Alot of people are bad spellers, me included sometimes (definitely not smug about that) but if 'employers' don't take the time to think about these things when posting a job, then I just don't think they are putting on too much of a professional project.

I mean, honestly, how many of you have seen really well paid jobs with terrible spelling?
Sometimes as Toni (?) said they definitely have the odd typo, it happens, but that's not what I was referring to in my post.
I'm talking about "cannot string together a sentence correctly thoughout the ENTIRE post" type of errors.... and there have been a few lately.

I was trying to find an example but they seem to have gone already.


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Keep on posting, Leigh !!!!


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Farah Sardar
Actor

Yes, bad spelling puts you off because it looks unprofessional - but not enough to apply if it seems like a really good opportunity.


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Really Splat?

I think the only people that should be reported are the ones that jump onto a thread simply to put other's down for even discussing a topic in the first place!

It's what the forum is for people! Opinions! ... Without the personal side swipes at the same time please.

... but honestly why would I spend time correcting every poster's spelling on CCP .... seriously, that suggestion just baffled me.

If we were discussing the Low/No pay issue, then yes, that is something we should rally together to change AS WELL AS talk about, but spelling?
It simply is a "pet peeve" and you don't go changing the world because of pet peeves, everyone has them.

I just wanted to see how many other people felt the same.

Alan ... are you making fun of lil ol' moi? *bats eyelids innocently*


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No Leigh, certainly not. Just a gentle way of saying do not be put off putting forward your views. There are one or two quite abrasive people out there !!!,


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Nice to see you back, Soggy Mog, picturewise, that is. Not a good idea to Kung fu your best friend on the Set, ie the Cameraman !!!.


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Oh Dear

Some people are rather sensative on this site so im going to have to break it down again so nobody feels ofended.

Leigh

I dont think my remarks were swipes in the slightest! (stop overeacting )

I only asked you if you were going to do something about it (eg write to the company who puts the posts up), (I wasnt talking about grammer errors in the sighning in book when you get to the audition receiption!!!)

Im talking about if something was your casting but spelt not to your standards then yes, I think it would be a good Idea to let these companies know this,(especailly if you like the sound of the project but ARE put off by the spelling.

you have a valid point.
it isnt 'professional' but if you are, make it work for you ,....... does anybody agree?? obvioslouly not to every job post out there - (now your being silly for thinking I was suggesting you to do that!).

your example of overhauling public travel ect, (Blah).
Not valid= we are disscusing things that bother you in your working actors profession (which is more important then the tube, do u agree?)

so your example made no scene.
(Im not making swipes but it didnt).

In your last post you said you would skim over a student film 'Expenses Paid Only' more so then a well paid company with a badley written post???

WHY????

Surley it would be worse and less expected for the big company to have errors in there post, they should be more profesional! or is it that they would pay more=(double standards?).


To conclude on your last comment at the end of your post....

"How many often see badley written posts cant string a sentence together"????

Ill be honest guys I dont really see badley or noticed 'cant string a sentence together posts' student or company.
If I can make out what the role enatails then Im more so thinking..... is it my casting, or not?.
Do you guys see badley written job posts . (really......) your going to have to show me an example.

Oh sorry you couldnt!


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Farah Sardar
Actor

Disputing with the casting director over spelling? I don't think that was one of the top ten tips when going for a casting?!


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It is perhaps hard to understand how much bad spelling bothers some people if it doesn't bother you - I'm not sure whether you were filling your post deliberately with very poor spelling or not! It makes me sigh with exasperation if I see it in the public domain - it doesn't particularly bother me on a forum like this. Exchanging views on here is like having a chat over a coffee rather than giving a presentation (except that you never know who is "listening"). I don't worry if people make typing errors or spell words incorrectly on forum posts - I expect I do it too. I do however NOTICE poor spelling and it does bother me (if it's a "public" document) because it looks as though someone hasn't bothered to check what they've written. If someone has put up a casting brief full of basic errors which would have been picked up by a spell check, or if they have a breakdown which is a stream of consciousness rather than a considered, concise treatment then it looks to me as if they don't have a very professional approach to their work. You might not make this association, but I definitely do. I feel the same way if someone sends me a job application full of mistakes. I don't apply for the jobs that don't pay but I would CERTAINLY be more inclined to do so if I were impressed by the care and thought which had gone into the presentation of the opportunity. This is something that student and other film makers would do well to take on board - they may be missing out on talent (which they need to make their films) by being careless in their approach.

Certainly, if anyone is applying for a job it makes sense to check everything you write. You might be surprised to find how many people will reject a poorly written application. I know quite a few people who think that if it doesn't matter to them then it shouldn't matter to anyone else. This is short-sighted, because (as you can see from this thread) it does!

You are right though: I wouldn't pass up a job opportunity because there were spelling mistakes. I'd notice them though and it would make me wonder who had typed it up and sent it out.


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Im afraid to write anything here,because my grammer isnt always the best.

I would like to add though,that although badly spelt adverts are not always a great start,I have seen many a good book on the market,which even after the final editing,has contained a load of mistakes.It doesnt mean however that its a bad book.

Also many people who are singers song writers cant read or write a note of music,but are able to produce beautiful music.

So although correct spelling and grammer is something to look for.I suggest the creative spark behind the words is often far more important than the way its advertised.


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I agree with your point about music but I disagree about good books full of mistakes. To my mind saying a book with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors is still a good book is like saying that the melody is good so it doesn't matter if the musicians play out of tune! I wouldn't/couldn't enjoy reading a book full of mistakes. It would be like watching a play where actors didn't know their lines or where someone fell over in the middle of the performance - I would be jerked out of the illusion and the author/players would have to work hard to get it back.

Mistakes in a book mean shoddy editing and if I were a gifted writer I would feel let down by the publisher if my work were published and mistakes had slipped through.

A casting brief is part of the market place - it's part of the pitch. I think it should be regarded in the same way as any other element of the production and that the production team should want it to show them in the best possible light. ESPECIALLY (to take up Colin's point) if you want actors to do you a favour by working for nothing. I think it's an example of how actors are regarded as the bottom of the pile - apparently we don't need to to be "impressed" or "convinced". Is it that we are so desperate for work that anything will do, however shoddily presented?


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Farah Sardar
Actor

'World w-ide' 'succeful' 'nit girls'

A casting which I received.
Would anyone like to take a guess at the salary?

Answer : tell you tomorrow


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