The Importance of Good English in Business

An organisation that frequently makes errors does not come across as professional, which can be damaging to your reputation. Correct spelling and grammar conveys credibility and reflects positively on you as an organisation that treats all aspects of its business as equally important, whether it’s a social media post or boardroom minutes. It shows that you pay attention to details, and in business, details matter.

Good English in business is important in order to get your message across. People will only be distracted by mistakes, which can make your point less effective. Instead of concentrating on your message, they will be thinking of the errors instead and that won’t help to build trust, nor is it good for your reputation.

Sometimes incorrect grammar or punctuation can cause confusion and be misleading, and although existing clients might let the typos slide, new clients or prospective clients might be turned off by the incorrect usage if they don’t already have a relationship with you. First impressions matter, and you won’t be able to earn their trust and respect without good spelling and grammar. It detracts from your credibility. Competition in business can be tough, so you always want to make a good first impression whether in person or online. If there are typos on your website, this can be off-putting and prospective clients will likely go elsewhere. Mistakes lead to missed opportunities, so don’t make them

Good English matters not only in what you show externally such as in letters, website content and other marketing materials, but also internally. Encouraging staff to use correct spelling and grammar helps to uphold a professional culture. Documents such as reports and meeting minutes need to be written well so that confusion is avoided and people can spend less time deciphering your message and more time completely tasks. Clear communication will allow for better working relationships within your organisation. Time wasted filtering through grammatical mistakes or poorly written sentences will often lead to resentment and hinder productivity, so it’s important that all communications, internal or external, are written properly.

Clearly written meeting minutes that contain correct spelling, grammar and punctuation are crucial for business success. Minutes are tool that help to note progress, detail future plans and outline tasks. They are also a legal record for board meetings and can aid you in adapting your business strategy. If minutes are poorly worded or contain typos, this can lead to confusion, which makes the minutes ineffective.

Minutes should be clearly written and accurate, but poor use of English will prevent this. For more guidance on effective minute-taking, see our previous article here.

To ensure you don’t make mistakes, utilise spell-checking tools in computer programs, proofread your work and take time to revisit documents before publishing them. Communicate the importance of correct English throughout your organisation from the board down and this will help solidify your reputation as a professional organisation. Employees should understand that correct English usage will reflect positively on them as individuals, showing that they are professionally competent and able to explain complex material effectively, which will work in their favour if they want to progress up the corporate ladder.