Today there is growing evidence of concern across all educational and industrial sectors about falling standards of literacy. A recent article in the UK trade journal Computer Weekly claimed that employers regarded new graduates as ‘ill-prepared for work’, specifically citing low standards of communication skills and literacy (Computer Weekly, 27th August 1998).

Michael Dell, the founder of the highly-successful direct-marketing PC company, has been quoted as saying that ‘lack of Internet literary standards do not help [take-up of e-commerce opportunities]’ (The Computer Bulletin, The British Computer Society, March 1999).

Is there a real issue here, or is it just old-fashioned to voice concern about a process of natural change in the language towards looser standards and greater informality?  Does the standard of printed English matter when we regularly send and receive informal communications such as e-mail that is full of typographical errors without worrying about it?

We believe that it is important, particularly with the current drive toward e-commerce - you have to get the e-words right. For example, we often receive promotional material that violates even the most basic rules of grammar and construction. Similarly, many web sites fall short of adequate standards of literacy.

This ensures that such publications have exactly the opposite effect from that intended - instead of inspiring confidence, they project a negative image of the company concerned.

If you ever feel concerned or frustrated about standards of written English within your organisation, we can help you.

WordMongers has many years of experience in providing a cost-effective editing service for all types of publication:

• We are experienced in editing for grammar and content while preserving the style of the original.
  
  
• We have a depth of understanding across a wide range of engineering disciplines that ensures that the technical content of texts is preserved or reinforced.
  
  
• We work closely with authors at all stages of the editorial process.
  
  
• We have specific experience of editing inflected English, such as is produced by non-English speakers and automatic translation programs. For an illustration of this, see examples of developmental editing.
  
  
• We have proven experience of providing editorial services ‘at a distance’ for both UK and European clients. For an example, see a technical editing case study.
  
  
• We can accept copy in all major word-processing file formats or HTML and edit to the required depth to suit the target audience and the quality of the source copy.

Let us help you. Call or e-mail to discuss your problems.

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