And no, I’m not talking about your mental state early last Sunday morning when you stumbled into your apartment after a late-night jaunt downtown.  I’m talking about your writing.

I’m amazed by how many typos I see everywhere, on everything, lately.  Typos on resumes.  Typos on street signs.  Even typos on birth announcements!  Sometimes I’ll get introductory e-mails from people that are barely coherent, and I simply can’t believe that the person lives like this!

On the job, sloppiness is the enemy.  You may think that no one is paying attention, but that’s not the case.  The clarity and quality of your written communications say a lot about you as a professional, and you must take care to ensure that they’re enhancing rather than detracting from your reputation. 

How do you do it?  Well, first realize that there is no such thing as a perfect first draft, so get into the habit of proofreading your writing.  Every document that leaves your computer or desk should be carefully checked for clean formatting, proper grammar and correct spelling.  Think of your work product as little pieces of yourself sent out into the world.  Even if you’re the fifteenth person to review a document, be the one who takes responsibility for sending it on error-free. 

What if your business requires you to communicate with clients in a different language or you need some help bringing your writing up to par?  The first step is to acknowledging the issue.  Contact local colleges or continuing education programs about a variety of foreign language and business writing courses.  Classes are typically inexpensive and can often be tailored to your specific needs.  Don’t let an inflexible schedule discourage you.  You can take many business writing courses online.  Fortunately, writing is one of those skills that can be practiced and learned!